CM Punk WINS his first match since return to WWE as he beats Dominick Mysterio during a house show at Madison Square Garden in New York
CM Punk wrestled his first match since his shocking return to the WWE after nearly a decade away from the company.
Punk stepped into the ring to face Dominick Mysterio at a WWE live house show that took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City in front of a packed crowd for the company's traditional Day After Christmas show.
After the sold-out crowd erupted when Punk's entrance music hit, he was eventually serenaded by the fans in attendance during the match with chants of “you still got it.”
Punk then won his first match back in a WWE ring after hitting Mysterio with his finishing move the 'GTS' or 'Go to Sleep' before picking up the pin trap in the middle of the ring.
Until Tuesday night, the 45-year-old Punk had not wrestled a match since September, when he fought Samoa Joe at All Elite Wrestling's record All Out Pay-Per-View in London, England, before being fired from the company.
CM Punk wrestled his first match since returning to WWE on Tuesday against Dominick Mysterio
Punk made his surprise return to WWE in November at their Survivor Series show
The 45-year-old had not wrestled since September after being fired from All Elite Wrestling
After several months of rumors that he would eventually return to WWE following his dismissal from AEW, Punk returned at the Survivor Series event in November and has been featured frequently on TV in recent weeks.
Punk also appeared at a Premium Live Event for WWE's developmental brand NXT several weeks ago, as the company let fans anticipate which brand he would ultimately join full-time between Raw, Smackdown and NXT.
Reports have also indicated that Punk's WWE deal includes a rarely given conduct clause that would give the company an easy way to terminate his deal if any issues arise.
The clause was likely inserted after two separate incidents involving Punk in backstage brawls with his former AEW colleagues, leading to his eventual demise with the company.
Punk had initially been involved in a backstage brawl with AEW wrestlers and executive vice presidents Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks in 2022, which resulted in all parties involved being suspended.
He then initiated a separate incident with Jack Perry shortly before All Out this year, and also 'lashed out' at AEW CEO Tony Khan, which was the final straw for his firing.
Punk controversially left WWE the night after the Royal Rumble in 2014, citing creative frustrations as well as anger over the lack of medical care he received at the time.