CM Punk has been out of action since his Match of the Year contender against Drew McIntyre at Bad Blood on October 5, and a new report provides the latest on…
WWE Rumors on CM Punk at Survivor Series, Paul Heyman's Return, Belair-Cargill Split
Nov 13, 2024
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 07: CM Punk addresses the crowd during Monday Night RAW at Enterprise Center on October 7, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Punk Reportedly Scheduled for Survivor Series Appearance
CM Punk has been off television since the Raw following his Hell in a Cell win over Drew McIntyre at Bad Blood last month, but there reportedly may be plans in place for him to make his return in the near future.
According to WrestleVotes (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Punk is scheduled to appear at Survivor Series: WarGames later this month in some capacity.
After Bad Blood, Punk appeared on the ensuing episode of Raw and cut a heartfelt promo. He noted that he was going to take some time to be with his family and wasn't sure when he would be back after absorbing for much punishment inside Hell in a Cell.
As he turned to walk toward the backstage area, Punk came face-to-face with Seth Rollins, who he has plenty of issues with dating back to his return to the company last year.
All signs initially pointed toward a match between Punk and Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, but a triceps injury suffered by Punk in the Royal Rumble blew up those plans.
Punk entered into a rivalry with McIntyre when he returned, but it was still abundantly clear that he was at odds with Rollins as well, especially after interfering in Rollins' world title match against Damian Priest at Money in the Bank in an effort to thwart McIntyre's cash-in.
If WWE wants to go back to Punk vs. Rollins in the near future, running some type of angle between them at Survivor Series could go a long way toward making it happen.
Even if there are no plans for Punk to wrestle at Survivor Series, it would be a fitting event to host his return since his nearly decade-long absence from WWE came to an end at last year's Survivor Series.
Reported Expectations for Heyman's WWE Return
Paul Heyman has been out of action since June when he was attacked by Solo Sikoa after refusing to acknowledge him as Tribal Chief of The Bloodline.
While the exact timeline for Heyman's return remains unclear, veteran pro wrestling journalist Bill Apter said this week on Backstage Pass with WrestleVotes (h/t Mukherjee) that Heyman recently told people he would be back "soon enough.'
WrestleVotes then speculated that WWE may wait until after the Bloodline vs. Bloodline WarGames match at Survivor Series later this month to bring Heyman back.
Sikoa's rise to power coincided with Roman Reigns disappearing from WWE programming after dropping the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40.
While Reigns was gone, Sikoa kicked Heyman and Jimmy Uso out of The Bloodline, replacing them with Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu.
Solo also disparaged Reigns, which led to The Original Tribal Chief returning at SummerSlam and costing Sikoa his WWE Championship match against Rhodes.
Since then, Reigns has been piecing the original Bloodline back together, getting commitment from Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso and Sami Zayn in recent weeks to face the new Bloodline in a WarGames match.
However, both teams worked to find a fifth member of the WarGames teams this week on Raw and they each attempted to court Rollins, so there could be some additions to the bout.
Having Heyman return to help the original Bloodline recruit someone for the team could be a fun angle if WWE wants to go in that direction, or he could surprise the WWE Universe at Survivor Series by accompanying Reigns and Co. to the ring.
Regardless of when the plan is for Heyman to return, he adds a ton to the product whenever he is in the fold, and he should help add another layer of intrigue to the Bloodline vs. Bloodline drama.
WWE Reportedly Laying the Groundwork for Belair-Cargill Breakup
Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are in the midst of their second reign as WWE women's tag team champions, but plans are reportedly already in motion for an eventual breakup.
According to WrestleVotes (h/t Mukherjee), "seeds are being planted" for Belair and Cargill to split and potentially feud with each other coming out of it.
After a successful run in AEW, Cargill signed with WWE last year and made her in-ring debut as part of the 2024 women's Royal Rumble match, which saw her be among the final Superstars remaining in the match.
Cargill then joined forces with Belair and Naomi in their rivalry with Damage CTRL, as they defeated the group in a six-woman tag team match at WrestleMania 40.
Coming out of WrestleMania, Bianca and Jade continued to team together, and they ended up beating Damage CTRL's Kairi Sane and Asuka for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships in May.
They dropped the titles a little over a month later, but Belair and Cargill recaptured them at Bash in Berlin in August, and their second reign has now surpassed two months.
While Belair and Cargill have worked excellently together in the ring, there have perhaps been some hints here and there that they aren't always on the same page.
Most notably, they almost accidentally punched each other outside the ring during their successful title defense against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez this week on Raw, and Jade appeared a bit peeved when it happened.
While Belair and Cargill have been great as a team, Belair has been a huge star on her own in WWE before and Cargill has what it takes to be one as well, so the best course of action may be to break them up and have them feud with each other leading up to a major match at WrestleMania 41.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
Could CM Punk and WWE be working on extending the quickly agreed-upon deal that he signed upon his return last November? It appears that way. The Straight…
WWE Rumors on Samantha Irvin, CM Punk Backstage; Joe Hendry Wants John Cena in TNA
Oct 22, 2024
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 13: Ring announcer Samantha Irvin performs during an episode of Monday Night RAW at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on May 13, 2024 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Details on Samantha Irvin's WWE Departure
WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin shocked the pro wrestling world Monday by announcing in a statement on X that she was leaving WWE:
Irvin made the announcement prior to Raw, and former longtime WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia filled in on Monday night's show in Philadelphia.
According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WrestleTalk), Irvin had been considering leaving WWE "for about a year" due to her desire to expand her music career.
Irvin, 35, is an accomplished singer and flautist who has performed the national anthem at several notable events, including multiple WWE shows and a Las Vegas Raiders NFL game this month.
Despite some immediate speculation after Irvin's announcement, Meltzer reported that she has no plans to go to AEW and is instead pursuing music, although he did not rule out the possibility of her joining AEW at some point.
Irvin is engaged to former WWE Superstar Ricochet, who left the company and made his AEW debut in August.
In response to a post on X about Irvin possibly joining him in AEW, Ricochet denied that it's going to happen:
PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson also reported on Irvin leaving WWE, noting that while a "very tiny group" of people in WWE knew her departure was coming, most in the company learned of it on Monday.
In response to a post on X about Irvin informing WWE "hours before Raw" that she was resigning from her position, Irvin wrote that WWE officials knew for "months" that she intended to leave.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding Irvin's departure and her future plans, her tenure with WWE is over after three years, and she leaves as one of the most beloved and celebrated ring announcers in recent memory.
WWE's Reported Feelings on Punk's Current Run
Amid his successful return to WWE, CM Punk is reportedly receiving high marks from those within the company.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), WWE is "very happy" with how Punk's return has played out and the belief is that "everything has gone really well so far."
Fightful also noted that Punk and WWE were engaged in contract talks "a while back" in an effort to put together a more "expansive" deal than the one Punk quickly signed before his return at Survivor Series last November.
It is unclear if Punk and WWE reached any sort of agreement, but every indication is that both sides are happy with the relationship and intend to continue working together for the foreseeable future.
After receiving a huge reaction from his hometown crowd in Chicago at Survivor Series, Punk competed in the 2024 men's Royal Rumble match, but he tore his triceps in the match, which kept him out for several months.
Even while he was injured, Punk engaged in a rivalry with Drew McIntyre, which allowed him to have a ready-made opponent upon his return.
Punk and McIntyre had a highly acclaimed three-match series, culminating with Punk beating McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood this month.
On the ensuing episode of Raw, Punk announced he would be taking some time off so he could be with his family, and although he expressed uncertainty about his future, there is little doubt that he will be back in the fold eventually as one of WWE's top stars.
Hendry Wants to Invite Cena to TNA
At Saturday's Bound for Glory pay-per-view Joe Hendry is set to challenge Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship.
Should Hendry emerge victorious and win the TNA world title for the first time, he divulged that he has some big plans in the works.
During an interview this week on Sports Central LA (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), Hendry expressed his desire to bring a pro wrestling legend to TNA provided he is able to take down Nemeth:
"Let's put it this way," Hendry said. "If I can get my hands on the TNA World Championship, what kind of champion would I be if I didn't invite John Cena to cross the line into TNA Wrestling? That's just hypothetical."
That was not the first time Hendry went on record about wanting to mix it up with Cena, as he said back in June on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy (h/t Jayakrishna Dasappan of WrestleZone) that he wanted to wrestle Cena and believed it could happen based on the buzz he has generated in TNA and during his appearances in NXT.
Earlier this year, Cena announced that he is preparing to go on a WWE farewell tour in 2025, which will include several appearances and matches throughout the year.
An entry into the 2025 men's Royal Rumble match is expected to be among them, and if that happens, Cena may cross paths with Hendry, who is a popular choice to be a surprise entrant in the Rumble.
Since Cena is one of the biggest stars in wrestling history and Hendry is one of the most viral current stars in the business, an interaction between them would undoubtedly get people talking.
Cena appearing on TNA programming doesn't appear as likely, but since he is wrapping up his pro wrestling career in 2025, perhaps he would be open to doing something he's never done before.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
When names like CM Punk and Brock Lesnar headline the latest and greatest bits of the rumor mill, pro wrestling fans know the upcoming weeks have the…
WWE Rumors on The Rock on Netflix, CM Punk Backstage; Joe Hendry Teases Royal Rumble
Oct 15, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: The Rock making his entrance to the ring at WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
WWE Reportedly Trying to Get The Rock for Raw's Netflix Debut
WWE Raw is set to make its move from USA Network to Netflix in January, and the company is reportedly working hard to secure a massive star for the debut episode.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), WWE is "hopeful" it will be able to get The Rock to appear on the historic show.
Since becoming WWE's weekly flagship show back in 1993, Raw has always aired on traditional championship, but the move to Netflix will mark WWE's first foray into one of its weekly shows streaming live.
It is undoubtedly a massive moment in WWE history, and there is little doubt that the company would love to have as many top stars as possible on hand for the event.
Both Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes seem likely for the show in terms of current stars, and John Cena has already said that he intends to be part of the first Raw on Netflix.
The Rock is perhaps the biggest star of them all, and WWE seems to be building him up for something huge in the coming months.
After Reigns and Rhodes beat Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu in the main event of Bad Blood earlier this month, The Rock made his surprise return, appearing on WWE programming for the first time since April.
The Rock made his intentions clear back in April regarding his desire to get his hands on Rhodes and the WWE Championship, but he may also have an issue with Reigns since Roman is now at odds with The Bloodline.
Regardless of what the plans are for The Rock, WWE would benefit from his presence, and he would make the move to Netflix feel like an even bigger deal.
Punk Reportedly Receiving Positive Reviews Backstage in WWE
CM Punk returned to WWE nearly one year ago, and the move seems to have been highly fruitful for all parties involved.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Mukherjee), "good things" continue to be said about Punk, his actions and his demeanor backstage, and it was speculated that Punk has made it a point to "not justify or sort of give any opportunities to his haters to zero in on the things people have criticized him about."
After leaving WWE in January 2014, Punk returned to pro wrestling with AEW in 2021, but his time with the company was marred by backstage issues and altercations, leading to his release in September 2023.
It was unclear at that point if Punk would ever return to WWE, but he shocked the wrestling world in November 2023 by making a surprise appearance at Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago.
There was plenty of skepticism regarding how Punk would fit in after he left both WWE and AEW on bad terms, but there has yet to be any indication of Punk being a problem child.
In fact, Punk seems to be consistently going above and beyond to provide value to WWE, especially in terms of spending time at the WWE Performance Center and both on camera and behind the scenes in NXT in effort to aid in the development of WWE's up-and-coming stars.
On top of that, Punk has been part of some of the most compelling programming in WWE over the past year, particularly his rivalry with Drew McIntyre, which concluded with a spectacular Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood.
On the ensuing episode of Raw, Punk said he was stepping away for a bit and wasn't sure when he would be back, but when the time comes for him to return, he figures to be a featured part of the show once again.
Hendry Potentially Hints at Royal Rumble Appearance
TNA star Joe Hendry may have teased an appearance in February's men's WWE Royal Rumble match with a somewhat cryptic post Monday on X.
Hendry responded to a fan who said it was "kinda crazy how fast Joe Hendry fell off the radar."
The Scottish star wrote that the post would age poorly "in about four months," which lines up with when the Royal Rumble is set to take place.
The 2025 Royal Rumble will occur on Feb. 1 in Indianapolis, meaning it is now less than four months away.
Given that WWE has a working relationship and talent exchange with TNA, it will not be a shock if Hendry or other TNA wrestlers are used in the Royal Rumble, especially given Hendry's viral popularity.
Hendry has already made several WWE appearances in NXT, including challenging Ethan Page for the NXT Championship at No Mercy in September.
He was instantly over with the WWE Universe thanks to his catchy theme song and strong presence on social media, and there is little doubt that those factors will result in a huge pop if he does enter the Rumble.
Just last year, TNA's Jordynne Grace entered the women's Royal Rumble prior to the talent exchange officially coming into effect, which likely means the possibilities are endless this time around.
Hendry has all the makings of being a future WWE Superstar when the time is right for him to make the jump, and the Rumble could be the perfect litmus test to see what a larger-scale crowd thinks of him.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
Predicting CM Punk's Next Feud on the Road to WWE Survivor Series 2024
Philip Lindsey
Oct 11, 2024
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: CM Punk in the ring during Bad Blood at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
With Drew McIntyre in his rearview, CM Punk can move on to new opponents when he returns from his hiatus.
After The Scottish Warrior injured him in this year's men's Royal Rumble match, the two produced one of the best feuds of 2024. Their encounter in Hell in a Cell silenced many of Punk's detractors and proved the divisive star still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
Still, WWE has milked this matchup for all its worth. It's time for him to face some new challenges and create fresh stories. After all, this premise initially made his shocking return to the company appealing to many fans.
On the latest episode of Raw, The Second City Saint revealed he plans to take some time off to recuperate following his venture into the demonic structure.
It was refreshing to see a wrestler sell the mental and physical toll the match put on them, but it's just as exciting to speculate on when and where they will show up again.
The 45-year-old will be in high demand on the flagship series with a clean bill of health and an empty dance card.
As we inch closer to WrestleMania season, let's consider how WWE could capitalize on Punk ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames.
A Return to the World Title Picture
It may not seem like it, but it's been almost a year since Punk shocked the world by returning to WWE at Survivor Series last November. It took him about the same amount of time elsewhere to climb the power ranking and become the AEW world champion.
Yes, his aforementioned tricep injury meant he couldn't compete in nearly as many matches as in his debut year with the competition.
Nevertheless, the Chicago native has his sights on championship gold and hopes to achieve his dream of headlining WrestleMania before he ends his illustrious career.
Punk took his first steps toward that goal following his win at Bash in Berlin. During the Sept. 2 episode of Raw, he officially called out Gunther before McIntyre attacked him again and reinitiated their bitter rivalry.
Their clash at Hell in a Cell was a satisfying end to this storyline. Now, he can refocus on The Ring General and his pursuit of the title he had a wealth of history with during his original stint with WWE.
Of course, the six-time world champion didn't hold the newest version of the title, but the mantle contested from 2002 to 2013 was integral to his early run on SmackDown. His time with the belt isn't as celebrated as his 434-day reign with the company's top prize, but it's an important part of his rise to prominence.
The two-time Money in the Bank winner used his contract to claim the "big gold belt" twice, and he famously feuded over it with Jeff Hardy and The Undertaker in 2009. So, winning a title that's an homage to the iconic title he once held would be apropos and another way to reignite his rivalry with the inaugural champion, Seth Rollins.
Even more, a win over Gunther would offer him the chance to compete in the main event of The Showcase of the Immortals next year.
High-Risk, High-Reward
On the surface, it may seem risky to pit Gunther against a bigger star following his upcoming match with Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel. It may be even more questionable to drop the title to The Best in the World due to his track record with injuries.
However, The Ring General could benefit from consecutive high-profile matchups, and Punk is presented as one of the main characters on Raw. They would inevitably have to cross paths due to their characters' current motivations, and this could elevate the brand's main title.
Some fans have dismissed the World Heavyweight Championship as a consolation prize since its inception. A major star like Punk could help to change that perception. In fact, a meaningful WrestleMania storyline centered around the significance of the title with Rollins would shift the narrative around it.
Speaking of The Visionary, it hardly seems like a coincidence that WWE is building up more heels on Raw. During this week's episode, the 38-year-old showed hints that he could revert to his old self, and The Miz recently turned on R-Truth.
They both have a history with Punk and a new babyface champion would need compelling antagonists. Bron Breakker also confirmed he didn't turn over a new leaf yet when he attacked Jey Uso, and The Second City Saint teased a future match with him on the Sept. 17 episode of NXT.
John Cena will also return soon to start his retirement tour. Wouldn't it be fitting if one of his greatest rivals is standing in the way of his attempts to break Ric Flair's record when he does? That is a perfect way to set up a rematch with his old foe.
All these developments suggest Punk could realistically be in line for a run as the brand's flagbearer, and there would be many directions to go with him. But it's also clear there are more options available even if he loses Gunther.
Regardless, Punk is undoubtedly on a collision course with The Ring General at Survivor Series on Nov. 30, and we can't wait to see how it turns out.
WWE Rumors on CM Punk at Crown Jewel, Cody Rhodes and Backstage 'Frustration' at Raw
Oct 9, 2024
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 07: CM Punk addresses the crowd during Monday Night RAW at Enterprise Center on October 7, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Punk Reportedly Not Scheduled for Crown Jewel
Following his brutal Hell in a Cell match against Drew McIntyre at Bad Blood, CM Punk reportedly isn't factored into plans for WWE's next premium live event.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Punk is not scheduled for next month's Crown Jewel PLE in Saudi Arabia, and he is not expected to be there.
At Bad Blood, Punk and McIntyre clashed in a classic Hell in a Cell match, creating the perfect atmosphere to settle a rivalry that had been going for close to a year.
Both Superstars laid it all on the line, spilling their literal blood, sweat and tears, but Punk ultimately prevailed by hitting McIntyre with a GTS while a chain was wrapped around his knee.
Two nights later on Raw, McIntyre was not on the show, but Punk showed up to cut a promo and address the WWE Universe.
Punk looked battered and beaten, as he had his arm and hand wrapped and a bandage on his head.
After discussing what he went through inside of the cell, Punk told the fans that he would be going home for a while to spend time with his wife and dog.
Punk gave no timeline for his return, but the tone and feel of the promo suggested that he will be out of the fold for at least several weeks.
Crown Jewel is in less than a month on Nov. 2, so it is safe to assume he won't be part of the show, although a return at or leading up to Survivor Series on Nov. 30 seems more plausible.
Rhodes Posts Strong Bad Blood Merch Sales
Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes reportedly had another strong performance in terms of merchandise sales during Bad Blood weekend in Atlanta.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Mukherjee), Rhodes ranked No. 2 for the weekend behind only general WWE and Bad Blood merchandise, meaning no singular Superstar's merch was more popular than his.
Since Rhodes returned to WWE over two years ago at WrestleMania 38, there have been constant reports regarding his strong merchandise sales, and he has clearly been one of the faces of the company.
At Bad Blood, Rhodes joined forces with former rival Roman Reigns to take on Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu of The Bloodline in the main event.
Rhodes and Reigns were victorious thanks in part to the return of Jimmy Uso, who took out The Bloodline and aligned himself with Reigns.
The Bloodline attacked Rhodes after the match, but Reigns and Uso made the save, perhaps signifying that Reigns has seen the error of his previous ways.
Then, in a segment that made its way to social media rather than being on the Bad Blood premium live event, Rhodes got attacked in the parking lot by Kevin Owens.
Rhodes is a central figure in numerous key storylines and is the reigning WWE champion, and his continued success in terms of merchandise sales is proof that he belongs in his current position.
Some Reportedly Irked by Raw 10-Woman Tag Match
The 10-woman tag team match that took place Monday night on Raw reportedly didn't sit well with some behind the scenes in WWE.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), some talent and staff were "frustrated" with the way the match was handled due to the short length of the match and the fact that there was a commercial break during it.
There is reportedly also a feeling among some that there is a lack of direction when it comes to the Superstars who were involved.
The match in question saw Natalya, Lyra Valkyria, Zelina Vega, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance team up to defeat Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn and Pure Fusion Collective members Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
None of the aforementioned wrestlers are in the title picture right now, and while they have had their feuds intertwined in recent weeks, they have not been a primary focus of the show.
It likely didn't help that Raw went from three hours to two hours this week, and it will continue to be a two-hour show through the rest of the year.
WWE has yet to confirm if Raw will go back to three hours once it debuts on Netflix in January.
Because WWE currently has one less hour to feature talent, some reportedly expressed their belief backstage that the creative team is going through some "growing pains" as it figures out how to navigate a two-hour show.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
Goldberg's WWE Future; Rumors on CM Punk's Health and Raw's Historic Netflix Debut
Oct 8, 2024
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 5: Bill Goldberg poses in the ring with Triple H during Bad Blood at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Triple H Foreshadows Talks with Goldberg
After Goldberg made a surprise appearance at the Bad Blood premium live event on Saturday, WWE head of creative Triple H teased having some further discussions with the WWE Hall of Famer.
On Monday, Triple H made a post on X showing him and Goldberg having a conversation backstage before sharing a handshake and a hug. Triple H included the caption, "We'll talk more very soon."
Several WWE legends were shown in the crowd during Bad Blood, most of whom starred in NWA or WCW, which were headquartered in the Bad Blood host city of Atlanta.
While all of the legends received a warm reception, none got a bigger pop than Goldberg, likely due to the expectation that he would perhaps never be on WWE programming again.
Goldberg last had a WWE match in February 2022 at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia where he lost to Roman Reigns.
In the couple of years that followed, Goldberg made it clear publicly that he wanted to have a proper retirement match and lamented the fact that WWE didn't give it to him.
During an appearance on the Steve & Captain Evil: The Podcast (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News) in December 2023, Goldberg said former WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon had promised him a retirement match, but failed to deliver.
Goldberg is now 57 years of age, but he looked to be in excellent physical condition at Bad Blood, and there is no doubt that he still has plenty of fans.
World heavyweight champion Gunther taunted Goldberg at the premium live event, telling him that he was only joking when he told Bret Hart recently that Goldberg was his all-time favorite wrestler.
Gunther went on to question Goldberg's parenting, which prompted Goldberg to jump the barricade and required security to keep him and Gunther apart.
Every indication is that WWE is teasing and building toward a Gunther vs. Goldberg match, but the looming question now is when it will happen.
Punk Reportedly Not Injured After HIAC Match
Despite collapsing following his Hell in a Cell win over Drew McIntyre at Bad Blood, CM Punk was reportedly fine physically coming out of the match.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Punk falling to the floor an requiring oxygen after the match was all a work and a planned part of the show.
Punk and McIntyre have one of the longest-running and most heated feuds in pro wrestling, and they opened Bad Blood in grand fashion with one of the best Hell in a Cell matches in recent memory.
Punk and McIntyre vowed to make each other bleed inside the cell and they did precisely that, while also putting their own bodies on the line.
In the end, Punk beat McIntyre by hitting him with a GTS after wrapping a chain around his knee, thus giving him revenge once and for all over the man who taunted him over his wife and dog for months.
On Monday night's Raw, Punk looked worse for wear after Saturday's match, as he had his arm and hand wrapped up and a bandage on his head.
Punk cut a promo in which he explained that he needed to go home to spend some time with his wife and was unsure when he would be back.
As we went to walk off, Seth Rollins' music hit and the two of them stared each other down, which clearly foreshadowed a likely match between them after their planned WrestleMania 40 match had to be called off due to a Punk injury.
WWE Reportedly Planning Huge Show for Raw's Netflix Debut
When Raw finally makes the move from USA Network to Netflix in January, WWE reportedly has some big things planned.
According to Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), a longtime WWE employee said the first Raw on Netflix is "likely to be one of the biggest episodes of Raw in history" when it comes to "buzz."
Fightful added that the show is expected to feature a "major lineup," including Superstars from SmackDown.
John Cena told Complex back in August that he would be present for the Netflix debut episode of Raw on Jan. 6, which makes sense given that he already announced his intention to enter the 2025 men's Royal Rumble match in February.
Also, The Rock made his return to WWE programming at Bad Blood, so it would be shocking if he is not part of the first Raw on Netflix as well.
Raw moving to Netflix coincides with a hugely important time on the WWE schedule since it is in the midst of the build toward Royal Rumble, which is the start of WrestleMania season.
That suggests the groundwork could be laid for WrestleMania matches on that first Netflix Raw, making it an even bigger must-see episode.
Raw has generally felt like a bigger deal and a more entertaining show in the Triple H era, which means there is little doubt he will try to go all out when it comes to Raw's Netflix premiere.
January truly marks the start of a new era for WWE with Raw moving from traditional television to a streaming platform for the first time, and making a positive first impression will be paramount in terms of proving to Netflix that the Raw deal was the right move.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.
Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns and CM Punk are three of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, and all three were triumphant at Bad Blood on Saturday night.…
