'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
CM Punk seems to be all the WWE Universe wants to talk about after the former WWE Champion made a surprise appearance on an episode of Backstage. One has to wonder where exactly things will go from here. There's also plenty of speculation as to whether CM Punk's return will result in an actual in-ring return, which will be interesting to watch play out as well.
All that aside, CM Punk returning in any form or fashion is a big move and will surely reap benefits for all parties involved. It could even be that one thing that ends up bringing the Internet Wrestling Community back together to cheer on the return of whom many consider their favorite Superstar.
With that stated and the cat now fully out of the bag, here are four people that stand to benefit the most from CM Punk's return. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and tell us whether you think this will result in a full fledged in-ring return or not.
#4 AJ Lee
WWE lost one of its biggest and brightest stars when AJ Lee decided to retire after WrestleMania 31 and the company hasn't been the same without her. Of course, the ongoing Women's Revolution has taken some of that feeling away, but she was still an irreplaceable Superstar.
With that stated and CM Punk now seemingly on decent terms with FOX and WWE, it feels like there is finally room for Punk's wife, AJ Lee, to make a return to the squared circle. In fact, now that it seems that the two sides are on good terms and Lee isn't caught in the middle between her employer and her husband, the time is right to make a deal!
Whether Lee and WWE ultimately come to a deal or not remains to be seen and will depend on how both sides feel about the situation, but at least it feels like the two parties are one step closer to doing so.
#3 Everyone involved in the Fox Sports deal
FOX Sports was aiming to achieve legitimacy when SmackDown premiered on their network this fall and while it has worked to some extent, the ratings haven't always reflected that. Fortunately for FOX Sports, however, they have just been handed the most interesting man in pro wrestling on a silver platter.
Beyond all that, Punk's mere appearance on Backstage this week has set the Internet Wrestling Community on fire and renewed a lot of interest in the product. This is all very important in the grand scheme of things and is the perfect chance for the network to capitalize on all these extra eye balls that are now tuned in.
Whether those eyeballs come from casual viewers, longtime viewers, or first timers, people are going to want to see what all the fuss is about and what happens next. It also opens the door to Punk making his return by heading over to SmackDown, which would prove to be very interesting to watch.
In the end, it's just a good deal all around and a perfect example of how unpredictability makes pro wrestling all the more exciting.
#2 The WWE Universe
What a great time to be a pro wrestling fan! Between the first ever women's match in Saudi Arabia, the build up to Survivor Series, and now CM Punk involved in pro wrestling again, it's safe to say that fans are absolutely spoiled at this point and that's before we even get to the fact that wrestling is on three nights a week now!
Having CM Punk on WWE Backstage is going to be great for the WWE Universe on a variety of levels. First, it gives the show the feeling of unpredictability and with Punk's way of talking will virtually guarantee that fans hang on to his every word.
The second thing that makes this such a great move is the fact that CM Punk was often considered 'The Voice of the Voiceless' in WWE, which should make him an excellent mouthpiece for what fans are actually thinking. As a FOX employee, CM Punk isn't beholden to WWE at this point in time, meaning he can probably go off the cuff, if he so chooses.
If nothing else, this is going to make for some great television and maybe even the return to the squared circle that fans have been clamoring to see for quite some time now.
#1 Vince McMahon
It's no secret that WWE has been gaining momentum this past year, especially with their historic dream matches and SmackDown's move to FOX, but it still feels like the company is missing that extra special something. Interestingly enough, however, that extra special something seems to have fallen right into their lap.
While WWE has made monumental strides with the first ever all female main event at WrestleMania 35 and even followed that up with the brilliant debut of The Fiend, the product has still lacked unpredictability. Now that CM Punk is back in some capacity, however, it seems like the company has recaptured it, at least in some sense.
Of course CM Punk and Vince McMahon will have to sit down and finalize a deal, but just having 'The Second City Saint' involved in the product is a plus for the company.
At best, this could be the basis for a storyline that blurs the lines between fiction and reality and at worst, it could generate the fan interest the company needs right now. Either way, Punk being involved with the product again is a huge benefit to everyone involved.
We want to know what you think of the matches that you see on TV! Go to our WWE page here to rate them!
