{"id":163265,"date":"2026-06-19T07:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T11:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=163265"},"modified":"2026-06-19T00:58:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T04:58:16","slug":"best-in-the-blue-world-5-smackdown-opponents-for-cm-punk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/06\/19\/best-in-the-blue-world-5-smackdown-opponents-for-cm-punk\/","title":{"rendered":"Best in the Blue World: 5 Opponents for CM Punk on WWE SmackDown"},"content":{"rendered":"

WWE has been dealing with an awkward power dynamic for quite some time, as fans have noticed just how stacked the main roster talent pool is on <\/span>Raw compared to SmackDown<\/span><\/a>. However, it appears the blue brand is set to welcome a major star in the coming weeks who can help balance the scales: CM Punk.<\/span><\/p>\n

After making his <\/span>return to WWE after nearly 10 years<\/span><\/a> at Survivor Series 2023, he immediately reclaimed his spot as a top seller on the WWE Shop, further solidifying his status as one of the company\u2019s biggest stars. But it hasn\u2019t just been his merchandise-selling ability that stands out; it’s also his ability to tell incredible stories while delivering great matches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the prominent storylines he was involved in included his 2024 rivalry with Drew McIntyre, <\/span>which culminated in three matches<\/span><\/a> that concluded inside Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood. He was also one of three men involved in the classic <\/span>Triple Threat match at WrestleMania 41<\/span><\/a>, alongside Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most recently, he delivered what many consider to be one of the best WrestleMania main event matches in recent memory, taking on Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship in a spectacular bout lasting over 33 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before counting down the five potential SmackDown opponents we envision for the \u201cBest in the World,\u201d it\u2019s important first to explain why his move to the blue brand isn\u2019t just a good idea, but an absolute necessity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Punk to SmackDown So Important?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sticking around on Raw is no longer an option, and there are three crucial reasons why Punk\u2019s move to SmackDown would be a complete game-changer. First, his time on Raw has largely run its creative course. Since returning to WWE in 2023, Punk has almost exclusively wrestled on Monday Night Raw. Had WWE kept him there <\/span>after his loss at WrestleMania 42 to Roman Reigns<\/span><\/a>, the company risked a serious case of stagnation. Ultimately, WWE needed to make this move to guarantee Punk maintains his status as one of the company’s elite, crowd-pleasing stars.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second reason ties back to the show-to-show power dynamic we mentioned earlier. Bringing a star of Punk’s caliber to Friday nights gives his loyal fans a compelling reason to tune in every Friday night, while simultaneously injecting a much-needed spark into the SmackDown roster.<\/span><\/p>\n

The third reason has been saved for last, as it is easily the most important. It directly validates what WWE teased in the aftermath of WrestleMania 42, when <\/span>Cody Rhodes confronted a defeated Punk<\/span><\/a> and issued an open invitation for whenever he wanted a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Rhodes currently on SmackDown, it makes all the more sense for the blue brand to be where CM Punk resurfaces. Many fans are expecting WWE to continue a slow burn before the inevitable start of their feud, with most predicting an eventual clash at <\/span>WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Now that we\u2019ve discussed why the move to the blue brand is so crucial, it\u2019s time to dive into our top five list of opponents we want to see \u201cThe Best in the World\u201d take on when he eventually arrives on SmackDown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Gunther\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re starting our list with the \u201cRing General,\u201d <\/span>Gunther<\/span><\/a>. Punk has a great history with him, given that the two fought at last year\u2019s SummerSlam in a <\/span>brutal clash for the World Heavyweight Championship<\/span><\/a>, with Punk ultimately coming out on top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Their established history makes this an easy feud for WWE to revisit, allowing creative to reintroduce it now in a way that makes perfect sense. <\/span>Following Punk\u2019s return and making SmackDown his new home, he declares that he used his time away to get into peak physical shape to prepare himself for the perfect opportunity to target Cody Rhodes and his title.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"match
WWE SummerSlam 2025 graphic featuring CM Punk and Gunther.
(Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But Gunther has other plans as he confronts Punk, telling him that if he wants to go after Rhodes, he has to go through him first. This sets up a perfect response from Punk, who can remind the \u201cRing General\u201d that he\u2019s already beaten him once, and he\u2019s more than willing to do it again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunther represents an excellent first opponent for Punk, offering a high-profile feud capable of injecting serious heat into a SmackDown product that has often felt as cold as a freezer lately.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

4. Trick Williams\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Next up may be an unexpected pick, but he is someone who we think would work quite well. <\/span>Trick Williams<\/span><\/a> is the current United States Champion and stands out as one of the company\u2019s fastest-rising new stars.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s incredible on the mic while also being a solid in-ring worker, someone who perfectly fits Punk\u2019s style. WWE can introduce this story by leaning into an even cockier version of Williams, having him defeat his current field of competition vying for the United States title: Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WWE
A WWE SmackDown graphic featuring Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, and Lil Yachty. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After defeating both challengers, Williams could boast that he\u2019s already the best on the microphone, but is now becoming the best in-ring talent that WWE has to offer. That sets the stage for a shocking entrance from CM Punk, who can cut off the champion to declare that Williams is full of it, and that the real “Best in the World” on the mic has arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n

While a battle of words on the microphone between the two would already be incredible, the in-ring stakes would make a matchup even more thrilling, providing a massive payoff for both competitors. While Williams could secure the biggest victory of his career by taking out a legend, Punk would have the opportunity to win the one title missing from his resume to become a <\/span>Grand Slam Champion<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Carmelo Hayes\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

For our next selection, we decided to choose another unpredictable superstar who would keep things interesting: Carmelo Hayes. Historically, Punk has done an incredible job throughout his career when working with young and savvy wrestlers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A graphic of WWE SmackDown star Carmelo Hayes. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over the last couple of months, Hayes has noticeably improved on the microphone. And who better to put Hayes to the test than \u201cThe Voice of the Voiceless\u201d? Hayes can proclaim that he\u2019s ready for the main event scene, while asserting that fans are tired of aging veterans like Punk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hayes could then lay down a challenge, testing whether Punk can truly hang with the new generation. A feud between the two would feel fresh while building massive equity for Hayes’ future by establishing him as a legitimate main event player.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2. Randy Orton<\/b><\/h2>\n

The next wrestler on our list comes with a few unknowns, given his current medical status, but a healthy Randy Orton would be a compelling choice for an opponent. If SmackDown wants more high-stakes feuds that don\u2019t require a championship belt, there would be no better option than a rivalry between these two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A photo of WWE star Randy Orton (Photo Credit: By KingRaven44 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=9943601)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two share a storied history, having notably battled on the \u201cGrandest Stage of Them All\u201d at <\/span>WrestleMania 27<\/span><\/a>. WWE can leverage this background to create a perfect dynamic, allowing both wrestlers to reflect on their past while focusing on the present and looking ahead toward the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Orton can go after Punk because he feels like the veteran is stealing his opportunity at the Undisputed WWE Championship. \u201cThe Viper<\/a>\u201d can assert that he has unfinished business, while Punk can counter by proclaiming that in order to settle that business, Orton must go through him first.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Cody Rhodes\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

We saved Cody Rhodes for last since it’s the most predictable option and one we\u2019ve already touched upon, but the dynamic would be electric nevertheless. WWE can ignite this inevitable feud by having Punk confront the champion directly, announcing to Rhodes and the crowd that he is officially joining SmackDown and targeting the top prize.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Punk can then go on to say that, rather than being given a title shot, he wants to earn it. He can lay out his path to the top, whether that involves fighting his way through top-tier talent like Gunther, Randy Orton, and Sami Zayn, or securing the briefcase at Money in the Bank.<\/span><\/p>\n

He can also say that if those plans fall through, he’s fully prepared to punch his ticket by winning next year\u2019s Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber. Regardless of the route, a blockbuster collision between the two is guaranteed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Given <\/span>TKO\u2019s history of meddling with Rhodes\u2019 WrestleMania plans<\/span><\/a>, the real question is whether or not they\u2019d do it again, this time involving Punk.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, CM Punk\u2019s potential move to SmackDown isn\u2019t just about filling airtime; it\u2019s about injecting the raw energy the show has desperately needed for quite some time. Bringing him to the blue brand adds one of the company\u2019s most popular superstars to the locker room – someone who might be the missing puzzle piece Friday nights have been lacking all along.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WWE has been dealing with an awkward power dynamic for quite some time, as fans have noticed just how stacked the main roster talent pool is on Raw compared to SmackDown. However, it appears the blue brand is set to welcome a major star in the coming weeks who can help balance the scales: CM […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5699,"featured_media":161634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2,2192,26,3],"tags":[7740,140,98,8238,58,7988],"class_list":["post-163265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wwe","category-featured","category-wrestling","category-smackdown","category-wwe-universe","tag-carmelo-hayes","tag-cm-punk","tag-cody-rhodes","tag-gunther","tag-randy-orton","tag-trick-williams"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163265"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":163284,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163265\/revisions\/163284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}