Add as a preferred source on Google CM Punk may be close to returning to WWE programming, but his absence since the RAW after WrestleMania 42 continues to be surrounded by rumors.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the minor issues between Punk and WWE began after his loss to Roman Reigns in the main event of night two of WrestleMania 42, where he lost the World Heavyweight Championship.
Meltzer reported the following:
“Regarding Punk stuff, as noted last week, there have been minor issues which were traced back to us as starting with the loss of the title at WrestleMania.”
There has been minor issues between WWE and CM Punk stemming from his World Heavyweight Championship loss at WrestleMania.
— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) July 3, 2026
(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter) pic.twitter.com/Ab621SYBE0
Punk appeared on the RAW after WrestleMania and took part in a segment with Cody Rhodes, teasing a possible rivalry between the two. Since then, however, he has not returned to WWE television.
Even so, the situation is not being treated as a serious split. Fightful Select indicated that Punk and WWE were simply working through creative matters, with no “backstage heat” or deeper issues. There is also a strong chance that Punk could return on the next RAW, which takes place in Chicago on July 6.
That date stands out for another reason. Cody Rhodes will face Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship on the same episode of RAW after defeating Jey Uso on SmackDown to earn another title shot.
In other words, even if there was some frustration after WrestleMania, all signs point to Punk remaining in WWE’s major plans. The question now is whether his hometown return will be used to put him back on the path toward Rhodes and the company’s top title.