This past Friday’s WWE SmackDown brought the wrestling world to a standstill with a segment that not only boosted ratings but shattered social media records. Paul Heyman shocked the WWE Universe by introducing CM Punk as the fifth member of Roman Reigns’ team for the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series. Alongside Reigns, Sami Zayn, and The Usos, Punk is set to take on Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline faction.
It was Punk’s first WWE appearance since October’s Raw, where he defeated Drew McIntyre in a grueling Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood. The anticipation of his return sent SmackDown’s viewership soaring, with the show averaging 1.578 million viewers—a jaw-dropping 28% increase. But the buzz didn’t stop there.
WWE announced on Raw that Punk’s surprise return, combined with Paul Heyman’s involvement, smashed a social media milestone. The segment garnered over 72 million views, making it the most-watched SmackDown moment of 2024. Heyman, never one to miss a moment of self-promotion, celebrated the achievement on “X” (formerly known as Twitter), reveling in the segment’s record-breaking success.
Fans won’t have to wait long for more drama. Sami Zayn revealed on Raw that this Friday’s SmackDown will feature a face-to-face meeting between Reigns and Punk—an explosive encounter that promises to set the stage for Survivor Series. Additionally, Jey Uso will battle Jacob Fatu in a WarGames Advantage match. Spoilers for the pre-taped episode are already circulating online, but the buzz surrounding these storylines remains unshakable.
The record-breaking segment, Punk’s return, and the brewing WarGames chaos solidify SmackDown’s place as must-see television. Stay tuned—because when CM Punk and Roman Reigns share a ring, history is bound to be made.