CM Punk makes ‘punching people in the face backstage’ joke in WWE SmackDown promo

CM Punk appeared on SmackDown, alluding to ‘punching people in the face backstage’.

Friday’s show saw Punk make his return to the show for the first time in a decade. While talking about possible stars he could face on either brand, he brought up the name Kevin Owens. He said that he and Owens were too much alike, calling him ‘prickly’ and he’s not sure about working someone who goes around punching people in the face backstage because it’s 2023, and “you just can’t be doing that”. Punk was fired from AEW in September after getting into an altercation backstage with Jack Perry.

In his promo on Friday, Punk brought up that both Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were trying to sign him, as he is a free agent. He brought up names from SmackDown such as Roman Reigns, Owens, and Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa, among others. Although he didn’t mention Seth Rollins by name, Punk did mention one person who has not welcomed him back, and that this person “wasn’t the man in his own household”. He said he would be at Raw Monday to decide which brand he would sign with.

Punk also teased appearing in the Royal Rumble, asking the crowd if they wanted to see him eliminate 29 other men, point to a sign, and headline WrestleMania.

Closing his segment, Punk said that finishing his story is main eventing WrestleMania.

Punk later appeared in backstage promos, first asking Kevin Owens where Alids’ office was. Another segment saw him greet Cody Rhodes, and another brief segment saw him with LA Knight and Randy Orton.