Add as a preferred source on Google CM Punk could be nearing a major character shift just days after capturing the Undisputed WWE Championship on Monday Night RAW.
On Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez raised the possibility of Punk turning heel soon. The discussion came shortly after Punk returned in Chicago, replaced Cody Rhodes in the main event, and defeated Sami Zayn, ending a title reign that lasted only nine days.
“The story here is basically he’s a hypocrite. He’s everything he complained about.”
Alvarez’s read is based on the contrast between Punk’s long-standing message and where he now finds himself. For years, the “Second City Saint” built part of his image around standing against the system, corporate decisions, and company favorites. Now, he has gone straight back to the top, taking Rhodes’ spot and taking the title from Zayn in a situation many fans felt was too harsh for the Canadian star.
Bryan Alvarez believes that we could be getting a CM Punk heel turn.
— Wrestle Features (@WrestleFeatures) July 8, 2026
(@WONF4W) pic.twitter.com/OyY2MdDxB0
WWE has also started positioning Punk as a centerpiece of Friday Night SmackDown. The new champion is advertised for every upcoming episode of the blue brand currently listed on WWE’s official website, beginning with this Friday’s July 10 show in Oklahoma City.
Punk is also advertised for this weekend’s live events in Las Cruces and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The next step is expected to be SummerSlam in Minneapolis, where Punk is expected to defend the title against Rhodes. The feud between the two had already been speculated for months, but it gained a new layer after Rhodes was pulled from the match against Zayn due to Gunther’s attack.