'%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 appeared on WWE Backstage last night in what was one of the most shocking returns in the company's history. It should be clarified that Punk has signed with FOX and will be working as part of WWE Backstage and hasn't actually re-signed with WWE.
With that stated, his return to the show and a WWE affiliated product now ends almost six years of rumors and speculation when it comes to the future of the former WWE Champion.
Punk walked away from the company back in 2014 following the Royal Rumble and was fired later that year for breach of contract. While he hasn't actually returned to WWE perse, the fact that he is back on our screens in a wrestling format now gives hope that many other faces could return to the company in the future too.
#4. John Cena
John Cena and CM Punk had some incredible battles throughout their time in WWE and even though Punk hasn't technically returned, he has signed a deal with FOX, who also host WWE SmackDown on their network. This means that it may not take too much convincing for Punk to make his return to the ring and given that he's part of a talk show now, this return could be set up in the same way that the feud with The Miz and Daniel Bryan was built when Bryan was not yet cleared.
Cena is now a part-time Superstar and makes his return whenever he or WWE decides that it's needed, but seeing CM Punk step back into the wrestling business could be enough to bring Cena back, who could, in turn, convince Punk to lace up his boots one more time.
#3. Kane
Kane was in the middle of a feud with CM Punk when the self-proclaimed 'Best in the World' decided to call time on his WWE career. Kane eliminated Punk from The 2014 Royal Rumble match, but there was never any follow up to this on RAW because Punk didn't turn up to be part of the show.
Kane has since seemingly walked away from WWE and is now Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, which means that he isn't able to wrestle on a full-time basis anymore.
Kane has returned a number of times since his change of occupation: once to team with The Undertaker last year in a losing effort to Shawn Michaels and Triple H at Crown Jewel and again earlier this year when WWE visited Tennessee. Sadly, his last return saw him fall at the hands of The Fiend, but CM Punk's return on WWE Backstage has to give many WWE fans hope, especially since there are many handing in release requests at present.
It would be interesting to see Kane return in the future and finally wrap up a five and a half year feud that never actually ended.
#2. Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon traveled to Crown Jewel last year and was the man who became known as 'The Best in the World.' Over the past year, the son of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has reminded the WWE Universe about this at every turn, but was silenced by Kevin Owens when WWE made their debut on the FOX Network last year.
CM Punk claimed he was 'The Best in the World' long before there was any tournament to decide the same and he's the star who is most associated with the name. Wrestling can't have two stars who hold the same nickname, which means that at some point these two men will need to cross paths.
CM Punk chants have been happening every time McMahon claims he is 'The Best in the World' and now that Punk is on a show affiliated with WWE, there is nothing stopping Shane McMahon from being a studio guest at some point, so that they can settle who the nickname belongs to once and for all.
After all, Shane McMahon can't return to WWE right now either, since he was fired too.
#1. AJ Lee
CM Punk was fired from WWE on his wedding day back in 2014, the day that he married former Divas Champion AJ Lee. It was the following year that Lee decided to hang up her wrestling boots for good and walk away from the company due to injury.
Lee's back injury was reportedly the main catalyst for her retirement and over the past four years, she has stayed out of the ring and instead focused on writing her autobiography, which has since been turned into a series.
Lee definitely has a busy life right now, as a New York Times Best Selling Author, but now that her husband is back in the wrestling scene, it could mean that she is a few steps closer to a return as well.
Lee was one of the women who helped to revolutionize the Women's Division before the Revolution even began and she has been one of the missing pieces of the puzzle over the past few years. It would be fantastic if this would lead to a return for the former Divas Champion so that she could help put a bigger spotlight on the current Women's Division.
We want to know what you think of the matches that you see on TV! Go to our WWE page here to rate them!
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
