4 Challengers for new WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk

CM Punk defeated Jey Uso to claim the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. Seth Rollins' injury at Crown Jewel last month facilitated the title swapping hands, and bookers opted to go with Punk.

The Best in the World defeated Gunther to win the title at SummerSlam, but only held it for about five minutes thanks to a cash-in from Rollins. Winning the title for a second time in 2025 allows The Best in the World to enjoy it this time.

Now that RAW has another new World Heavyweight Champion, the next four stars could step up to challenge CM Punk.

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#4. Bronson Reed gained traction against Roman Reigns

Some will claim that Roman Reigns should challenge Punk, but he hasn't done anything to warrant a title shot. He comes and goes as the days change, and doesn't need a belt after four years as champion.

Bronson Reed got some clout after beating The Tribal Chief in a street fight at Crown Jewel. His standing in the Vision means he's regularly featured every week and is a potential future titleholder.

The Vision has already crossed paths with CM Punk numerous times. With Adam Pearce excluding both men from the battle royal, expect Reed to be nipping at Punk's heels.

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#3. Gunther wants revenge on CM Punk

The Ring General lost the World Heavyweight title to Punk at SummerSlam. It was another quick swap with the title after Gunther regained the title from Jey Uso in June after dropping it at WrestleMania 41.

Fans haven't seen The Ring General since that match, but he could be on his way back to RAW after his nose injury healed.

He'll be looking for another shot to regain the World Heavyweight Championship, and also another shot for redemption against The Best in the World.

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#2. Bron Breakker wants gold

As mentioned under Reed, the Vision will be going hard after Punk now that he captured the vacant title. Bron Breakker and Reed felt that they were entitled to the belt after cleansing the Vision of Rollins.

Breakker defeated LA Knight in an unofficial #1 Contender's match on the last episode of RAW. The former NXT Champion is going to win the belt at some point, as the creation of the Vision was to propel Breakker into the main event.

While he may not win it right away, expect the former Intercontinental Champion to be a fixture in the World Heavyweight title picture going forward.

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#1. LA Knight trades barbs with CM Punk

Punk has faced both LA Knight and Jey Uso with title implications on the line. All three men opposed Rollins at Clash in Paris, but Knight wasn't pinned.

In a #1 Contender's triple threat match a few weeks back, Punk pinned Jey Uso and not Knight. Jey eliminated The Megastar from the battle royal two weeks ago. Punk pinned Jey Uso for a second time with massive title implications on the line.

The Yeet Master has had enough shots and should focus elsewhere. As for CM Punk and Knight, the two have had a few great back-and-forth verbal exchanges.

That chemistry hasn't been utilized in a proper feud. The Megastar deserves a fair shot and potentially a win as a challenger to Punk as the new Heavyweight Champion.

Edited by Matthew Serocki