Backstage WWE Rumors on CM Punk, LA Knight and More

The post-WrestleMania 42 rumor mill continues to churn, with reports from industry insiders on some of the most buzz-worthy stars in WWE.

This latest collection includes expectations for a CM Punk appearance at Backlash on Saturday, what's next for LA Knight, and when fans might see Blake Monroe debut on SmackDown.

CM Punk Update

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CM Punk has not been seen on WWE television since the post-WrestleMania episode of Raw on April 20, when he teased a future Undisputed WWE Championship program with Cody Rhodes.

According to Ibou of Self Made Pro, that absence will not end at Backlash, as The Best in the World is not scheduled for the show.

Outside of being Danhausen's mystery partner in a match that would seem fairly beneath him given his stature on Raw, it makes sense that Punk would not appear. His issues with Roman Reigns, at least for the time being, concluded at WrestleMania 42, and Rhodes does not have a match or presence on Saturday's premium live event.

Why waste a Punk appearance if it is not to do something big or meaningful?

Keep him off of television and bring him back when the time comes to kick off whatever it is The Second City Saint will be doing next.

LA Knight Plans

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For those wondering what is next for the perpetually over LA Knight, BodySlam+ reported that he was originally intended to have a brief rivalry with Gunther coming out of WrestleMania 42.

With The Ring General targeting Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, though, that is no longer the case.

As has been the case more than once of late, Knight is left without any real creative direction.

Considering the reaction he gets when he walks into arenas around the globe and the passionate fanbase he has, it is astonishing that WWE cannot come up with something of substance for The Megastar to do consistently.

Knight would be a major main event attraction in most companies, routinely in the title picture and competing in the hottest rivalries. It is the opposite in WWE. Even during his feud with Seth Rollins and The Vision throughout last summer, he felt like the other guy in the program.

Knight has teased involvement with The Usos and Roman Reigns in this latest chapter of the Bloodline story. Given his rich history with both acts, it would make sense and be the highest-profile thing he has done in a hot minute.

Until that comes to fruition at least a little more than it has to this point, though, fans should be cautiously optimistic that the babyface will actually be involved.

Blake Monroe's Debut

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Blake Monroe is headed to SmackDown, but anyone expecting her to pop up on the show immediately should temper their expectations.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that "the expectation is that Blake Monroe would start appearing on Smackdown by the end of the month, but that's subject to change obviously."

Monroe was announced on the post-WrestleMania episode of SmackDown as one of the new main roster call-ups from NXT, but unlike Ricky Saints and Fatal Influence, she has yet to make her first in-arena appearance.

That may not necessarily be a bad thing, though.

With Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley getting significant television time as the new threats to Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, there isn't much real estate for someone like Monroe to debut and get consistent television time right now.

If holding her off the show for the moment benefits her in the long run, it is a creative decision that fans should respect. The alternative is to debut her and risk losing her in the shuffle, which would help no one.