CM Punk’s Return Draws Monster Numbers

CM Punk, the proud owner of a dog named Larry, has more lives than a cat in the wrestling business. Punk most recently landed on his feet in a WWE building at Survivor Series 2023. Punk made his first public comments in almost a decade with his WWE return promo, and huge numbers followed.

Buoyed by the returns of CM Punk and Randy Orton—two return promos that book-ended the show—and a commercial-free first how, Raw garnered 1.884 million viewers, with 863.000 in 18-49. WWE Raw was up 29% in total viewership and up 34% in the 18-49 demo. These numbers are up 13% and 64% from 2022, respectively. Raw also featured the in-ring return of Randy Orton, who defeated Dominik Mysterio with help from rapper and singer Jelly Roll.

Raw caught somewhat of a break against a tame head-to-head matchup against Monday Night Football, if there is such a thing. A far cry from the injury-riddled Minnesota Vikings hosting the hapless Chicago Bears, last week’s Raw faced its toughest Monday Night Football competition yet. In the game of the year, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Philadelphia Eagles to the tune of 29 million viewers.

This was the most-watched MNF game in almost 30 years, though Raw remained relatively flat with 1.459 million viewers.

WWE Raw Viewership For CM Punk’s Return

• WWE Raw Total Viewership | 1.884 million
• WWE Raw 18-49 Viewership | 863,000

CM Punk’s latest return came Saturday night at WWE Survivor Series as the polarizing figure begins his second stint with WWE, fresh off a tumultuous two-year stint in AEW. Punk’s seven-year absence from pro wrestling before that was preceded by a dramatic exit from WWE, which spilled into legal drama.

Punk’s Raw appearance reportedly moved around 1,000 tickets since he was announced (emanating from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville), appearing on WWE’s flagship for the first time since 2014. And while reactions to his return promo were mixed, there remains strong interest in CM Punk from WWE’s fanbase after all these years.

CM Punk received a mostly warm reception from the Nashville crowd, though there did seem to be some trepidation when Punk vowed he had changed. We’ll see about that. Anybody familiar with CM Punk knows his checkered backstage past across many promotions.

Punk name-dropped his wife (ex-WWE Divas champion AJ Lee) to a healthy pop, and alluded to his (kayfabe) issues with Seth Rollins. Rollins called CM Punk a hypocrite earlier in the night. Rollins has gone out of his way to bury CM Punk in interviews, and his off-air tantrum against CM Punk at Survivor Series all but confirmed the two will be working together. All signs point to Punk finally getting to main event his first WrestleMania next year in Philadelphia.

WWE Raw ratings should continue to surge headed into WrestleMania season. WWE has already started the build to the Royal Rumble by teasing Cody Rhodes as its first official entrant. Rhodes was promptly attacked by Shinsuke Nakamura, however, suggesting the top star may face Nakamura instead.