WWE Survivor Series 2023: CM Punk Returning And 5 Potential Surprises

CM Punk could make an improbably WWE return after leaving AEW.

Ryan Loco

WWE will be without Roman Reigns at Survivor Seres WarGames 2023, but the pay-per-view is still shaping up to be one for the ages.

In 2022, the Survivor Series event was built around The Bloodline’s feud with a loaded babyface squad led by Drew McIntyre, and it was the most successful showing in its storied history. Survivor Series 2022 set numerous records, including the largest live gate in Boston history and the highest viewership since its inception in 1987.

This year’s show, even in the absence of Reigns, has a strong storyline-driven card, one headlined by not one but two highly anticipated WarGames matches and the return of Randy Orton after a year-and-a-half hiatus. As the last major stop on the road to January’s Royal Rumble, rest assured that Survivor Series will play a significant role in the development of several top storylines.

Oh, and Survivor Series 2023 shourld be filled with plenty of surprises, too.

MORE FROM FORBESWWE Reportedly Interested In Signing NJPW Star Kazuchika OkadaBy Blake Oestriecher Bayley And Damage CTRL Win The Women’s WarGames Match

WWE has made it clear that Bayley and Damage CTRL are headed for a split at some point, and there’s an old booking philosophy in WWE that when a star wins on TV just before a pay-per-view, that star tends to lose on the PPV itself.

Combine those two factors, and it would appear that Bayley is destined to lose the women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series before being ousted from Damage CTRL by her stablemates. Especially when you consider that the opposing squad has Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair—the three most pushed women in WWE—the odds are stacked against Bayley’s squad.

That’s precisely what would make a win for the stable nothing short of a shocker. With Damage CTRL seemingly on the verge of implosion, a victory for Asuka, Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane or Bayley would be an upset at this point. Meanwhile, the continuation of Damage CTRL in its current format would also be a surprise, making a Damage CTRL win over the most stacked women’s WarGames team ever a potential jaw-dropper at Survivor Series.

Damian Priest Becomes WWE World Heavyweight Champion

Will he or won’t he? That’s been the predominant question concerning Damian Priest and whether or not he will cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase.

Priest has been getting high praise backstage in WWE for his stellar work as part of The Judgment Day. Yet, WWE still seems to be waffling on whether or not he will successfully cash in his briefcase to become a world champion. The fact that he continues to feud with current World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, however, suggests that his cash-in is near.

Survivor Series WarGames presents Priest with the perfect opportunity to do it, too. He and Rollins will be on opposing teams in what is sure to be a brutal match that could leave the world champion vulnerable to a cash in.

Especially with McIntyre also involved in this match and still having beef with Rollins, the stars are aligned for Priest to finally cash in his briefcase on Rollins and become world champ for the first time.

Gunther Loses The WWE Intercontinental Championship

Should Gunther lose the WWE Intercontinental Championship to The Miz? Absolutely not. Could he? Certainly.

WWE, after all, reportedly has high hopes for The Miz as a babyface after his recent turn, with company officials viewing the two-time WWE Champion as a great public representative for the company. Of course, by no means does that guarantee a title win anytime soon, and it would feel like a waste to have an established star like The Miz end Gunther’s historic streak.

But stranger things have happened, and if WWE is truly committed to establishing The Miz as a fan favorite, maybe he pulls off one of the biggest shockers in WWE history by upsetting Gunther.

Randy Orton Turns On His Team

Randy Orton has been out of action since undergoing back surgery in April 2022, and the injury was a career-threatening one, with doctors reportedly advising him not to wrestle again. However, Orton will make his long await in-ring return at Survivor Series, joining the babyface squad in a 5-on-5 WarGames match.

The 14-time world champion is expected to instantly reestablish himself as one of WWE’s most beloved fan favorites. Yet, this is Orton we’re talking about here. He is one of the best heels in WWE history and is notorious for turning to the dark side at the drop of a hat.

Orton has been a top WWE star for roughly two decades, and given that it was only a few months ago that reports indicated his career could be over, his Survivor Series return should generate a massive babyface pop. Yet, he could potentially get an even bigger reaction if he turns heel the same night he comes back by hitting an RKO on a wildly popular babyface like Jey Uso or Cody Rhodes.

CM Punk Returns To WWE After AEW Exit

There has been a ton of back-and-forth regarding a possible WWE return for CM Punk, with some saying it’s likely and others that it’s virtually impossible. Well, this is pro wrestling, where anything can happen.

Just a few years ago, how many fans could have possibly envisioned Cody Rhodes ever returning to WWE after he helped found AEW? Not many. Yet, Rhodes did exactly that and is now one of the biggest stars in WWE. Numerous other high-profile names—ranging from Goldberg to Bret Hart to Ultimate Warrior—returned to WWE programming despite notorious bad beef with the company.

If they can do it, so can Punk, and there is no better time or place than at Survivor Series in Chicago, which would create an unforgettable moment and potentially provide a huge boost to WWE’s business.

Punk was a massive draw for AEW, and though bringing him to WWE certainly comes with its fair share of risks, maybe WWE thinks it’s worth the potential rewards.