Sources told Fightful that Punk showed up and spent most of the day at the WWE Performance Center despite not being planned for the show.
The report notes that Punk was backstage and was willing to help anyone who asked for it as well as even hung out with talent in the lounge. Punk was also watching matches with talent and giving feedback.
Punk was also seen moving around the backstage area, including in the gorilla position and behind the hard camera area as well as behind the tech crew observing.
Prior to Punk’s return, Shawn Michaels was the most vocal and prominent WWE-related name that endorsed the former AEW star’s return and even publicly welcomed him to NXT, which sources close to Punk claim that he didn’t take the endorsement lightly.
WWE sources have stated that Punk is welcome at the Performance Center whenever he wants. Ibou of WrestlePurists who has a good connection with sources close to Punk stated that sources have indicated that his long-term goal is to eventually succeed Shawn Michaels in running the NXT brand.
The report also notes that WWE officials said that something like that is a long way off and there are no immediate plans for Michaels to finish up his run in NXT anytime soon.
Ibou also noted that Punk would be observing TV production, something that he was known to do in OVW, and would often bend Paul Heyman’s ear about.
Everyone spoken to at the Performance Center stated that Punk has been a pleasure to deal with so far, and there was a lot of excitement about his presence there.
