Ex-WWE Star Reacts To CM Punk Returning To WWE
A recently released WWE superstar believes there is a simple reason why CM Punk returned to the company.
Matt Riddle is a pro wrestler that WWE released in September after a five-year run in the company saw the “Bro” have success on NXT, Raw and Smackdown. Riddle was let go by WWE due to numerous out of the ring incidents including a bizarre airport scene shortly before WWE decided to let him go.
What’s interesting about Riddle’s journey to WWE is that he was a Mixed Martial Artist before WWE. Riddle had a successful run in the UFC before he was released due in part to his love of marijuana.
There aren’t that many WWE superstars that can say they competed in WWE and the UFC, but CM Punk can join Matt Riddle in saying they did that. Punk was 0-2 in his UFC career, but at least he had the guts to try it.
While speaking to MMA Junkie, Matt Riddle gave his take on why CM Punk was back in WWE.
“I’m not surprised because WWE, they like money and CM Punk is money, just like he was money in Mixed Martial Arts. You can’t argue with a man that is money. That’s like with UFC. I know if I fight, I’ll sell tickets. It’s just if they want it.”
CM Punk Will Make WWE In-Ring Return In Madison Square Garden
The day after Christmas will be CM Punk’s first match in a WWE ring since leaving the company in January 2014. It will also be Punk’s first match since AEW All In London on August 27th, which is the night when he got into a backstage fight with Jack Perry and was fired by AEW one week later.
On December 26th, CM Punk will wrestle at a WWE live event where he faces The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Punk will also wrestle Dominik on the December 30th WWE live event in Los Angeles (Inglewood), California at the KIA Forum.
CM Punk’s televised WWE return match will be the Men’s Royal Rumble match on January 27th since Punk has declared his spot in the match. WWE may put Punk in a TV match before that, but perhaps they will save it for the Royal Rumble event itself.