CM Punk Was Backstage At WWE Raw In Chicago
CM Punk was spotted backstage at WWE Monday Night Raw in his hometown of Chicago.
The former WWE and AEW World Champion CM Punk was backstage at the Allstate Arena in Chicago earlier today, but he left the building prior to Monday Night Raw airing on USA Network. There are multiple sources reporting this story.
It was first reported by PWInsider’s Mike Johnson that CM Punk, who is under contract to AEW, was backstage at Raw tonight in Chicago, which is where Punk lives. The Allstate Arena is the same building where Punk won the WWE Championship from John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011.
According to Johnson’s report, Punk did speak briefly to Paul “Triple H” Levesque, which likely may have been the first time they have seen eachother since Punk walked out of WWE in January 2014.
The story by Johnson noted that Punk did talk to others in WWE, but was asked to leave the building with a WWE source believing that it was likely because Punk works for AEW.
It was also mentioned by PWInsider that the same source claimed that Vince McMahon made the call to tell Punk to leave the venue, so Punk said his goodbyes and left. Vince McMahon is not at Raw tonight.
A report from Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp noted that Punk spoke to some WWE talent while he was there including The Miz while also confirming that Punk spoke to Triple H just as PWInsider reported. It was noted by Johnson that Punk and Miz “cleared the air” over whatever issues they had in the past.
The Fightful story noted that WWE’s head of security Jim Kelly asked Punk to leave, but that wasn’t confirmed yet. Several wrestlers apparently told Fightful that it was believed to be a publicity stunt by Punk to set up his AEW return that is likely coming soon – believed to be in June.
Several AEW talents were apparently “in disbelief” when they heard about Punk being backstage at Raw.
The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez both tweeted about it being true that Punk was there.
If you hear the story about Punk backstage tonight and didn't believe it, like I didn't, well strange but true.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 24, 2023
CM Punk did, in fact, show up backstage at Raw, and was eventually asked to leave by security.
— Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) April 24, 2023
This is a video of CM Punk in the parking lot at Raw talking to WWE superstar Tamina.
CM Punk met with Tamina pic.twitter.com/xhRRdbF3C1
— Roman Reigns SZN 💥 (@reigns_era) April 24, 2023
There will be more updates on CM Punk being at Raw either later tonight or tomorrow and we will update you as best we can.