WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 ended in a huge cliffhanger. Roman Reigns let Cody Rhodes know he’s done with him, kicking off what may be Rhodes’s most important storyline to date. But moments before that, the babyface team was hit with a surprise when a mysterious figure entered the cage and hit CM Punk with a superkick/curb stomp combo. No, that wasn’t Seth Rollins. According to Fightful Select that was none other then Austin Theory. The missing man is back and this is shaping up to be his last chance at a major position on the WWE roster. 

The setup to build mystery around who attacked CM Punk was clear, but there was no way that person was Rollins who just underwent shoulder surgery. WWE would not pull the same injury angle twice in so many months, so speculation immediately went to Theory. Fightful reported on Theory’s return almost immediately after the PLE.

“WWE sources claim the man under the mask was Austin Theory tonight,”

Austin Theory’s Struggles to Connect with the WWE Universe

Though, WWE has attempted to put Theory in that position multiple times. Each time has been met with disdain from the WWE Universe. Not because he’s a hated figure like Dominik Mysterio was during his initial run with the Judgment Day, but more akin to “Go Away” heat that hit X-Pac decades ago.

Theory has had his moments were things were seemingly headed in the right direction. He worked well when he was paired with Johnny Gargano,Candice LeRae and crew as a part of The Way in NXT. When he initially joined Seth Rollins in 2020, there was hope that would be the connection that helped get him over with the fans, alas that was not the case.When he was removed from television after accusations that he was messaging an underage fan, his stock immediately dropped with many wanting to see him be held accountable.He was removed from television for a time, but nothing more came of that WWE “investigation.”