CM Punk’s WWE hiatus finally has an end date.
WWE essentially confirmed Punk for a match with Chris Jericho at the upcoming Payback pay-per-view, which takes place on June 16.
Given its setting in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, Payback had long seemed like the natural return point for “The Best in the World,” and WWE put storyline behind that common sense Monday.
After being goaded into the decision by Chris Jericho, who used the catchphrase “best in the world at what I do” before Punk adopted the first half of the line for his own character, Punk’s representative Paul Heyman accepted the bout during Monday’s RAW.
WWE could theoretically tease a storyline rift out of the fact that Heyman apparently accepted the match without Punk’s permission, but it seems that when all is said and done, “The Best in the World” will be returning on June 16.