WWE drop another massive CM Punk reference on Raw this week

CM Punk was fired from AEW a month ago after a backstage confrontation with Jack Perry at AEW All In. It was highly rumored that Punk will be making his WWE return soon in WWE and most probably at Survivor Series. Punk had already tried to enter the 2023 Royal Rumble and had plans to headline WrestleMania. However, the plan was scrapped. At this stage, WWE have used Punk’s reference in the recent episode of Raw.

CM Punk reference

Michael Cole interviewed Seth Rollins on the latest episode of WWE Raw, where Michael Cole said that he had coined some of Rollins’ nicknames and called him “Manipulator” & “Puppet Master”

Cole says,

“How about ‘manipulator’, ‘puppeteer’ at times. But it seems like this time around, you’re actually the puppet.”

CM Punk’s ROH promo in 2005 is considered as one of the most legendary promos of his career. Where Punk says,

“This is my stage, this is my theater. You are my puppets, and I pull those marionette strings, and I use your emotions, and I toy with them. Because honestly, I get off on it. I hate each and every single one of you with a thousand- and I will not stop until I prove once and for all that, I am better than you,...” 

“The Best in the World” reference a week ago

On the September 26, 2023, episode of Raw, Seth Rollins endorsed himself as “The Best in the World” against Shinsuke Nakamura.

WWE usually do such things before a return or a most anticipated debut in the company. In 2022, on the Road to WrestleMania, Michel Cole referenced Cody Rhodes return by stating “Dashing”, “Nightmare” during the Seth Rollins matches and segments. In 2023, The Rock catchphrases such as “The People Show”, “Electrifying” and even The Rock’s name and moves were also teased. 

Now Punk’s reference is also used, will it mean that Punk would return to WWE sooner? We need to wait until it is revealed.