WWE Raw video highlights: Seth Rollins confronts CM Punk

By Joseph Currier
Published: 12 Dec 2023, 03:00

On the road to a likely WrestleMania match, CM Punk and Seth Rollins had their first confrontation last night.

Last night’s Raw was a full-circle moment for Punk. The episode was held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, the same building that Punk walked out of when he left WWE in 2014. Punk appeared on last night’s show and revealed that he’s joining the Raw roster. Punk also declared for the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Punk spoke to the fans and said that, if anyone was disappointed when he walked out, he understands and he apologizes. Though Punk doesn’t regret his decision, he knows how the fans felt. Punk said he felt the exact same way when he saw Roddy Piper appear on WCW television when he was a kid.

Punk said SmackDown’s Nick Aldis and NXT’s Shawn Michaels both made tempting contract offers, but Raw’s Adam Pearce put together a deal that’s head and shoulders above the others.

“But can I be very real and very honest with you folks right now? My mind was probably already made up when I looked at the calendar and I saw Cleveland,” Punk said. “I’m here to bury those ghosts. I’m here to right a few wrongs. My future starts now.”

After signing his Raw contract and stating that he’s home, Punk was interrupted by Rollins.

Rollins warned Punk not to call this place home. Rollins said Punk abandoned WWE a decade ago and then actively tried to tear it down.

“This is not your home, this is my home,” Rollins said. “I’ve been here. Everybody in the back, those are my brothers and sisters. Everybody here [and] everybody watching at home, that is my family. And this is our home. And I will do everything in my power to protect it from people like you.”

Rollins said he hates Punk. But despite that, if Punk is going to be back in WWE, Rollins is happy that Punk chose Raw. Rollins said everyone knows this is Punk’s last chance. One of two things is going to happen: Punk is going to expose himself and self-destruct — or Rollins will expose him when they face off in the ring.

“And then I will expose you for the fraud that you are,” Rollins said. “I will show you that there are levels to this, I will wrestle circles around you, and I will let you understand in real time what it means to be the best in the world.”

Punk responded by declaring for the Royal Rumble and issuing his own warning to Rollins.

“That’s your one pass to stand here and speak to me disrespectfully without me coming after you. I have never asked for anything to be handed to me, and I’ve always done things stubbornly the hard way,” Punk said. “And I’m here to do that. Adam Pearce, where you at? We’re making things official, we might as well make it official. CM Punk is entering the Royal Rumble. And when CM Punk wins, maybe, Seth, it’s you he’s coming after.”

More coverage from last night —

WWE Raw video highlights —

Jey Uso and Drew McIntyre go face-to-face