CM Punk's long awaited WWE comeback appears to be taking a different shape than many fans expected. After rumors of serious issues between Punk and company higher ups, enough that he could possibly leave WWE, those concerns were reportedly put to rest. Punk had been off television with no active angle after creative plans shifted following WrestleMania 42, and confirmation came on June 11 that WWE still plans to call on him in time for SummerSlam on Aug. 1 and 2.

The twist in those plans may center on who Punk works with and where he works. He last teased teaming with Cody Rhodes on the Raw After WrestleMania, and the current direction reportedly pairs him with Rhodes in a feud over the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes holds that title on SmackDown, while Punk has been a Raw mainstay since his 2023 return. A Rhodes program would likely mean Punk follows Finn Bálor's path from Mondays to Fridays.

Reportedly, Punk was taken off the week after stating he is a guy who is there every week because WWE had no creative ready and intended to bring him back when his angle was set to start. The belief is that Raw's top tier, including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, The Usos, Fatu, Femi, Logan Paul, and Bron Breakker, left SmackDown as the better fit. That side is said to feature Rhodes, Gunther, Rhea Ripley, and soon Punk, Randy Orton, and Drew McIntyre.

There was a lot of talk about Punk rumors this past week. The Punk departure the week after he had said that he's a guy who is there every week was strange, but we were told he was being taken off because they had no creative for him and would be back when his angle was to start. The plan right now is for him to return on Smackdown, which is basically a balancing act. The belief is with Raw having Reigns, Rollins, The Usos, Fatu, Femi, Logan Paul and Breakker that Punk made more sense on Smackdown with a top tier of Rhodes, Gunther, Ripley and soon to be Punk, Orton and McIntyre. Plus Rhodes vs. Punk has been a direction. The return date of 7/6 Raw in Chicago makes sense, although that is a Raw date, not Smackdown, but that's really not material in the sense Chicago does make sense for him to appear.

Rhodes vs. Punk has reportedly been a direction for some time, and a July 6 Raw in Chicago is said to make sense as a return spotlight even if SmackDown is his long term home. Nothing is official until WWE books it on television, but the outline points toward a major SummerSlam feud on the blue brand.