CM Punk made a shocking return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in his hometown of Chicago. He didn’t get into the ring, but the crowd went bonkers at his surprising, last-minute appearance that marks his return to WWE since leaving the company for rival AEW in 2014. 

WrestleMania 40 isn’t until April 6-7 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, home of the NFL’s Eagles. But wrestling fans are already getting excited about who Punk will face in the landmark event. Bookies.com veteran oddsmaker Adam Thompson tackles the world of pro wrestling, revealing his betting odds for Punk’s WM40 opponent. 

CM Punk WrestleMania 40 Opponent Odds

Punk’s appearance at the end of the Survivor Series set off a wave of emotions from fans and wrestlers alike. But not everyone was excited to see his dramatic return. This is creating a buzz among enthusiasts on various betting apps focusing on potential outcomes and betting picks.

Seth Rollins, who just got done wrestling in the main event, was visibly upset at Punk’s return, in an expletive-filled rant that went viral. One is never truly sure what’s real and what’s a work in the world of pro wrestling, but Rollins has a documented history of true dislike for Punk. 

Either way, many fans are calling for CM Punk vs. Rollins as a WrestleMania 40 dream match, and it’s very possible the storyline began mere minutes into Punk’s return. Rollins is the strong favorite to face Punk in Philly. 

Drew McIntyre stormed out of the arena after losing in the Survivor Series main event, missing Punk’s dramatic return. Backstage reports claim his source of frustration was Punk’s return. Bubbling any real-life issues could be a juicy storyline trigger. 

The one hangup: McIntyre’s contract with WWE expires right after WrestleMania. The company may not want to put him in a main event if he’s off the roster soon after. The two sides have yet to hold any formal talks; if they don’t by March, WWE may have no choice but to veer in another direction. 

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Roman Reigns would make for an intriguing WM40 opponent, but many believe a rematch with LA Knight is on the horizon. They faced off in October’s Crown Jewel 2023 event, with Knight winning. It could be at the Royal Rumble in January, but it could also be at WrestleMania. Each is likely to be going in a different direction than Punk. 

Reigns defeated Punk in 2014 in their lone matchup before Punk left the company. That could be an angle for Reigns, who has basically beaten everyone on the roster already, and Punk. 

Other WWE superstars have signaled an interest in working with Punk, and wouldn’t have the real-life antagonism that may hinder a Rollins or McIntyre match. 

Shinsuke Nakamura has been hinting as a possible future matchup, while Punk was reportedly going to face Kevin Owens at last year’s WrestleMania before talks broke down. Punk has never faced either, so both would be fresh showdowns for fans. 

Randy Orton made his return to the ring after 18 months off due to back surgery. He was the captain on the main event-winning team when Punk returned, stealing Orton’s spotlight. The two had a major feud during Punk’s original WWE tour, and Orton offered a “look” that some believe could set a spark for a relighting. That could be in time for WrestleMania, or for further down the road. He more likely has a showdown with Cody Rhodes looming. 

Social media has become a huge tool for WWE storylines. If that is the angle here, Ryback took the lead after Punk’s return, trolling CM’s fans by calling the star “broke” and “fragile.” 

John Cena and Brock Lesnar would be massive names to throw into the WrestleMania 40 mix. But Cena just had surgeries on his arms in November and Lesnar hasn’t made a WWE appearance since August. Both might be busy making movies, but a one-time match, and the huge payday that comes with it, could be enough to entice either to make a return.