CM Punk joins WWE Backstage as a special contributor

After a five-year absence from WWE programing, CM Punk resurfaced on tonight’s episode of WWE Backstage.

Renee Young introduced Punk towards the end of tonight’s show. Punk entered the studio to “Cult of Personality,” walked to the camera, and said “It’s as simple as this: just when they think they have the answers, I change the culture.” He then said he would be on next week’s episode of Backstage.

In a press release, it was noted that Punk would be joining WWE Backstage as a special contributor and analyst. He will be making select appearances in the studio with regular hosts Young and Booker T.

It was reported previously in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Punk’s agents contacted FOX about being part of WWE Backstage. He took part in a screen test but no information on his status had been revealed until now.

Punk walked out of WWE in January 2014, the day after that year’s Royal Rumble.

WWE Backstage airs on Tuesdays at 11 p.m. Eastern time on FS1. It’s a FOX Sports production, which means that Punk will be working for FOX rather than WWE.