WWE Announces CM Punk For Fanatics Fest

CM Punk’s WWE status has been a heavy topic of conversation over the last week or so, with unsubstantiated rumours emerging of issues between Punk & TKO and talk of a wild WWE exit, which were soon debunked. This comes amidst CM Punk’s current WWE absence, not being seen since the RAW after WrestleMania 42 where he promised that he was going to be there every week. Well, he isn’t returning to WWE programming just yet, but WWE have announced him for an appearance.

During the June 12 Friday Night SmackDown broadcast, a video package hyped up CM Punk for an upcoming appearance at Fanatics Fest. This event will be taking place on July 19 in New York City, New York. 

This announcement comes after reports that the former World Heavyweight Champion is set to make his return to WWE programming on the road to SummerSlam 2026, with news suggesting that he will be returning back over the Friday Night SmackDown brand rather than on the Monday Night RAW roster, where he has been a member ever since his 2023 comeback.