With WWE’s Royal Rumble event taking place this weekend, fans have been predicting and imagining dream scenarios and surprises. One particularly popular idea was wanting controversial AEW star CM Punk to return to the event.
Punk left WWE in 2014 with his final appearance during the event’s eponymous match. He entered first, making it to the final four before being eliminated by Kane, despite the ‘Corporate Demon’ already being kicked out of the match. Punk subsequently walked out of the company, was later released, and left professional wrestling entirely for seven years. He has since returned in 2021 when he signed with AEW.
His future with AEW has been a topic of debate since September, following the ‘Brawl Out’ incident in Chicago. He has not been seen in a wrestling capacity since, leading to speculation that he may be leaving the company. If he were to leave and stay in professional wrestling, then a return to WWE would make sense. Further to that point, there may be no bigger comeback than the Rumble match.
Fans have made it clear that this is exactly what they want to happen, even if most have admitted it is almost impossible.
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Despite being suspended indefinitely after the incident, there is nothing to suggest that he has left AEW. Furthermore, he suffered a torn triceps during the All Out match with Jon Moxley and would struggle to recover in time for this weekend, even if he was contractually fit.
Former AEW star Cody Rhodes is one of the favorites to win WWE’s Royal Rumble
There is another famous AEW name that will actually be in the Rumble match this weekend. Cody Rhodes, who co-founded the promotion alongside The Elite and Tony Khan, has announced that he will be returning to the fight.
Injured, he missed Hell in a Cell 2022, where he infamously wrestled with a completely torn pectoral muscle. But Rhodes is considered the favorite to win the comeback fight.
He has made it abundantly clear that he is in the hunt for a world title since returning to the company last year. Winning the Rumble match this weekend would be the easiest method to do that, securing a WrestleMania title match possibly against Roman Reigns.
Who do you think will win the Royal Rumble? Share your predictions below.
John Cena’s dad wants his son to have a big match at WrestleMania. He talked about it right HERE