CM Punk Makes Surprise Appearance on WWE SmackDown

The final episode before WrestleMania 42 featured the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal and a confrontation between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:21am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a confrontation between two wrestlers, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the intensity and drama of the moment.The surprise return of CM Punk sets the stage for potential WrestleMania 42 storylines in the WWE.Las Vegas Today

WWE's final SmackDown episode before WrestleMania 42 took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show featured the annual Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal as well as several other exciting in-ring matchups. The night ended with Cody Rhodes arriving at the arena, only to be met with a surprise appearance by former WWE star CM Punk.

Why it matters

CM Punk's return to WWE programming is a major event, as the former champion has not appeared with the company since 2014. His surprise confrontation with Cody Rhodes sets the stage for potential storylines and matches leading up to the biggest pay-per-view of the year, WrestleMania 42.

The details

The Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal took place, with several top superstars competing for the chance to earn a championship match. In other action, there were several exciting in-ring showdowns throughout the night. As Cody Rhodes arrived at the T-Mobile Arena, he was met with a shocking appearance by CM Punk, who has not been seen in WWE since 2014.

  • The episode of WWE SmackDown took place on April 17, 2026.
  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for the following weekend.

The players

CM Punk

A former WWE Champion who has not appeared with the company since 2014.

Cody Rhodes

A top WWE superstar who is set to compete at WrestleMania 42.

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What they’re saying

“The return of CM Punk is sure to shake up the landscape of WWE leading into WrestleMania 42.”

— John Cena, WWE Legend

What’s next

Fans will be eager to see how the confrontation between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk develops in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 42.

The takeaway

CM Punk's surprise appearance on the final SmackDown before WrestleMania 42 has the potential to create major storylines and excitement for WWE's biggest event of the year.