'%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)
AEW Full Gear's hard hitting main event between the deranged Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega has had tongues wagging in the pro wrestling world these past few days.
Was it too brutal? Did it cross a line in the sand? Or did it just reveal a side of AEW that we didn't know existed, perhaps?
Even as the pro wrestling fraternity mulled over those questions, their attention was abruptly hijacked by the return of CM Punk to WWE-related television when he debuted on FOX's WWE Backstage show.
To clarify, Punk will be working for FOX and not WWE. He has also repeatedly maintained that he has zero interest in lacing up those boots, 'X'-ing those handwraps and setting his watch to Clobbering Time again.
But when Cult of Personality's electric intro riff hit, Paige's glorious disbelief, Joe's warm smile of recognition and Adam Cole's air guitaring all melted into a cresendo of a moment that captured a pro wrestling fan's imagination.
After five long years, CM Punk was back - sort of - in the WWE.
WWE on FOX's Youtube channel did nothing to dispel the euphoria either, pinning a comment asking fans if that moment finally marked his return to the company.
With Survivor Series just around the corner and conveniently scheduled to take place in Punk's hometown of Chicago...we'd certainly like to think so.
Here then, are five epic scenarios for CM Punk's potential return at Survivor Series 2019.
Also Read: 5 harsh realities about CM Punk's WWE return that nobody wants to talk about
#5 Interfering in the Brock Lesnar vs Rey Mysterio Title match
If CM Punk were to return to WWE, it'd be a safe bet to assume that he'd be plugged right at the top of the totem pole, challenging for one of the main titles straight away.
Despite half a decade away from the company and pro wrestling as a whole, arenas still resonate with chants of 'CM Punk' and a potential return - that he so vehemently keeps shooting down - is bullishly considered within fan circles a matter of when and not if.
After all this time, it is undeniable CM Punk is still extremely popular - perhaps even more so than most active WWE Superstars.
That, coupled with his storied history with the WWE Championship and the nefarious Brock Lesnar - Paul Heyman duo, make an interference in the WWE Title match a tempting option.
Everyone already has a pretty astute idea of how Brock Lesnar vs Rey Mysterio probably going to go. An underdog versus the Beast generally ends only one way.
The return of CM Punk, however, would shatter the predictability, not to mention the roof of Allstate Arena too.
#4 Returns as part of Team NXT
This would be the ultimate swerve in some senses as NXT is Triple H's brainchild - a man with whom CM Punk gets on..umm..swimmingly well.
However, given that the members of both Team RAW and Team Smackdown have already been announced, team NXT presents the only conventional opening for CM Punk to insert himself into the match.
In fact, the addition of CM Punk to the NXT roster could be the ammunition needed for WWE during Wednesday nights after the Black & Gold brand's move to USA Network.
Punk wouldn't need to work the exhaustive dates that the main roster does and could still feature prominently in more wrestling-centric programming that is NXT.
'Best in the World', goes his moniker. Wrestling in NXT would be his chance to prove it.
#3 Surprise member of Team SmackDown
Although the members of Team RAW and Team SmackDown have already been announced, there is still plenty of time to go until Survivor Series where the status quo can be disrupted.
Should CM Punk and WWE agree for him to return at the event, any one of the members in either team can be replaced and convincingly so. Given that he will be a part of FOX's WWE Backstage show, however, it makes more sense for him to join team blue.
The Superstar he would be replacing could be written off due to 'injury', bow out of the team because of in-fighting or just flat out refuse to represent the brand...take your pick.
And there are sufficient episodes of RAW and SmackDown left before Survivor Series for the story arc to be told convincingly and make sense too.
That would conveniently leave WWE with a mystery team member to announce heading into the event.
No prizes for guessing who.
#2 In a standalone promo segment
In the mere 40-odd seconds that CM Punk appeared on WWE Backstage, the man left us ample reminder with a brilliant spinoff line originating from Roddy Rowdy Piper - that beyond his considerable skills within the ropes, he is absolute promo gold.
A week on from what many are hailing as Cody's version of Hard Times, it was apropos that Punk borrowed from another pro wrestling legend to announce his almost return to WWE.
If he does end up making a full blown comeback at Survivor Series, no one would complain if the WWE engineered an elaborate story arc to make sure his return lived up to the hype.
But there is something to be said for allowing the true essence of CM Punk to shine through if he does show up at Survivor Series.
And it doesn't take a storyline, involving other superstars or anything else too fancy. All it takes is a microphone, so that the Voice of the Voiceless can be heard again.
#1 To attack Triple H...and side with Vince McMahon
Triple H has been front and centre in leading NXT's charge in the lead up to Survivor Series in an angle not totally dissimilar to the infamous WCW invasion angle headed up by Shane and Stephanie McMahon back in 2001.
Back then, it was a returning Rock who ended up choosing the 'devil he knew as compared to the devils he didn't' and siding with Vince McMahon and WWE over the pretenders to the throne.
Having CM Punk feature in a similar role, coming to RAW and SmackDown's aid when Triple H and NXT deign to run roughshod over them, would be a classic, tried-and-tested babyface return angle.
It would also make sense for Punk to be pitted against Triple H because The Game was heavily involved in the machinations that saw Summer of Punk end in ignominy.
A spot of payback never hurt anyone. Especially in a platform like Survivor Series that promises to deliver an intriguing clash between the established RAW and SmackDown brands and the rebel upstart that is NXT.
It almost smacks of a change in culture.
