CM Punk is set to be primarily featured on SmackDown following his Undisputed WWE Championship win on the July 6 Raw in Chicago, with occasional Raw appearances when needed, according to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select.
Sources at NBCUniversal have been pushing for more Punk on SmackDown for well over a year, viewing him as one of WWE’s premier stars. One source believes Punk’s presence on the show could help reverse a dip in momentum SmackDown has experienced over the past several months.
A WWE creative source indicated there are no signs internally that Punk’s title reign will be a short-term one.
The move fulfills what had been reported as the plan since Punk’s post-WrestleMania 42 absence began. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the SmackDown assignment was always the intended destination, designed to balance rosters and set up a program with Cody Rhodes.
Punk has not wrestled a single match on SmackDown since returning to WWE in November 2023.
