CM Punk’s extraordinary reign as World Heavyweight Champion came to an end this past weekend in Las Vegas. Roman Reigns emerged victorious over The Best in the World, claiming the title in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Night Two.
Heading into his championship bout against Reigns at The Show of Shows, Punk appeared unbeatable. He had defeated major contenders like Bron Breakker and Finn Balor before meeting Reigns on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Despite delivering a stellar performance against Reigns last Sunday, The Second City Saint fell short of victory.
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Punk came close to toppling The Tribal Chief multiple times and should take pride in his exceptional work on RAW over recent months. With his World Heavyweight Championship reign concluded, Punk should now focus on pursuing new challenges.
This article explores four reasons why CM Punk should transition from the red brand to SmackDown following WrestleMania 42.
CM Punk has been a RAW Superstar since his return in 2023
In November 2023, CM Punk made his return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames, joining the RAW roster. After an initial setback due to injury, Punk bounced back and engaged in a memorable rivalry with Drew McIntyre, winning their trilogy and reclaiming his place at the top.
Since then, Punk has been a leading figure on the red brand. He ushered RAW into the Netflix era, elevated young talents like Bron Breakker, and held the World Heavyweight Championship for months after Seth Rollins suffered a shoulder injury last year.
Having accomplished everything possible on RAW, Punk should consider moving to SmackDown to help the brand regain its prominence. SmackDown requires a veteran like The Second City Saint to guide its roster in the post-WrestleMania season.
The Second City Saint has already defeated the top names of RAW
CM Punk was initially set to face Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL but was sidelined by an injury at the Royal Rumble 2024. He returned triumphantly, defeating Drew McIntyre at Bash in Berlin and Bad Blood. Punk also played a key role in The OG Bloodline’s conflict with The Bloodline (aka MFT).
He started a heated rivalry with Seth Rollins in early 2025, defeating him on RAW’s Netflix debut. After WrestleMania 41, Punk took on Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed of The Vision, as well as LA Knight. Last November, he defeated Jey Uso to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.
As RAW’s top champion, Punk faced formidable opponents like Finn Balor, AJ Styles, and Breakker. Last week, he battled Roman Reigns, the red brand’s biggest star. With such a prestigious list of matches, Punk needs fresh challenges, making a move to SmackDown an appealing option to face new competitors like Aleister Black and Cody Rhodes.
WWE teased Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk on RAW
Fans have eagerly anticipated a clash between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk since The American Nightmare eliminated Punk to win the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble. However, the two have been on separate brands for the past two years.
Rhodes overcame a major hurdle in his Undisputed WWE Title reign by defeating Randy Orton in the WrestleMania 42 main event. While Orton and Rhodes still have unresolved issues, WWE hinted at a match between The Prodigal Son and The Second City Saint on the RAW following ‘Mania.
This past Monday on RAW, CM Punk hinted at pursuing the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes quickly responded, expressing his openness to a potential title match. Many fans believe this segment laid the groundwork for the main event of WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia.
If Punk seeks the top title on SmackDown, he may need to overcome leading figures on the blue brand to earn a shot at Rhodes’ championship.
SmackDown needs a top star amid reports of Cody Rhodes’ and Randy Orton’s injuries
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are key figures on SmackDown, embroiled in a fierce rivalry over the Undisputed WWE Championship. During WrestleMania 42, Rhodes sustained an injury and entered concussion protocol. Reports also suggested Orton was “hurting” going into his title match against The American Nightmare at ‘Mania.
As of now, Rhodes’ condition remains uncertain, with no significant updates on Orton’s status. If both are sidelined in the coming weeks, WWE will need a megastar to fill their void on SmackDown. CM Punk appears to be the ideal candidate for this role, especially as he seeks direction following his title loss to the OTC at WrestleMania.
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Edited by Pratik Singh
