WWE delivered a surprise earlier this week by naming CM Punk the new Undisputed WWE Champion. The company is now eying another dramatic shift for Punk, planning to turn him into a heel character.
After a prolonged absence from television since April, “The Second City Saint” made his return on the latest episode of Raw. He was unveiled as Sami Zayn’s mystery opponent for the Undisputed WWE Championship after Zayn’s scheduled match‑up, Cody Rhodes, was sidelined following an attack by Gunther.
Punk faced Zayn in front of a hometown crowd in Chicago and emerged victorious to capture the title. Following the win on Monday Night Raw, it was announced that Punk will appear on SmackDown this Friday.
Previous reports indicated that WWE would move CM Punk to SmackDown after his return, especially given that Jacob Fatu has already been transferred to Raw to feud with Roman Reigns.
WWE’s Big Plans for CM Punk’s Arrival on SmackDown
According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, WWE may be set to flip CM Punk into a heel upon his SmackDown debut. The storyline could portray Punk as a “hypocrite,” a figure he has historically despised and criticized.
Historically, Punk prided himself on consistently showing up for WWE and putting in the work. However, his recent months-long absence followed by an abrupt return and an immediate title shot echo the very behaviors he once denounced. The narrative suggests Punk is now embodying the exact traits he once condemned.
Cody’s a babyface. Sami [Zayn] is gonna end up being Daniel Bryan here. I think we may finally get that CM Punk heel turn because the story here is basically he’s a hypocrite. He’s everything that he complained about. Remember that promo he did, where he goes, ‘I’m always here,’ you know, unlike these Roman Reigns…
Then he went home in April, disappeared until July 6th, and then waltzed in and took that belt, and obviously this is all storyline, but like in storyline he’s everything that he’s complained about for decades, you know, these guys, that just, you know, older guys coming in, taking stuff, not working, I mean, that’s that’s what happened here. So he’s going to SmackDown, I think he might be [turning heel].”
Is CM Punk turning heel?
“The story here is basically he’s a hypocrite. He’s everything he complained about.”
– Bryan Alvarez pic.twitter.com/e8ofdZCF2W
— Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) July 8, 2026