CM Punk Versus Randy Orton: Which Rumored Return Can Have the Bigger Impact at Survivor Series?

For fans, the return of their favorite wrestling stars is always cause for excitement and anticipation. The same thing is happening for two of the missing figures in sports entertainment. A superstar returning from injury and another making perhaps an earth-shattering comeback to the promotion he bitterly left nearly a decade ago. We are of course talking about Randy Orton and CM Punk. On one hand, The Viper suffered a legitimate back injury that has kept him away from the wrestling scene for nearly a year and a half now, and on the other, Punk indulged in a controversial backstage tussle at Wembley Stadium during the AEW All-In that led to his firing from Tony Khan’s company a few months ago.

Now the wrestling world is waiting for both guys with bated breath, and the fans feel that two of them could possibly return to the squared circle at WWE’s next PLE Survivor Series in Chicago.

If that is so, it will be interesting to analyze whose return could have a bigger impact on the current pro wrestling landscape. Will it be Punk or Orton? Let’s find out.

The fans might be emotionally invested in Randy Orton

The fans’ affection for Randy Orton has only grown stronger since he left the ring. The May 20, 2022, episode of SmackDown was the last one when the 14-time world champion squared off against the Usos in the tag team title unification match. A few days after it was revealed that Orton had endured a horrific back injury that has prevented him from competing to this day.

But concerning his return, good news could come anytime soon. According to Fightful Select, Orton could come back for the Survivor Series PLE to fill up the void of the 5th member of the babyface team. This implies that Sami Zayn, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, and Jey Uso might welcome the veteran in their squad. Well, if the reports are certain, it could possibly be Orton’s last run as a wrestler. Given that he is returning after enduring a serious back injury, Orton might be fighting in the twilight of his career. Consequently, The Viper’s admirers would be emotionally invested in him and would be eager to watch him battle.

In addition, John Cena left the WWE following his defeat at Crown Jewel, and Orton would reinstate that major star element. This implies that he might draw in the crowd by appealing to their nostalgia for the days when Cena and Orton wrestled together. Thus Orton’s return has got everything to get the fans on the edge of their seat. In fact, there is one more reason for this.

Orton’s history at Survivor Series plus his WarGames partners make it a perfect occasion

It’s no secret that Randy Orton and WWE’s Survivor Series have a strong affinity. In actuality, Orton has frequently been a member of winning teams. Furthermore, the 43-year-old was his team’s lone survivor in the conventional elimination tag team match from 2003 to 2005. This reveals the impeccable record the veteran holds in PLE history. And his return at this point makes a lot of sense.

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Similarly, Orton has history with some of the stars in the WarGames match. Fans would fondly recall his association with Cody Rhodes as part of Legacy over a decade ago. Seeing these two team up together again will be a treat for the WWE Universe. Moreover, Orton also feuded with Seth Rollins for a good amount of time as part of The Authority storyline in 2015. Could we see a returning Orton turn heel on Rhodes or Rollins? Talk about making an impact.

The report from Fightful also gave an insight that Drew McIntyre might turn heel to join The Judgement Day at Wargames. Well, it could surely make Orton’s return even more interesting considering his historic beef with McIntyre. But what about CM Punk? Will his return be a bigger deal?

CM Punk’s return after 9 years will surely keep the fans captivated

It’s been a long nine years since CM Punk left the WWE. His last appearance was in the 2014 Royal Rumble, following which he left the Stamford-based promotion since friction arose between both parties.

But after seven years, he returned to the wrestling scene, this time with the AEW. When Tony Khan welcomed Punk to AEW for the first time during an episode of Rampage, he was also able to gain tons of viewers who tuned in to watch the show. It was, in fact, the highest rating that any AEW episode had received since the show’s launch. The total viewership of the program reached an astounding 1.129 million.

This demonstrates CM Punk’s immense fame, even outside of the WWE. And that eagerness of fans might be a key factor in the 45-year-old’s success in making a big impression on the wrestling community following his comeback. His possible WWE return after 9 years, particularly after the bad blood on both sides and his stint with AEW, will stand out as one of the biggest moments in pro wrestling in recent memory. There is another reason why Punk’s second coming in WWE could have a bigger impact.

Survivor Series is Punk’s hometown

The pro wrestling world is aware of Chicago’s love for their hometown hero, CM Punk. Recall Punk’s historic triumph over John Cena at Money in the Bank in 2011 and it will stand out as one of the iconic moments in WWE history. The upcoming Survivor Series will take place at the Allstate Arena, which is located very close to Chicago. This implies that the crowd inside the arena might already be chanting for his return and give Punk a massive pop if he makes his WWE comeback at the PLE.

There are numerous ways that the WWE may schedule his comeback. Perhaps he could confront Logan Paul during the event. Or how about his confrontation with Grayson Waller? Or his arrival right after the evening’s main event, which could be the WarGames match and save babyfaces from a beatdown if the heels are victorious.

Punk has been one of a one-of-a-kind name in pro wrestling. While Orton’s return to WWE after an injury is a matter of when rather than if, a CM Punk return to WWE in 2023 in Chicago has got every chance to be slightly more impactful and seen as a bigger deal. Let us know who do you want to see at Survivor Series.

Watch the story: Randy Orton’s Return To WWE Rumored To Be Grander Than Past Times Reports Suggest