CM Punk posts a mysterious Instagram Story before his expected WWE SmackDown return.© NDTV Library
CM Punk put up a Star Wars reference on Instagram just before his expected return to WWE SmackDown. The line comes from Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back: “I’ve just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever.” Punk is still a very big name in WWE, but why he posted that story and what was his intent or reason behind it is unclear. The post also came after his unsuccessful Money in the Bank outing, where he didn’t manage to secure the briefcase.
Punk’s story ???? #SmackDown https://t.co/mhgKMhwEHX
— Roman Reigns SZN ???? (@reigns_era) October 16, 2026
Punk’s Star Wars post leaves the meaning of the deal unclear
Punk hasn’t said why he picked this scene or if it has anything to do with WWE at all. Fans are reading it in two ways. Firstly, it could be about a deal he made for his return. Secondly, it could just be a movie line he liked. In the film, Lando’s deal doesn’t end well for the heroes, so if you really look at it, the line carries a bit of a twist. Honestly, it can go either way.
The timing is quite interesting though, with SmackDown return coming close. Nothing else from Punk’s side has been shared since, so the quote stays the only clue.
CM Punk reportedly in the picture for a WrestleMania 43 rematch
Punk has also been linked with a potential rematch against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 43. The reported plan would give WWE one more chance to go back to their rivalry, after Punk’s controversial victory over Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026.
Many people expected a rematch after that result. But the two never got another match. So now WrestleMania 43 is being talked about as a possible place where the rivalry can carry on.
But WWE hasn’t officially confirmed the reported match. The creative team still has months to build the story before next year’s WrestleMania, so this proposed bout should not be taken as a locked-in plan. Big feuds like this one don’t get settled in a single night.
Overall, Punk’s Instagram post and the reported Rhodes rematch are two separate things. Nothing in his Star Wars story directly connects the deal line with the potential WrestleMania match. Stay tuned for more updates.
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