Blatant CM Punk Reference On WWE SmackDown?

WWE

UPDATE: Corey Graves has now addressed the apparent CM Punk reference from SmackDown – click here for more.

After an earlier reported had stated that a WWE source claimed there had been no purposeful CM Punk references on WWE television recently, there was one on SmackDown that is hard to deny.

In referencing to the upcoming Fastlane 2023 match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Seth Rollins, Corey Graves took care to say the following very specific line:

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was making the world forget that he existed.”

Graves was specifically referring to the possibility of Damian Priest cashing in Money in the Bank on either Nakamura or Rollins.

Of course, what we don’t know for sure at this point is whether the line came from WWE management, or if Graves just decided he wanted to say it.

With the quote not only reminiscent of CM Punk from an infamous Ring of Honor promo, it also calls back to his recent feud in AEW with MJF.

Recently on Twitter, fan theories have floated about with the notion that specific moments from WWE Raw had been clues towards the return of CM Punk.

The first of those was a couple of weeks ago as Seth Rollins referred to himself as “the best in the world”, one of Punk’s signature catchphrases even though it’s obviously something that many top wrestlers say.

Then a week later, this past Monday, there was an in-ring interview with Rollins with one line that one again sparked a comparison.

Michael Cole, who was in the ring with Rollins for the segment, said:

“… How about ‘manipulator’, ‘puppeteer’ at times. But it seems like this time around, you’re actually the puppet.”

Some of the verbiage in that line was the same as a famous promo from CM Punk back in his ROH days, during which Punk said:

“This is my stage, this is my theater. You are my puppets, and I pull those marionette strings, and I use your emotions, and I toy with them. Because honestly, I get off on it.”

Per an earlier Fightful Select report, they “were told adamantly” that those social media theories attributing recent WWE dialogue to clues of an impending CM Punk return were not meant to be Punk specific teases.

Despite all of that, Dave Meltzer reported earlier today that sources close to Punk said that he and WWE are “in talks” and his intention is to return to the company.

Nick Hausman for Haus of Wrestling also reported that a WWE source has said they feel it’s a “safe bet” Punk will be at Survivor Series in Chicago next month.

Elsewhere in the Fightful report it was discussed that there are two top stars CM Punk may need to ‘mend fences’ with in order to ensure a successful return to WWE – to read more about that, you can click this link.

Corey Graves on #SmackDown: "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making the world forget that he existed." 👀🤔pic.twitter.com/O7Bl6WY71D

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) October 7, 2023

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• corey graves
• cm punk
• Smackdown
• wwe

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