Revisiting CM Punk's return to wrestling 

While this comparison does not completely do it justice, it felt like connecting the dots in a Choose Your Own Adventure story, leading to a long-awaited happy ending. 

Fans spent weeks before that day speculating whether seemingly random events—such as Kenny Omega wearing a Cookie Monster shirt, Darby Allin referencing the "Best in the World" and, most tellingly, AEW booking the United Center in Chicago, Punk’s hometown, for the second-ever episode of Rampage, dubbed "The First Dance"—were mere coincidences or deliberate setups. 

Punk himself fueled the excitement by referencing key moments in his career and hinting at a return in interviews, building anticipation for that fateful day.

All eyes were set on TNT for the 8 p.m. timeslot. As the show opened, a crowd of over 15,000 own started chanting Punk's name—a chant used for years following his absence to express rebellion and dissatisfaction, but always falling on deaf ears. This time, however, Punk delivered. 

Living Colour's "Cult of Personality" blasted through the arena's loudspeakers for the first time in over seven years as one of the most beloved yet polarizing figures in wrestling history made his return.

This was not the same Punk who left the industry burnt out and disillusioned in 2014. Struggling to contain his emotions amid crowd dives and holding back tears, Punk appeared rejuvenated and, perhaps for the first time since 2012, genuinely happy to be back in the ring—now on his own terms.

The euphoria felt by wrestling fans during that moment is hard to articulate. It was a culmination of years of anticipation and disappointment, and it felt almost surreal, even as Punk sat in the middle of the ring in his signature crisscross pose, speaking passionately about the talent he was excited to face and how much this return meant to him and the fans.

Three years later, no one could have predicted how Punk's career would unfold. After just 33 matches, an injury, a return on a new show and two failed AEW World Title reigns, Punk's contract was terminated in September of 2023 following two ugly backstage altercations. Punk did not let this stop him, however, mending perhaps one of the most broken bridges in wrestling by making his WWE return at Survivor Series 2023, where he currently resides.

Regardless of one's personal feelings toward Punk, there’s no denying that his return to wrestling four years ago stands as one of the most special moments in the sport's history. To many, it remains the greatest return or debut in wrestling history. If you are a wrestling fan, you likely remember exactly where you were when Punk returned.

Punk's return reignited passion for the sport after two years of relative disinterest, exacerbated by the pandemic and lackluster storylines in both WWE and AEW.