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CM Punk and Seth “Freakin” Rollins battled Monday night on WWE Raw’s Netflix debut in one of the most anticipated matches in recent memory, the culmination of hostility between the marquee stars that dated back a decade.
Punk won the match but in its aftermath, there was one lingering question: what’s next for the former world champions as WWE prepares to embark on the Road to WrestleMania 41?
For Punk, the answer is rather simple. For Rollins, however, not so much.
Punk: WrestleMania Main Event or Bust
From his second night back in WWE, it was apparent that competing in the main event of WrestleMania was one of the major goals Punk still had for himself.
An untimely torn triceps, suffered in last year’s Royal Rumble match, prevented that from happening but after wrapping up his feud with Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell, aiding Roman Reigns to a victory in War Games, and besting Rollins on the Netflix premiere of Raw, he has a clear path to achieving his dream.
What that looks like is the question.
The Movement – Pro Wrestling @TheMovementXx
CM Punk addresses what it means to him to main event a WrestleMania, comparing his mindset today to his mindset 10 years ago.#RAWOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/yUh6KEErIE
Does Punk target either Gunther’s World Heavyweight Championship, a Superstar and title he referenced in a prior promo, or does he eye Cody Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Championship?
Maybe his path to the marquee match at WrestleMania 41 runs through Reigns, who owes him a favor for the assist at Survivor Series. Could that favor involve a match with The Tribal Chief at the top of the card in April?
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that the match has been discussed for this year’s Showcase of the Immortals. Given the history between the competitors and their undeniable star power, it is certainly a match that WWE could put on any card and sell out the building.
Regardless of the path, Punk’s road to WrestleMania almost certainly includes a strong performance at the Royal Rumble, if not a win in the titular match, and a high-profile match-up in Las Vegas this April.
The same cannot be said for his most recent rival.
Where Does Rollins Go From Here?
Likely, Rollins and Punk have not seen each other, especially entering the Royal Rumble, where they will likely intersect at some point in the 30-man battle royal. The Visionary, however, does not have a clear path to WrestleMania from there.
His previous feud with Bronson Reed is on hold after the big man suffered a serious injury in the closing moments of War Games. An alliance of convenience has been teased with Drew McIntyre as they both combat similar foes. Kevin Owens, though, appears to fit that spot better than Rollins, who has already rebuffed The Scottish Warrior’s first efforts to form a partnership.
The Movement – Pro Wrestling @TheMovementXx
Adam Pearce confronts Seth Rollins backstage for brawling with CM Punk. Rollins tells Pearce he knows what to do and to make it happen.
Drew McIntyre confronts Rollins backstage and they have a HEATED exchange 🤯#WWERAW pic.twitter.com/m3bLlnZdc4
The question from there is whether Rollins remains a babyface or turns heel.
He would need a complete makeover, including entrance music, to make such a drastic change in persona. Perhaps that happens in the months leading into WrestleMania.
Upon Rollins’ most recent return to Raw on October 7, he was clearly dismayed by Jey Uso interrupting him and since then, their paths have intersected on more than one occasion, including Uso ushering Punk, keeping him and Rollins apart in an attempt to keep the peace.
Maybe that is the WrestleMania match for Rollins.
It allows him to have that singles match, against one of the most popular stars in the entire company in Uso, and allows the babyface a chance to redeem himself after last year’s underwhelming sibling battle with Jimmy.
His noted respect and friendship with Jey makes that a bit sticky, but not something WWE can write around when developing rivalries for the biggest show of the year.
It is the uncertainty surrounding Rollins and where he goes after the Punk feud does officially wrap up that is the question, and also somewhat disappointing for a Superstar whose mere presence a year ago meant so much to the show.
Not only was he involved in the main event of Saturday’s show, but he defended the world title and was the key element in the finish of Sunday’s marquee match. As he should be.
Perhaps being left behind factors into what feels like an inevitable heel turn.
Regardless, Rollins and his path to the big show in 2025 feels like one of the most crucial and must-see stories of the next four months.
