WWE is reportedly planning a brand switch for CM Punk, with the current direction calling for him to land on SmackDown when he comes back to television. Punk has been off WWE programming since his last appearance, and the planned return angle may center on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

Dave Meltzer reported on WWE's plans for Punk upon his return:

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.

WWE teased a possible Rhodes and Punk program on the Raw after WrestleMania 42, which marked Punk's last appearance on WWE programming before his absence. Punk has drawn heavy rumor coverage lately, with speculation ranging from a falling out with WWE and TKO and a release request to WWE simply having no current creative plans for him.

Punk has reportedly been given time off internally, and his return could come on the July 6 episode of Raw from Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, just outside his hometown of Chicago. That date is a Raw broadcast even as the longer term brand plan points toward SmackDown.

Rhodes is scheduled to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Gunther on the June 19 episode of SmackDown at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.