How did WWE give a subtle nod to a 13-year-old CM Punk segment on SmackDown?

Despite being injured, CM Punk announced last week that he would still be appearing at WrestleMania 40 and expressed excitement about his role as commentator.

At the most recent episode of SmackDown, AJ Styles delivered a passionate speech about LA Knight. Despite being banned by Nick Aldis, Styles was convinced that Knight, his opponent for WrestleMania XL, was present in the building. As it turned out, Knight disguised himself as a security guard and attacked Styles, proving the former’s suspicion to be correct. This was reminiscent of Knight’s first appearance on WWE television in 2011, when he worked as a security member and intervened in a heated altercation between CM Punk and Kevin Nash. It was during this time that Punk delivered his infamous pipe-bomb promo, in which he openly criticized the WWE administration.

It is common for stars to have brief appearances and play minor roles before becoming fully integrated into the roster. This can include being background actors, taking on small acting roles, or even working as a security staff member, which is one of the most popular roles.

Despite their intense rivalry, AJ Styles and LA Knight refuse to hold back against each other. The Phenomenal One holds Knight responsible for taking his title opportunity at Fastlane 2023, while Knight still harbors resentment towards Styles for interfering in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match and ultimately causing his elimination with a steel chair attack.

Possible consequences for LA Knight’s disobedience towards WWE Officials

After LA Knight’s unexpected appearance at AJ Styles’ home, the latter wasted no time in contacting SmackDown GM, Nick Aldis. Styles issued an ultimatum, stating that he would refuse to participate in SmackDown if Knight was allowed to enter the building. Despite resistance, Aldis eventually gave in and declared that the 41-year-old would be prohibited from entering SmackDown.

Despite their reputation for rebellion and defiance towards authority, WWE stars are often punished for their actions. This was the case for LA Knight, who may face repercussions for his surprise attack on Styles during this week’s episode of the blue brand. However, Nick Aldis has a long-standing relationship with Styles that predates their time in WWE, and despite Knight’s role as a face, he may ultimately support The Megastar and overlook his act of rebellion.

The recently updated WrestleMania XL match card appears to be jam-packed following the latest episode of SmackDown. The lineup seems to be nearly finalized, with the exception of Rey Mysterio’s tag team challenge to Santos Escobar and Dominik, which is still pending confirmation.

Despite the absence of The Rock and Roman Reigns, their non-appearance only added to the anticipation for the final week leading up to The Showcase of the Immortals. The latest addition to the SmackDown roster, Jade Cargill, made her highly-anticipated debut and is set to compete in a six-woman tag team match next weekend alongside Bianca Belair and Naomi. Their opponents will be The Kabuki Warriors and Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL.