CM Punk appears to be in exceptional physical shape ahead of his expected WWE return, surfacing in an Instagram promotional video for UFC Rivals that shows the former champion looking noticeably more muscular than in recent public appearances.
The promo, which appears to have been filmed in recent weeks based on Punk’s current look, features him alongside Miesha Tate, Michael Bisping, and Ken Shamrock on the UFC Rivals panel. Back-to-back episodes air Sunday, June 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
No official WWE return date has been confirmed. Dave Meltzer recently reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the current plan is for Punk to return on SmackDown rather than Raw, with a possible July 6 appearance in Chicago — Punk’s hometown — discussed as a realistic target even though that is technically a Raw date.
Meltzer noted the thinking behind the SmackDown assignment is a roster balance consideration, with Punk, Randy Orton, and Drew McIntyre expected to bolster the blue brand’s top tier alongside Cody Rhodes and Gunther, while Raw carries Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and others. A direction involving Rhodes vs. Punk has also been noted.