CM Punk pulled out all the stops for his WrestleMania 42 main event entrance. Punk walked out for his World Heavyweight Championship defense against Roman Reigns on Sunday, April 19 at Allegiant Stadium to AFI's "Miseria Cantare (The Beginning)," his old Ring of Honor theme, while carrying a Puerto Rican flag in tribute to his wife AJ Lee's heritage.
The custom jacket he wore to the ring carried another layer of meaning. Stitched into it were the names of six people and pets Punk has lost, including his late dog Larry, wrestling legend Harley Race, Harm's Way guitarist Bo Lueders, and three longtime WWE staffers: Kerwin Silfies, Jim Shank, and Davey Coates.
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The "Miseria Cantare" Return
Punk had teased the return of his Ring of Honor entrance look and music for weeks leading into WrestleMania, posting a photo on Instagram of himself in a black track jacket with a white stripe on top of a Las Vegas building. The caption, "Radiate," is a lyric from the AFI song.
Punk previously used "Miseria Cantare" for his Dog Collar Match against MJF at AEW Revolution 2022, but had never used it for a WWE match before Sunday night.
A Personal List Of Losses
Larry, Punk's beloved pit bull, was a fixture of his social media presence for years and has been honored on previous entrance gear. Harley Race, the eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, died in 2019 and has long been one of Punk's personal heroes. Punk got a tattoo honoring Race after his passing and once called him "somebody who deserves to be memorialized."
Bo Lueders, guitarist for Chicago hardcore band Harm's Way and co-host of the HardLore podcast, died on April 2, 2026 at age 38. Punk, a fellow Chicago native and close friend of Lueders, posted messages about mental health awareness and the 988 crisis line in the days following his death.
The WWE Staffers On The Jacket
The three WWE names on the jacket represent decades of combined behind-the-scenes work for the company.
Kerwin Silfies, the longtime WWE director whose career stretched from Saturday Night's Main Event in the 1980s through multiple WrestleManias, died on February 17, 2026 at age 75 after privately battling health issues.
Jim Shank, WWE's Technical Operations Manager and a 26-year company veteran, died on February 6, 2026 at age 60 following a lengthy battle with colorectal cancer. Shank was known for operating WWE's robotic and remote-controlled camera systems.
Davey Coates, WWE's International Production Manager, died on March 14, 2026 at age 63. Coates was responsible for coordinating WWE's global tours and played a central role in NXT UK operations during the pandemic.
Punk's Second WrestleMania Main Event
The match against Reigns marked Punk's second WrestleMania main event and his first as a Night Two closer. Punk entered as World Heavyweight Champion after retaining the title against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in February, while Reigns earned the shot by winning the 2026 Royal Rumble.
The tribute jacket continues a pattern for Punk, who has increasingly used his entrance gear to memorialize people who have influenced his career and personal life.
