Randy Orton Recalls Conversation With Triple H Before CM Punk WWE Return

WWE

Randy Orton has shared the backstage story of when he was told that CM Punk would be returning to WWE at Survivor Series 2023.

At WWE’s final Premium Live Event of 2023, the company pulled a one-two punch of major returns in the form of 14-time world champion Randy Orton and CM Punk.

Despite Orton being under contract with WWE throughout his 18 month absence, the severity of his back injury meant that his return was arguably as unlikely as Punk’s at points.

However, unlike Punks’ return, Orton’s was near-enough confirmed ahead of time to be Cody Rhodes’ fifth man on his War Games team, taking away the surprise factor that Punk’s had.

Something that, according to Orton, WWE did solely to avoid fans in Chicago being disappointed or getting their hopes up that the fifth man would instead be Punk.

Which made it rather shocking to Orton, when Triple H informed him that Punk would actually be returning at Survivor Series after all.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated in a lengthy new interview, Orton revealed what the original plan was for his return, and how CM Punk altered that.

Orton said:

“I was supposed to be a surprise in WarGames at Survivor Series.

“All these CM Punk rumors started a month prior, and everyone thought–since we were in Chicago for Survivor Series–that CM Punk would be the surprise.

“So they had Cody a week before WarGames say that he had a friend–me–that was going to come. The surprise was spoiled all because Punk was rumored to be there, and WWE didn’t want people to be pissed.”

Orton continued to detail the conversation he had with Triple H on the day of Survivor Series, where he was informed that Punk would also be making his return:

“The day of Survivor Series, I’m about to get my boots on, I’m feeling the nerves, it had been a year-and-a-half.

“Triple H is like, ‘Hey Randy, I’ve got to talk to you for a second.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, what’s up, man?’ So he told me a couple things. And then he went, ‘One more thing–Punk’s returning tonight.’

“I thought he was f—— with me. I said, ‘You’re joking,’ and he was like, ‘No, I’m not. This is something that just happened in the last few days, yada yada yada.’”

The Viper then spoke of his genuine reaction to Punk’s return afterwards, revealing that the old him would have been “pissed”, yet his actual reaction was the opposite – and was a testament to his growth as a person.

Orton explained:

“I was so excited for this surprise return, that’s never really been the case. They’ve always kind of stooged off the fact I was returning; they wanted those views. So I’d never had that surprise return.

“I could have been really pissed, and old Randy would have been pissed.

“It was a defining moment for me. I went out there, we had a great WarGames match, everybody was excited that I returned, everybody was excited that Punk returned, and neither return stepped on each other.

“It was a testament to how much I’d grown. It would have been an issue only if I made it one, so I was proud of the way I handled it.”

Since Orton’s return he has been on the pursuit of world championship number 15.

Firstly challenging for Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble, and now has the opportunity to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 for the World Heavyweight Title.

In order to do so he must first defeat five other men inside the Elimination Chamber, this Saturday (February 24) in Perth, Australia.

For the latest WWE news ahead of the event follow this link here.

Want to stay up to date with all the most important Wrestling and WrestleTalk News? Join our newsletter mailing list by clicking here, and selecting your preferences!

• survivor series
• Triple H
• Randy Orton
• cm punk
• Return
• wwe

Share this article with friends