Truth Behind Alleged Negative Backstage Reaction To CM Punk’s WWE Title Win
CM Punk was absent from WWE for almost two months, and on the day of his return, he won a World Title.
The Second City Saint put his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42 and lost. On the Raw after WrestleMania, he made a brief in-ring appearance alongside Cody Rhodes, where he hinted at going after Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship.
He then immediately went on hiatus for about 11 weeks. On the July 6 edition of Monday Night Raw, Punk made his return in his hometown of Chicago. He challenged Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship and defeated The Underdog from the Underground to become the new champion.
CM Punk’s surprise return and subsequent title victory sparked speculation that WWE handing the World title to Punk on the night of his return might have upset many talents backstage. However, that’s not the case.
CM Punk’s World Title Win Got Positive Backstage Reaction
Sean Ross Sapp, during a recent Fightful Select Q&A session, revealed that CM Punk’s World Title victory didn’t cause any “big uproar” in WWE. He noted that if WWE had handed Punk a world title immediately after his return at Survivor Series in 2023, it would’ve definitely created frustration among the talents.
Sapp added that although some talents in WWE still dislike CM Punk, most wrestlers have developed a good bond with him and support his World Title reign.
“It didn’t cause some big uproar like a lot of times it is online. That’s just it. If it would have come in 2023, immediately upon him arriving, yes, it would have. There are still some people with sour feelings to this day, but the large portion of talent just work with him amicably and know he’s going to be a big part of the company. There’s just not a lot to really go off of here. Maybe some eye rolls—nothing too bad.”