CM Punk Revives ‘This Fire Burns’ Theme At Worlds Collide

CM Punk walked out to “This Fire Burns” at WWE Worlds Collide, which took place in Chicago on Saturday, September 26, marking the return of a theme he hasn’t used regularly in years. The show is set to air via YouTube on Wednesday, meaning most fans caught wind of the moment through clips rather than the broadcast itself. It’s a notable pivot for Punk, who only months ago leaned into his independent-scene roots by using “Miseria Cantare” for part of his WrestleMania 42 entrance. Swapping back to “This Fire Burns” — long associated with his mid-2000s WWE run — gives his in-ring persona another layer of nostalgia at a moment when he’s been openly playing with his own history.

Punk’s theme change has understandably reignited chatter about which other WWE stars might dig into their old entrance music catalogs. Drew McIntyre is an obvious candidate. Back at Clash at the Castle in 2022, WWE used “Broken Dreams” in a video package ahead of his title match with Roman Reigns, and that brief taste left a lot of fans wanting a full return of the track. McIntyre has been out of action since April, and speculation persists that his comeback could set him on a collision course with Sami Zayn and the Undisputed WWE Championship — a big enough moment that a one-off return to “Broken Dreams” wouldn’t feel out of place.

Matt Cardona presents a different kind of case. Since coming back to WWE in January, he’s entered to “Alwayz Ready,” but he’s said publicly that he originally wanted to use “When the Lights Go Down” by Downstait, the theme he built his brand around on the independent circuit, and wasn’t allowed to. Cardona has been vocal about wanting to hear that song in a WWE arena, and with the promotion itself acknowledging his championship ambitions on television, a title win would be the kind of moment that could justify finally making the change.

Then there’s Roman Reigns, whose history with Seth Rollins adds a wrinkle to the theme-music conversation. Rollins used The Shield’s old “Special Op” music against Reigns at Royal Rumble 2022 and again at WrestleMania 40, turning a nostalgic cue into a psychological weapon. Since then, the two have visibly patched things up — Reigns held back from using a chair on Rollins at SummerSlam and shared a fist bump with him after their World Heavyweight Championship match. With Reigns already linked to the upcoming Survivor Series: WarGames match, a reunion moment built around “Special Op” feels like low-hanging fruit for WWE creative if it wants to lean into the reconciliation story.

None of this is confirmed, of course — it’s pattern recognition based on what WWE has already teased or what talent has said in interviews. But Punk’s choice at Worlds Collide is a reminder that old music still carries real emotional weight with crowds, and WWE has shown it’s not afraid to use nostalgia as a storytelling tool when the moment calls for it. Whether McIntyre, Cardona, or Reigns actually follow suit remains to be seen, but the door is clearly open.

WWE shares footage of CM Punk's Worlds Collide entrance to This Fire Burnspic.twitter.com/NxjVqX2mXm

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) September 27, 2026