Just the possibility of CM Punk making his return to WWE at this past weekend’s Survivor Series set records for the company, however, once his long-awaited comeback was revealed, they blew away many other records in multiple platforms and revenue streams.
CM Punk going back to WWE after leaving the promotion high and dry after Royal Rumble 2014 was one of the greatest conversation starters in the professional wrestling industry. For many years it seemed unlikely, and when he actually came back to business last year with rivals All-Elite Wrestling, it looked like he would never go back to his long-time home.
Related: CM Punk’s WWE RAW Appearance, Backstage Reaction
However, after a falling out with AEW this year, the rumblings of a possible return began in the summer. But contrasting reports made it seem like if it did happen, it might not come in 2023. Nevertheless, devoted supporters felt if it did happen then Survivor Series 2023 in his hometown of Chicago would be fitting. Well, on a cold night in Chi-Town, “hell froze over.”
WWE Survivor Series merchandise sales hit 37-year high after CM Punk’s return
CM Punk making his return to the company after nearly 10 years away in the final minutes of Saturday night’s event set social media ablaze in the 24 hours after the reveal. WWE reported on Monday night that the video of the ground-breaking moment drew 71 million views across all media platforms.
A number that crushed the previous record of 40 million held by Logan Paul after he self-recorded his top rope jump to the announce table during a match last year.
Yet the absurd numbers WWE set on Saturday night don’t just end there. This year’s Survivor Series was already a sold out event at the All-State Arena well before CM Punk walked into the building. The company sold 17,138 tickets, which broke the previous event gate record set in Brooklyn two years ago.
With interest very high right now for WWE content, the November classic also saw a 44-percent boost in viewership over the 2022 version of the event, which also broke previous records. Furthermore, merchandise sales during and after Punk’s return reportedly boomed to the highest amount in the 37-year history of the event.
“In partnership with Fanatics, Survivor Series broke the premium live event’s all-time merchandise record [and] sponsorship revenue was up 24 percent versus 2022,” WWE said in a statement.
Related: CM Punk Return Upsets WWE Roster, Seth Rollins Restrained
Some of the credit certainly goes to CM Punk, due to his huge fan base and the thought of the idea of a possible return this weekend, but the WWE product is on fire right now and his comeback took what was already set to be a very profitable night for the company to all-time levels.
