CM Punk likely to main event WrestleMania 41 with WWE legend, World Champion speaks
CM Punk and Seth Rollins have reignited their rivalry on WWE RAW, signaling the highly anticipated showdown for WrestleMania 41. But a certain World Champion suspects a different scenario for The Best in the World.
TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth feels that Punk specifically articulating the ways he may get to Las Vegas on the flagship show this week could have been a subtle hint that he is most definitely going to chip in his favor from The Wiseman, Paul Heyman. The two could pair up in time for The Show of Shows.
Nic Nemeth joined David LaGreca on Busted Open to discuss some of the highlights of the eventful December 2 episode of WWE RAW. He pointed to CM Punk being the old-timer of the block now, reminiscing about Punk's Royal Rumble 2024 performance which led to a triceps injury that kept the latter away from the ring for six months.
Nemeth noted that it does not matter whether The Best in the World wins the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber in 2025, because he has a "golden ticket" to WrestleMania 41:
"I think he realizes, maybe I'm wrong—the last time he was in the Rumble, didn't he end up getting injured? And he wasn't able to finish the Rumble. So maybe he's saying, 'Hey man, they're penciling me in to win the Royal Rumble, but my body is my body. So, who knows if it will be there? Maybe I do have to call in a favor,'" Nic Nemeth speculated. [From 2:58 to 3:20]
Who will be in possession of the World Titles come WrestleMania season for CM Punk to potentially challenge?
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will defend the belt against Kevin Owens at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 14. WWE's analyst Sam Roberts—who accurately predicted a Paul Heyman Guy joining Roman Reigns's team at Survivor Series: WarGames—teased the possibility of CM Punk facing The American Nightmare after Punk and The OTC shook hands.
The Second City Saint himself iterated "Finish the story" during his aforementioned RAW promo this past Monday, hinting that he could move to SmackDown and face the brand's titleholder.
As of this writing, though, CM Punk is a RAW Superstar, where World Heavyweight Champion Gunther reigns supreme. The Ring General will also be defending his belt at SNME, against Finn Bálor.
Recently, the champion seemingly made a reference to Punk during a backstage segment, who in turn voiced a desire to challenge for the strap on television in September.
If you use the quote, please credit Busted Open and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.