CM Punk Pays Tribute to His ROH Past at WrestleMania 42

The former AEW star used his old Ring of Honor theme song for his big title match entrance.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 1:18am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a weathered leather jacket with embroidered patches, capturing the rich textures and worn details in a dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting setup that evokes a gritty, high-fashion aesthetic.The personalized jacket CM Punk wore for his WrestleMania 42 entrance paid homage to his independent wrestling roots and the people who shaped his career.Las Vegas Today

In the highly anticipated main event of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, CM Punk made a special entrance by using his old Ring of Honor theme song 'Miseria Cantare (The New Beginning)' by the band AFI. Punk, who is making his first WrestleMania singles main event appearance, also paid homage to several important people in his life who have passed away by stitching their names onto his jacket.

Why it matters

CM Punk's use of his old ROH theme song was a nod to his wrestling roots and the independent promotion that helped launch his career. As one of the original ROH stars, Punk's decision to use this song for his big WrestleMania moment highlighted his journey from the indies to the WWE main event.

The details

For his entrance, Punk opted to use 'Miseria Cantare (The New Beginning)' by the band AFI, which was his theme song during his time in ROH. The camera followed Punk through the backstage area as he made his way to the ring, before he cued up his more well-known 'Cult of Personality' by Living Colour for the rest of his entrance. Punk also paid tribute to several important figures who have passed away, including his dog Larry, wrestling legend Harley Race, Harm's Way guitarist Bo Lueders, and several WWE employees, by stitching their names onto his jacket.

  • CM Punk used the 'Miseria Cantare' theme song during his time in ROH in the early 2000s.
  • Punk surprised fans by using the AFI song during his feud with MJF in AEW in 2022.
  • WrestleMania 42 took place on April 6-7, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The players

CM Punk

A former WWE and AEW star who is making his first WrestleMania singles main event appearance, and who used his old ROH theme song as a tribute to his independent wrestling roots.

Roman Reigns

The current WWE Universal Champion who faced off against CM Punk in the main event of WrestleMania 42.

AFI

The punk rock band whose song 'Miseria Cantare (The New Beginning)' was used as CM Punk's theme song during his time in ROH.

Living Colour

The band whose song 'Cult of Personality' is CM Punk's more well-known WWE/AEW entrance theme.

Harley Race

A legendary professional wrestler whose name was stitched onto CM Punk's jacket as a tribute.

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What they’re saying

“It's not the first time Punk has used the AFI song. During his time in AEW, he surprised fans with the tune in his feud with MJF.”

— Haley Miller, Author

What’s next

The outcome of the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns match at WrestleMania 42 will likely have major implications for the WWE Universal Championship picture going forward.

The takeaway

CM Punk's use of his old ROH theme song at WrestleMania 42 was a symbolic gesture that connected his current WWE main event status to his independent wrestling roots. It highlighted his journey from the indie scene to the biggest stage in sports entertainment.