Tag: WWE Survivor Series

Report: CM Punk’s WWE return draws mixed talent reactions

With CM Punk suddenly back in WWE, it’s only natural that emotions were running high among other wrestlers.

CM Punk made his shocking return to WWE on Saturday night at Survivor Series to close the show, in case you haven’t heard by now. Despite only standing there and taking in crowd reactions, it was a startling moment that was once deemed impossible to ever come to fruition again.

The return happened in front of the wrestlers in the Men’s WarGames match, which main evented Survivor Series. While the television camera didn’t pan their way, Seth Rollins looked visibly frustrated, being restrained by Michael Cole, Corey Graves and others. Of course, that may just be to add to a potential storyline, but a new report sheds some light on the backstage reaction.

Fightful Select (subscription required but recommended) reports that some talent on the roster is upset about Punk’s return, which began with an hour-long call between him and Triple H on Nov. 19 to mend fences, while others are “excited, curious, and about every emotion.”

The report added that before the WarGames match, WWE informed talent that Punk would be returning at the end of the show. At least one talent expressed legitimate upset over Punk’s return, and both Rollins, as seen in the video, and Drew McIntyre seemed upset, but Fightful could not confirm if those were legitimate reactions. McIntyre was said to be visibly angry backstage and left the arena.

One top talent also told Fightful that, while they “understood the surprise aspect of the situation,” it felt like Triple H “could lose some trust among many people that he worked to build it with.”

Essentially, this situation requires a wait-and-see approach, which is understandable considering the nature of the situation and how quickly it came together. From how he cooperates with talent backstage to WWE’s potential plans for him, the unfolding events will ultimately determine how it progresses, especially entering a chaotic WrestleMania season that begins once 2024 hits.

With the Nov. 27 episode of Raw less than 48 hours away, some answers to the Punk equation should arrive soon. It’s one of the most fascinating storylines to ever happen in WWE, and the chapters written over the coming days, weeks and months will be popcorn-worthy material.

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WWE, wrestling world reacts to CM Punk appearing at Survivor Series

Check out some of the top social media reactions from around the wrestling world to CM Punk’s WWE return.

It didn’t look like it was going to happen. And then it did.

We’re talking, of course, about CM Punk walking out to an adoring crowd for his first WWE appearance in almost 10 years Saturday night at Survivor Series. It was a moment that was both astonishing and surreal, given the long history between both parties and many indicators suggesting it would need to come together at the last moment if it was going to take place.

(For what it’s worth, that’s exactly how Triple H described the process.)

The big question that will be floating around for a while now is simple: Now what? It’s clear that hardly anyone knew Punk would appear, and the range of reactions on social media certainly reinforce that idea.

In some cases, even wrestlers who haven’t had time to post something yet clearly felt some kind of way in the wake of the surprise return.

In any case, check out some of the best posts on X in the wake of a moment that will be talked about for some time.

Cody Rhodes reacts to CM Punk’s WWE return: ‘If he can help out, welcome aboard’

Cody Rhodes thinks WWE will benefit from getting a “hungry” version of CM Punk.

It’s hard to recall a more stunning moment in recent WWE history than Saturday night at Survivor Series, when CM Punk made his shocking return after nearly 10 years away from the company in the ultimate “never say never” moment.

Punk returned as the babyfaces — Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton and Jey Uso — celebrated their win over The Judgment Day in the main event WarGames match, inciting a crowd noise comparable to some of the most iconic WWE comebacks.

But how did one of them who stood front row feel about the biggest moment of Survivor Series? In the post-show press conference, Rhodes seemed inviting of his former AEW colleague’s presence.

“If he can help out, with where we’re going and what we’re doing, absolutely,” Rhodes said. “Welcome aboard. Welcome aboard.”

Punk was last seen at the end of his tumultuous second stint in AEW nearly three months ago, where he got fired after a backstage incident with Jack Perry at All In. Before that, the Straight Edge Superstar had been out from the fall of 2022 to June of this year as a result of injury and conflicts.

But back in the WWE setting, Rhodes believes they’re getting a hungry version of Punk, and he’s intrigued by it.

“And I have a feeling that the CM Punk that potentially we’re getting is hungry, and that’s the best, that’s the best when someone’s hungry, when somebody wants something, when it’s real.”

Of course, this, which “came together super quick,” wouldn’t have happened without Triple H, Nick Khan and anyone else in WWE upper management. Rhodes thanked them for making the call, and while he hinted at potentially mixed emotions, he knows WWE is a business, and if Punk can help, why not?

“I’ll give kudos and flowers to Triple H and Nick Khan for getting that done. You can ask all the boys and girls ’til they’re blue in the face, ‘Hey, how do you feel?’ You might get up, you might get down, a wide range of emotions, but the first thing, always is business. And again, we’re doing record business. Feels like everybody wants to be here. The more the merrier. If you can help, absolutely, come on board.”

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Triple H on CM Punk WWE return: ‘It’s where he belongs’

Triple H provided some details after WWE Survivor Series on how CM Punk’s return came together.

WWE Survivor Series made it all the way to the trademark logo at the end of the broadcast without the much hoped for return of a certain Chicago favorite. But almost unbelievably, what happened next was something that hadn’t taken place for nine years.

CM Punk walked out to the familiar strains of Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality,” dressed in a white t-shirt and soaking in the reaction of an absolutely bonkers crowd at the Allstate Arena just outside Chicago.

A comeback that had been kept a secret from just about everyone, and one that seemed highly improbable as recently as a few months ago, actually happened. How did it come together after lots of signs that it wouldn’t?

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said during the post-show press conference — after leading off with a joke about the big return of the night belonging to R-Truth — it’s because it happened fast.

“This is one of those lightning in a bottle moments that came together very quickly,” Levesque said. “But we are incredibly excited about it. It’s been a long time. In some ways, it’s been a long time coming.”

“This came together super quick, which is why I’m sure it stayed tight,” he added. “There’s a lot of speculation at that point. It was nothing but speculation for most of the time. It didn’t really start to come to fruition until everyone stopped thinking it was going to happen. Then, all of a sudden, it was happening.”

Levesque also mentioned that a lot of time had passed since things went south between Punk and WWE, who famously had a falling out that led to his release in 2014. It seemed for years that a reunion was unlikely, with Punk accusing the company of ignoring his medical issues at the time and firing him on his wedding day.

Yet Levesque said that no one, not him, not WWE, and presumably Punk, are the same as they were 10 years ago. Everyone, as he sees it, is “on the same even starting ground.

Punk didn’t do much except walk out on stage, so the obvious follow-up was what would be next for him. On that note, Triple H didn’t tip his hand, secure in the knowledge that whatever it is, the wrestling world will be buzzing about it.

“That’ll be interesting, won’t it? I’m interested to see that myself. I know whatever it is, it’ll be talked about, it’ll be exciting, and it’ll be a thrill ride for the WWE Universe no matter what it is. I’m thrilled, we’re all thrilled, to have him back here in WWE, cliché to say to have him back home in WWE. It’s where he belongs.”

Watch: CM Punk makes shocking WWE return at Survivor Series

For the first time in nearly a decade, CM Punk appeared on a WWE broadcast at the end of Survivor Series.

WWE Survivor Series 2023 took place on Saturday night, featuring WarGames matches and title matches that had fans at the Allstate Arena in Chicago on the edge of their seats.

Of course, when the Windy City hosts a pro wrestling event, CM Punk‘s name inevitably becomes part of the conversation. This has been the case for much of the build-up to Survivor Series, taking off when AEW fired him after All In due to a backstage incident with Jack Perry.

Most of the Punk talk has been internet speculation. No reports stated that he would make an appearance at Survivor Series or that he had officially joined WWE. Fans have been eagerly anticipating his return to the company after a hiatus of nearly 10 years, when he famously left after the 2014 Royal Rumble premium live event.

So, on Saturday, fans wondered if Punk would make an appearance at Survivor Series, rejoin WWE, and become a part of the machine again — and that answer was yes.

As Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and Seth Rollins celebrated their WarGames victory, with the credits ready to roll, “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour blared over the Allstate Arena speakers. And in what felt like an eternity between the song and his presence, out walked CM Punk.

“Never say never” is as perfect of a description as possible for this.

Now, Punk did nothing on stage. He greeted fans and soaked in the raucous atmosphere, and the show ended.

But the Straight Edge Superstar didn’t need to do anything. His presence alone did enough to create buzz and close Survivor Series in a way not seen since Sting’s WWE debut in 2014, and then some.

So, what Punk does next becomes the question as, again, he technically did nothing at Survivor Series. This gives fans reason to tune into Raw and SmackDown this week to see if he will appear on the show, have something to say, or do something more. Let’s see what’s next in the shocking second chapter of Punk’s WWE career.

WWE Survivor Series 2023 results: Better late than never as Randy Orton spurs WarGames victory

Randy Orton made a dramatic return to help defeat The Judgment Day at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames.

As The Judgment Day comes out as a team, Damian Priest ends up staring down Drew McIntyre for a good long time. Eventually, both of them get in the shark cage with Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh as Finn Balor starts the match for their team.

Each of the faces gets their own entrance. Still no sign of Randy Orton, so as Seth Rollins heads to the ring to start the match, only three faces enter their cage. Rollins doesn’t wait for the bell as he dives right on Balor as the bell rings.

Seth eventually takes a back body drop on the metal strip between rings, and he has to work to fight back before McDonagh enters the match and immediately gets some kendo sticks. He and Balor put them to good use against the world champ as boos flow from the fans.

Jey Uso is the next to enter as McIntyre stares daggers in him from the Judgment Day cage. The “Yeet” chants are plentiful as he goes to work on offense, hammering McDonagh and Balor.

A revived Rollins saves Uso from the heel rally and they’re looking good as the clock winds down on the next entrant. McIntyre wants to go in, but Priest halts him and tells Drew they should stick to the plan.

Priest’s arrival immediately turns the tide, so Zayn needs to be wary when he enters. He uses the cage door as a weapon to prevent an ambush, then slides a table in to Uso and Rollins. Zayn stomps away on Priest and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb on Balor.

Zayn crotches McDonough on the top rope, then takes a pipe off part of the cage to use as a weapon. The fans are in full chant mode as McDonagh takes punishment from multiple faces, and Balor is suffering now too.

McIntyre looks like he’s all business as he makes his way into the cage, immediately thrashing Rollins and Zayn and flipping the former down onto the latter.

But he’s there for Uso and finds him alone in the far ring. Drew gets the best of an exchange of strikes, landing a neckbreaker and kipping up. McIntyre yells for an apology as he drives Uso into the cage repeatedly.

Uso and Zayn combine for a 1-D to McIntyre, but The Judgment Day rallies just before Cody Rhodes enters the match. Michael Cole points out the history as Cody enters for the first time to the match his dad invented.

Rhodes pays more homage to Dusty by getting out a bullrope, which Rollins helps put to good use. The boos pick up as the countdown clock ticks down to Mysterio coming in last for his side.

Dom enthusiastically goes through two of the Three Amigos against Rollins, but all four faces have recovered by now and team up to stomp the heck out of him. The numbers eventually turn against our heroes, and the fans start a “Randy” chant even though Orton has yet to arrive.

McIntyre and Priest team to chokeslam three of their foes at once, and McDonagh, Balor and Mysterio all fly off the top rope in succession. Rollins takes a Razor’s Edge through a table as well.

The clock hits zero and … still no Orton. Instead, Rhea Ripley runs down with Priest’s Money in the Bank briefcase, but she pauses as Orton makes his return.

Orton gets to rip through some of his trademark offense right off the bat, including his elevated DDT on Balor. McIntyre and Orton circle each other before all 10 men get into it.

The crowd erupts as everyone goes down at once, but Orton looks like he’s going to RKO Uso. But Jey saves him with a superkick and Randy RKOs Dom instead. Rhodes and Zayn are busy hitting their trademark moves in the other ring, so McDonagh decides to head for higher ground. Zayn and Rollins head up there too, and Orton is licking his lips on the mat. You guessed it — JD gets shoved off the cage into an RKO.

Priest is down too, so Rhodes delivers a Cross Rhodes and covers to secure the victory for his side.

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WWE Survivor Series 2023 results: Mami still on top as Rhea Ripley retains

Zoey Stark brought the fight to Rhea Ripley but couldn’t dethrone Mami at WWE Survivor Series 2023.

Both women just stand and yell at each other as the bell rings, and they decide to just go right to punches after that. Zoey Stark manages to dropkick Rhea Ripley to the floor, showing she’s not intimidated by diving off the top rope to the floor.

The champ recovers quickly as they battle to the apron, where Stark DDTs her to regain the edge. Zoey’s corkscrew senton back into the ring is on target and good for a near fall.

The fight returns to the floor, where Stark is bounced off the apron and the post. Ripley mounts her challenger for punches and a headbutt, screaming at Stark that “this is my division.”

Rhea’s suplex earns her a two count, so she drives knees into Zoey’s side. Stark has her face driven into the mat repeatedly and painfully, then takes a low dropkick to boot.

Ripley continues her assault into the corner, where she throws Stark down by the throat but doesn’t get all of it, and Zoey kicks the champ in the face for a two count. She gets another with a roll-through before taking a big elbow and a kick.

A front slam leads to a bridging suplex from Ripley, but the challenger kicks out at two again. Stark has enough fire left to do some trash talking, and she escapes a Riptide attempt to hit a suplex and a sliding dropkick for another near fall. Zoey screams in frustration afterward.

A short exchange of strikes leads to a headbutt from Ripley, and the Riptide ends it for the champ.

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WWE Survivor Series 2023 results: Gunther retains despite a valiant effort by The Miz

The Miz gave a game effort but couldn’t end Gunther’s lengthy title reign at WWE Survivor Series 2023.

Can The Miz prove he’s still up with the best of them in the ring? If he comes close to beating Gunther in the midst of his lengthy reign, he’ll do it.

He shows no fear early on, trying to hang with the champ at his own striking game and doing pretty well. Unfortunately for him, a big left hand looks like it just ticks Gunther off, but he’s able to lure the champ to the side of the ring and wrap his leg around the post.

Corey Graves brings up the idea that perhaps Gunther has overlooked The Miz as he falls into a Figure Four around the post. The ensuing battle of strikes doesn’t go as smoothly for Miz, as Gunther eventually chops him down to the mat and yells that his opponent isn’t in his league.

The fans express their displeasure as Gunther puts Miz down again. A hurricanrana makes for a good counter to a powerbomb attempt, and Miz follows up with kicks to the left knee.

Miz keeps the kicks coming, smashing Gunther down against the middle turnbuckle in a seated position. He hits a tilt-a-whirl DDT as well, earning a two count for his efforts.

A Skull-Crushing Finale is what Miz wants next, but Gunther dropkicks him into the corner and stacks him after a powerbomb. Both Graves and Gunther seems surprised when Miz kicks out.

As Miz struggles in a sleeper, he grabs the turnbuckle cover and removes it. With the ref distracted, he hits a pair of low blows and the Skull-Crushing Finale, but even as Michael Cole goes nuts, Gunther is able to kick out at two.

The fans urge Miz to hit his finisher one more time, and even when he can’t pull it off, he nearly puns Gunther anyway. A big clothesline sends Miz to the mat, however, and Gunther ascends for a top rope splash that doesn’t quite land flush.

The champ applies a Boston Crab, then pulls Miz back toward the center of the ring and turns it into a Lion Tamer of sorts, and Miz decides he has to tap out.

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WWE Survivor Series 2023 results: Becky, Charlotte come together to help their team win WarGames

The Women’s WarGames match turned into a tough night for Bayley at WWE Survivor Series.

The face team looks confident as they send Becky Lynch in to start things off. Damage CTRL walks in showing a united front, all wearing masks, and Bayley has a smile on her face as she enters first.

These two need no invitation to go toe to toe, with the fans reacting to just about every blow. Lynch gets the best of it but then takes a suplex on the metal strip between the two rings.

Dakota Kai tries to slip a kendo stick in but gets caught in the act, though she’s ultimately successful to Bayley’s delight. Shotzi fires down the ramp as soon as the faces get a second person in, and she goes right under the ring to throw a bunch of weapons into the rings. No tables though, to the dismay of the crowd.

Bayley predictably takes a beating fighting two-on-one, but she’s joined soon by IYO SKY, who shows up with a chain wrapped around her fist. She’s able to hit a missile dropkick on both of her opponents, then go corner to corner to keep up the offense.

It’s Bianca Belair in third for the faces, and she quickly turns things in her team’s favor. Shotzi apparently jumps off a trash can in one corner, but the cameras don’t really catch it.

Kairi Sane is pretty slow coming down the ramp, but she’s effective using a trash can lid against Lynch and then dropkicks and a sliding forearm on Belair. SKY elevates Sane into a really high elbow on Shotzi, who is laid out on a pile of chairs.

Belair and Lynch go to work with chair shots just in time to be joined by Charlotte Flair. Her burst of offense ends by powerbombing SKY into the cage, and she hits a top rope blockbuster on two foes. Flair and Lynch stare each other down before getting shoved into each other.

SKY climbs to the top of the cage and drops a long chain down to Kai on the floor, who attaches a trash can to one end. She puts the can over her head and dives onto everyone, just like she once did in NXT. It’s perfectly timed since it’s only seconds later that Asuka joins the fray.

Asuka and Kai slide a table into the cage just before it’s officially announced that a pinfall or submission can win it since everyone is in. Damage CTRL goes to town with kendo sticks for every member, leading Corey Graves to say the outcome is a formality.

Lynch ends up in the trash can and takes a missile dropkick from Asuka and has to kick out at two. Bekcy and Bianca battle back with twin powerbombs, but Charlotte one-ups them by going up to the top of the cage for a moonsault onto multiple foes, and she covers Bayley for a two count.

Lynch and Flair team together for a suplex to one opponent and a powerbomb for another. They share an enthusiastic hug as well, then get simultaneous submissions locked in. Bayley and Sane deliver elbows to try to break the holds, but Bayley has to hustle to save Sane as well.

Shotzi is next to get a near fall, so Bayley makes yet another save. Belair brings a fire extinguisher into the action on Asuka, but it’s just the start of high impact moves from several competitors. Charlotte lines up a spear on Kairi that Bayley takes in her place.

Bayley takes the KOD from Belair, but more doom is looming as the faces have the table behind her. Lynch delivers the Manhandle Slam off the top rope through the table, and Bayley isn’t kicking out from that.

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WWE Survivor Series 2023 results: Randy Orton is back … as is CM Punk

Randy Orton returned to spark a WarGames victory at WWE Survivor Series, and Chicago’s favorite son showed up as well.

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Survivor Series as we’ve long known it is dead. Long live Survivor Series: WarGames.

WWE’s November premium live event had long been synonymous with 5v5 elimination-style matches, and even though they had started to lose some of their luster over time, it is a little strange for longtime fans to see that they are completely gone.

In their place, WWE has gone all in on WarGames matches for both men and women, and for this year’s event, has skillfully woven in various plot threads involving the wrestlers united to take on two of the company’s most powerful heel factions.

On the men’s side, Jey Uso has proven himself to the fans and some of his teammates since his change of heart and arrival on Raw. But Drew McIntyre, who is fighting alongside The Judgment Day, certainly hasn’t forgiven him for his past misdeeds, and it’s possible the returning Randy Orton might not either — a potentially big problem since he and Uso are supposed to be on the same side.

Trust issues are a big narrative for the Women’s WarGames match as well, where it’s been made clear that Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are having a tough time learning to set aside their issues for the greater good. The difference is even the heel team has a running subplot, as it’s hard to shake the feeling that Damage CTRL might mutiny against Bayley.

Only three other matches are on tonight’s card, but two are title bouts. Zoey Stark will take a big step up to try to defeat Rhea Ripley, while The Miz will attempt to prove he’s still a top of the card talent by battling Gunther.

We’ll be updating this post all night long with the latest, so let’s get into it.

WWE Survivor Series 2023 results from Chicago:

(click on any match with a link for full details)

  • Women’s WarGames match: Bianca Belair, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Shotzi def. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Asuka, Charlotte Flair and IYO SKY) by pinfall
  • Ruffles get some product placement with Alpha Academy, the women’s tag team champs and Pretty Deadly, who argue with Otis about chips vs. crisps; R-Truth calms everyone down and Akira Tozawa does his dance
  • Sami Zayn tells Jey Uso that Randy Orton is still not at the arena, and Jey says it’s his fault; Sami tries to reassure him that everything will be alright if they go to war together, Randy or no Randy
  • Gunther def. The Miz by submission to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship
  • The Judgment Day laughs about the buzz around Orton not being at the arena, and Damian Priest goes to tell Drew McIntyre the news and about “that thing”
  • Santos Escobar def. Dragon Lee by pinfall
  • The New Day pulls up in a Slim Jim car, because why not?
  • Rhea Ripley def. Zoey Stark by pinfall to retain the Women’s World Championship
  • Seth Rollins and Uso remain worried that Orton hasn’t arrived, but Cody Rhodes says he’ll be there
  • Men’s WarGames match: Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh) and Drew McIntyre by pinfall
  • After the end of show credits are up on the screen, “Cult of Personality” hits, and yes it’s true, CM Punk has returned to WWE programming