CM Punk and the Most Intriguing Storylines to Track on Road to WWE Royal Rumble 2024

As WWE wraps up the final quarter of 2023, there is so much to look forward to next year on the Road to WrestleMania 40.

The company has been on a hot streak, with high-profile returns and record attendance numbers. It's been one of the most eventful years in recent memory, and it will be fun to see what the creative regime has planned for the Royal Rumble on January 27.

The popular annual premium live event usually acts as a culmination of the biggest stories of the following year and a way to kick-start marquee feuds for 'Mania.

Which lucky entrants will earn a chance to headline the show? Who will reignite long-standing rivalries or act on lingering tension?

With just one month left in 2023, let's look at the most intriguing storylines to track ahead of Royal Rumble.

Damage CTRL's Tenuous Alliance

Damage CTRL got much more interesting with the addition of Asuka and Kairi Sane.

The former WWE women's tag team champions both have a history with Bayley, leaving the group's founder uneasy. There has also been growing tension between her and Iyo Sky since Backlash.

Although The Role Model immediately seems like the odd one out, she put on an excellent performance at Survivor Series in the women's WarGames match. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Becky Lynch ultimately pinned her to win the contest.

The outcome could put Bayley in the hot seat with the other four members and potentially leave her isolated in the women's Rumble match.

It will be interesting to see how long the stable can coexist and if it leads to a face turn for The Role Model.

Gunther's Legacy

Straight away, Gunther has to be a favorite to win the 2024 men's Royal Rumble match.

This year, The Ring General entered as the first entrant and set a new record for the longest time spent in the contest. After 1:11:40, he finished as the runner-up after Cody Rhodes eliminated him and punched his ticket to WrestleMania 39.

Gunther will undoubtedly enter the 30-man field again, looking to go one better in 2024. He even said he considers himself one of the early favorites to win during the press conference following Survivor Series.

The bigger question is whether anyone can dethrone the longest-reigning intercontinental champion before the event.

Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley

Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley is quietly a feud that has been in the making for four years.

The two had an impromptu match on NXT on Nov. 20, 2019 in the weeks leading to Survivor Series. The captain of the black-and-gold brand's women's team lived to fight another day after Shayna Baszler interfered, forcing a disqualification.

The two crossed paths again and engaged in a staredown on the Dec. 5, 2022 episode of Raw. Tensions remained when Lynch and Ripley ran into each other backstage on Oct. 16.

The Man has been on quite a run this year, and she could start 2024 with her second women's Royal Rumble win.

The Irish Superstar will want to be the first woman to achieve that accolade, and The Eradicator would make an excellent WrestleMania opponent.

Cody Rhodes Looks To Finish The Story

On the latest edition of Raw, Cody Rhodes became the first Superstar to declare his entry in the men's Royal Rumble match.

In April, The American Nightmare unsuccessfully challenged Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39. Ever since, fans have wondered if he can climb back to the top of the mountain and face him again.

It hasn't been an easy path back to the trek he started when he returned to WWE in 2022. However, the second-generation star is still the most plausible threat to The Tribal Chief's historic title reign.

It certainly feels like now or never as he looks to finally finish the story. Can he become the first man since "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to secure back-to-back Rumble wins?

CM Punk Returns to the Rumble

CM Punk shocked the wrestling world at Survivor Series when he returned to WWE for the first time since his controversial exit in 2014.

Coincidentally, his 49-minute stint in that year's men's Royal Rumble match was his last in-ring appearance for the company. It's still surreal, but it makes the most sense for him to have an impact at the event this year.

The Straight Edge Superstar has never won the Rumble match, and his entrance will garner a memorable response. Even more, this is his chance to earn the WrestleMania main event he coveted for so long.

The story writes itself, but there's so much WWE can do with Punk even if he loses. A showdown with Seth Rollins could be the best option, but Fightful Select also reported that a dream match with Steve Austin could be in the cards.