CM Punk’s work outside the ring is set to continue this week, with the WWE star confirmed to appear on the September 22 episode of ABC’s RJ Decker. A preview released through the series’ social media account identifies Punk as the episode’s guest star.

The episode is scheduled to air at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and will also be available through Hulu. Punk filmed material for the show’s second season earlier this month, and the newly released promotional clip has now established that his appearance will arrive on Tuesday night.

For Punk, the booking is another notable acting opportunity during a period in which he remains heavily involved in WWE programming. His most recent screen role came in the horror film Night Patrol, which was released in January. The RJ Decker appearance represents his first film or television role since that release.

Punk’s TV Appearance Comes During Active WWE Run

The timing of Punk’s guest spot is particularly noteworthy because he is not stepping away from WWE television to pursue the role. Instead, the appearance comes while he is positioned in a major storyline surrounding the WWE Championship on SmackDown.

For more background on this topic, read Cody Rhodes Breaks Down How His WWE Style Differs From Guile’s ‘Smash Mouth’ Approach.

On the September 18 episode of SmackDown, Punk helped Sami Zayn defeat Kevin Owens and retain the WWE Championship. That development kept Punk connected to one of the brand’s most important championship situations only days before his scheduled RJ Decker episode.

Wrestling audiences have long been accustomed to performers balancing WWE commitments with outside acting, media, and entertainment work, but the circumstances can still be meaningful. A current, prominent WWE figure appearing in a scripted network television series can create added visibility for both the wrestler and the company’s weekly programming. In Punk’s case, it also places his entertainment work alongside an ongoing role in a title-focused angle rather than framing it as a post-wrestling venture.

There is no indication that the television appearance will affect Punk’s WWE schedule. The available information concerns a guest role filmed for the second season of RJ Decker, while WWE viewers will continue to follow the fallout from Punk’s involvement in Zayn’s successful title defense over Owens.

What Is Known About The ‘RJ Decker’ Role

The show’s promotional material confirms Punk’s guest-star billing for the September 22 installment, but no further details about his character or the size of his role have been announced. The preview gives viewers a direct confirmation of his participation without revealing the full context of his appearance in the episode.

That leaves some natural intrigue for fans who know Punk primarily through professional wrestling. Guest roles can vary widely, from brief appearances built around a recognizable personality to more substantial parts that place a performer within the central story. Until the episode airs, the specific nature of Punk’s contribution to RJ Decker remains uncertain.

What is clear is that this was not merely a rumor about a potential casting. Punk had reportedly filmed for season two earlier in the month, and the official preview has now put a date and a platform on his appearance. Viewers interested in seeing the role will be able to find the episode on ABC or Hulu at 10 p.m. ET.

Punk’s public persona has often made him a compelling fit for projects beyond wrestling. His screen presence, recognizable voice, and ability to convey intensity have all been familiar elements of his in-ring career. Those traits do not automatically define an acting role, of course, but they explain why a performer with Punk’s profile remains a recognizable option for television and film work.

A Continued Interest In Acting

Although Punk’s current WWE responsibilities dominate the immediate wrestling conversation, his acting history has given fans reason to pay attention whenever a new project is announced. Night Patrol was released in January, and the RJ Decker role ensures that his screen work has continued during 2026.

Professional wrestlers bring a distinctive background to acting opportunities. They are experienced at performing live before large audiences, sustaining characters over long periods, reacting in the moment, and communicating through physicality and expression. Television and film require a different discipline, with scenes shot out of sequence and performances shaped through production and editing, but the overlap can make the transition a natural one for certain wrestlers.

Punk has spent years operating under intense scrutiny in wrestling, where every promo, match, appearance, and storyline development can generate immediate discussion. A guest appearance on a scripted series presents a different creative environment. Rather than directing the audience toward a wrestling match or a developing WWE conflict, the work serves a larger episodic narrative with its own tone and established cast.

That distinction makes outside roles interesting even when they are limited in length. Fans can see a wrestler in a setting not designed around entrances, championship stakes, or live crowd responses. At the same time, a familiar performer’s participation can introduce a series to viewers who might not otherwise have sought it out.

WWE Storyline Stakes Remain Front And Center

While Punk’s television role will draw interest on September 22, his WWE involvement remains the larger immediate issue for wrestling fans. The September 18 edition of SmackDown saw Sami Zayn retain the WWE Championship against Kevin Owens with Punk’s assistance. The result ensured that Zayn remained champion, but it also placed Punk directly in the aftermath of a heated championship contest.

Owens and Zayn share an extensive history, making any WWE Championship match between them significant on its own. Punk’s role in the finish added another major name to that picture. The consequences of that involvement, and whether it further changes the relationships among Zayn, Owens, and Punk, will be a key thread to monitor on future WWE programming.

There is an added layer to the contrast between Punk’s two current public-facing roles. On one night, he is appearing as a guest performer in an ABC drama; within WWE, he is tied to a championship story involving some of the company’s most established competitors. The combination reflects the modern reality for top wrestling talent, where television exposure can extend beyond the promotion while weekly wrestling narratives continue without pause.

For WWE, these appearances can also reinforce the mainstream recognition of its roster. Outside projects do not replace wrestling storylines, but they can broaden awareness of personalities who are already central to the product. In Punk’s case, his guest-star credit arrives at a time when his name remains active in the WWE Championship landscape, giving fans multiple reasons to follow his work this week.

How To Watch

CM Punk will guest star on the September 22 episode of RJ Decker. The episode is set to air at 10 p.m. ET on ABC and will be available on Hulu.

Details regarding Punk’s character and the extent of his appearance have not been disclosed in advance. The episode will provide the first look at his role in the show’s second season, while WWE audiences await the next developments following Sami Zayn’s WWE Championship retention over Kevin Owens and Punk’s involvement in that result.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.