WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: CM Punk signs deal to achieve lifelong dream of headlining WrestleMania

The first of two WrestleMania 41 main events is signed, sealed and delivered

CM Punk will close out a WrestleMania night for the first time after nearly three decades as a professional wrestler. Punk, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins signed their contract to headline WrestleMania 41 Night 1 on Friday's WWE SmackDown.

Punk offered Reigns his aid at Survivor Series: WarGames in exchange for a favor from Paul Heyman. On Friday, Heyman granted Punk that favor, or so it seemed. Punk departed WWE in 2014 over many grievances, including being pushed out of the WrestleMania main event picture. Eleven years later, his close friend Heyman leveraged his cache to grant Punk that wish.

The blue brand had a big week all around. The United States and WWE Tag Team championships were defended, a new WWE Hall of Fame wing was announced and Rey Fenix's WWE debut is officially set for next week.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from the O2 Arena in London.

Heyman gifts Punk his dream

SmackDown closed with a contract signing between WrestleMania Saturday's headliners. Rollins tried to ally with Reigns by reflecting on their time together in The Shield. Reigns told Rollins, "We died a long time ago." Reigns said he had done the lion's share of making WWE successful since they split. Rollins, fed up, told Reigns his hubris had allowed Punk to weasel his way into a major position. "Cult of Personality" blared through the arena.

Reigns and Rollins signed the contract immediately. Punk, however, took his time flipping through the pages. Reigns chastized Punk for wasting their time. That's when Heyman spoke up to set Punk's mind at ease. 

"I know what you're looking for, it's in there," Heyman, choking up, told his former client. "You're closing the show at WrestleMania. You get to live your dream of all dreams. CM Punk, you are a WrestleMania main eventer!"

Punk and Heyman were legitimately brought to tears as the latter informed the former that he'd headline WrestleMania Night 1. Reigns celebrated the paycheck, while Rollins threw a tantrum over Punk's happiness. While it appeared that Heyman granted Punk the favor owed, Punk closed the show by announcing that it wasn't the favor promised.

This was tame as far as contract signings go. Another brawl would have been redundant after last week. Punk and Heyman's genuine emotion was infinitely better. Punk first signed with WWE in 2005. Twenty years later, he's ticking off one of his most important bucket list items. Rollins' outrage and Reigns' ego worked well in this context. The cherry on top was Punk revealing that he was still owed a favor, adding intrigue to the story. Grade: A

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• WWE Tag Team Championship -- Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) (c) def. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) via pinfall with a Doomsday Blockbuster.
• Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold from WrestleMania 13 will be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's new "Immortal Moment" wing. Both legends will be in attendance.
• The Secret Hervice (Alba Fyre and Piper Niven) def. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance via pinfall after Niven hit a Piper Driver on Carter. Post-match, Chelsea Green and her lackeys attacked Zelina Vega, Carter and Chance.
• United States Championship -- Braun Strowman def. LA Knight (c) via disqualification after Jacob Fatu attacked Strowman. Titles cannot change hands via DQ. Post-match, Fatu laid out both men.
• Fatu had a tense verbal altercation with Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga.
• Naomi attacked B-Fab and Michin. Jade Cargill came to their rescue, forcing Naomi to flee.
• Charlotte Flair def. Michin via submission after locking up a Figure Eight.
• Drew McIntyre def. Randy Orton via pinfall. McIntyre hit Orton with a Claymore Kick after Orton was distracted by Kevin Owens in the aisle.
• Rey Fenix will make his WWE debut next week on SmackDown.
• Jimmy Uso def. The Miz via pinfall with a top rope splash.
• Damian Priest chokeslammed McIntyre onto a car windshield backstage.