WWE star CM Punk honors late New Found Glory founding member Chad Gilbert at Money in the Bank

WWE star CM Punk entered the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans with hopes of climbing the ladder, grabbing the briefcase and earning a world title shot anywhere, any time.

But he appeared to be wrestling with a heavy heart.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK PRO WRESTLING COVERAGE Punk was wearing a sharp white jacket with the "ChadBall" on the right side of his chest.

WWE announcer Corey Graves pointed out that the phrase was in honor of the late New Found Glory founding member Chad Gilbert , who died at the age of 45 after a bout with adrenal cancer.

When Gilbert’s death was announced last month, Punk paid tribute to the guitarist in a post on Instagram.

The photo showed Gilbert playing with Punk’s dog Larry, who also passed away earlier this year.

"This isn’t goodbye.

I’ll see you tomorrow," he captioned the post.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.

DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW! Gilbert had battled adrenal cancer since 2021 and underwent brain surgery in February when doctors found tumors.

"On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep.

He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished," his family and the band wrote in a joint statement on social media on Sept.

20.

"We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went.