Multiple WWE talent said to be legitimately upset about CM Punk returning to the company

As seen during the 2023 WWE Survivor Series PLE, CM Punk made his return to the company at the very end of the show. According to Fightful Select, talent were pulled aside right before the War Games match and were informed that Punk would be returning at the end of the show. In regards to the backstage reaction to Punk returning, Fightful noted that there various emotions with some talent being upset while others were said to be “excited” and “curious.”

Fightful stated the following…

“At least one talent claimed legitimately to be upset by the return of Punk. There was one top talent that told Fightful that they understood the surprise aspect of the situation, but felt like Triple H could lose some trust among many people that he worked to build it with.”

Mike Johnson also wrote the following in regards to people finding out about Punk’s return…

“We are told that what Triple H said during the post-PPV media call was correct, that he and [WWE President] Nick Khan were the point people involved in bringing Punk back into the company and that literally no one else in the creative and production side of the company were made aware until during the PPV. We are told a small select group at that point were aware and that most talents were not made aware until moments before the bout, although it believed at least a few were clued in privately before that.”