CM Punk wasn’t expected to make a return to WWE at Survivor Series, but it happened anyway. He made his big return to the SmackDown brand for their December 8th episode, and it was quite an appearance for the Tribute to the Troops.
CM Punk opened up his promo by proclaiming that, since his promo was at the 9:00 PM EST hour, then he wouldn’t get his time cut. Then Punk brought up how Adam Pearce wants him to be exclusive to the RAW brand.
After saying that he will leave his brand future to the fans, CM Punk asked if they want him to be a RAW Superstar, and they booed that idea. The fans cheered when Punk asked if he should join SmackDown instead.
CM Punk then said that it’s not about “what do you want to talk about,” it’s about “who do you want me to talk about?” Punk said he could tell some stories about Cody Rhodes, but then he directed his focus to “someone who’s never here, Roman Reigns.”
"…I begin MY journey of finishing MY story and that means one thing…
Mentioning Roman Reigns’ name brought a huge pop from the WWE Universe, as he said that he was the OG Paul Heyman Guy. Punk gave a shout-out to Jey Uso, but then he suggested that he stick around SmackDown to scrap with Jimmy Uso, “but Jimmy Uso has endless cousins.”
Best In the World!: CM Punk Makes WWE Return At Survivor Series 2023
This is when CM Punk made a crack about his All In confrontation with Jack Perry. He made his way there by saying that he and Kevin Owens are too much alike, after suggesting that he may have a match with him.
“I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel about working with someone who randomly punches people backstage … I mean it’s 2023, you just can’t be doing that, that’s insane.”
This was followed by some massive CM Punk chants from the crowd. Then CM Punk drew attention to Seth Rollins, by calling him out as he somewhat encouraged the crowd to sing his theme song.
CM Punk will make a decision about his brand future on the 12/11 episode of WWE RAW. Punk said it’s not about finishing his story, it’s about finishing what he started.
After hyping up the crowd with his promo, CM Punk made it clear that his goal is to main event WrestleMania 40. He dropped the mic after that, as the fans cheered on the Second City Savior.
What’s your take on CM Punk’s latest promo? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
CM Punk’s return to WWE sent shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world. WWE fans were more than excited to welcome the Second City Savior back, and he will grace the SmackDown brand this week for their December 8th episode. Now we have a bit of a spoiler about what they are planning for this week.
WWE has a lot of plans in motion, and they are shifting some things after CM Punk’s arrival. A huge name like his will certainly carve out a substantial spot for himself on the WrestleMania 40 card.
Wrestle Votes noted that CM Punk is set to really amp up his WrestleMania direction on the December 8th episode of WWE SmackDown. It was noted that Punk will cut a promo, but it wasn’t spoiled who the target will be.
I’m told CM Punk’s in ring segment tonight on SmackDown will focus on his desire to “main event” WrestleMania 40. It’s clobbering time….
CM Punk never got that WrestleMania main event match during his last run in WWE. He may have returned during the perfect time to capture that WrestleMania moment for himself in 2024.
CM Punk has garnered praise since his return to WWE. Even Jey Uso said that Punk is on “a Tribal Chief status” in his reaction to Punk’s comeback. Fans have stood behind Punk, and they have also bought a ton of merchandise.
CM Punk is a free agent, so that gives WWE the freedom to have him float between main roster brands. All signs point to Punk mixing it up with Seth Rollins on RAW first, but fans may see some very important WrestleMania seeds planted on WWE SmackDown this week.
I’m told CM Punk’s in ring segment tonight on SmackDown will focus on his desire to “main event” WrestleMania 40. It’s clobbering time….
What’s your take on CM Punk appearing on WWE SmackDown this week? Are you watching the show live? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!
Soon, the fans speculated the reason behind Seth’s outrage towards ‘The Second City Savior.’
Speaking with Sports Illustrated Media, Seth Rollins explained the reason behind his reaction at the show.
‘The Visionary’ claimed that Punk badmouthed him for years and made some harsh remarks that did not sit well with Rollins. He further said that he felt insulted by the way Punk treated him. Here is what he said:
“He (CM Punk) said some really bad things about me. Talked down about me for years, and the company (WWE), for years. I’m talking some really bad stuff. Called me a bootlicker and crap like that.
You don’t know me. You don’t know what I stand for. I’m a loyal person, and I felt pretty insulted by a lot of the ways he treated me, treated the place I work for, treated friends that I worked with.
I don’t need to get into any of the stuff with Colt Cabana if you want to look at that kind of stuff, that’s out there”
This week, Punk will appear on the Tribute to the Troops edition of WWE Smackdown. He will then appear on next week’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw and will receive a contract from Raw General Manager, Adam Pearce. This will put an end to his current free-agent status and officially join the red brand.
WWE's hottest free agent @CMPunk returns to #WWERaw next week and it looks like @ScrapDaddyAP has some major planning to do…
It will interesting to see the development of the feud between Rollins and Punk.
As it stands, it’s just the beginning of their feud. If recent reports are to be believed, Punk could be in line for a feud with the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns as well.
Veteran star CM Punk has been on the shelf with injury and he was allegedly suspended. He has not been featured in the AEW programming for the past several months. There is a possibility that we might see him back inside the squared circle soon.
Punk had captured the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley at All Out last year. However, it was reported that he tore a muscle in his arm during the contest and was also suspended following the controversial media scrum rant.
During the post-AEW All Out media scrum, CM Punk bashed Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and The Young Bucks, which received in a ton of backlash. The comments reportedly led to a backstage brawl which grabbed the headlines.
CM Punk rose to prominence at his first promotion which was Ring of Honor (ROH). With the promotion’s Supercard of Honor pay-per-view scheduled to take place on March 31, the ROH Hall of Famer could be making his return to the promotion at the event.
CM Punk: Honor Never Dies
The former AEW World Champion recently shared a photo on his Instagram story of him working out. While he was pumping iron, Hatebreed’s ‘Honor Never Dies’ was playing in the background, hinting at a return to Ring of Honor.
Check it out below:
CM Punk’s IG story with Hatebreed’s “Honor Never Dies”
It should also be noted that AEW President Tony Khan owns ROH alongside All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and Punk could return at either of the promotions. We will now have to wait and see what the future holds for CM Punk.
CM Punk hasn’t wrestled since AEW All Out 2022, when he won the AEW World title from Jon Moxley. Aside from the events that transpired backstage at the pay-per-view, he was injured during the match and has been sidelined ever since.
Recently, some rumors circulated online that suggested Punk had pressured Tony Khan to change the outcome of a match at Double or Nothing last year. These rumors have been put to rest by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Meltzer clarified that Punk was scheduled to win the match against Adam Page. The decision to put the title on Punk earlier than planned was not due to any pressure from the wrestler.
CM Punk: “I’ll Wrestle Again Just to Upset You”
Wrestling legend recently Mark Henry weighed in on CM Punk’s return to AEW, saying that he doesn’t view Punk as a “cancer” to the locker room.
Henry, who spoke on Busted Open Radio, also commented that he considers himself and Punk to be outsiders in AEW, and believes that the company should bring Punk back. These comments generated a lot of discussion in the wrestling community.
In response to a fan who wrote “Keep CM Punk retired” on Instagram, Punk didn’t hold back. In a reply to the comment, Punk wrote, “you liked your own comment. Bold. I’ll wrestle again just to upset you. You’ll watch no matter where.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Punk’s future, it’s expected that he will be medically cleared to return to the ring in the next few months.
CM Punk has given an interesting response to a fan on Instagram following the recent comments made by Mark Henry.
Punk hasn’t wrestled since AEW All Out 2022, when he won the AEW World Title from Jon Moxley, but suffered an injury that led to him getting surgery and being sidelined ever since, in addition to the drama that played out after the show.
During the post-event press conference, the former AEW World Champion ripped Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and others. He later got into an altercation with The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks), leading to him being suspended.
Where It Started
Henry stated on Busted Open Radio today that he doesn’t view Punk as a ‘cancer’ to the locker room, considers himself and Punk to be outsiders in AEW, and thinks AEW should bring back Punk.
Punk responded to a fan on Instagram who wrote, “Keep CM Punk retired.” Punk replied to the comment, “you liked your own comment. Bold. I’ll wrestle again just to upset you. You’ll watch no matter where.”
Is CM Punk truly a cancer to the wrestling industry, as some have claimed?
Punk has certainly been a controversial figure in recent months, following his inflammatory comments after last September’s AEW All Out Pay-Per-View.
It was these comments, as well as the backstage fight, that resulted in Punk’s second reign as AEW World Champion coming to a swift and unceremonial end.
Not a Cancer
After the infamous Pay-Per-View, Chris Jericho branded Punk a “cancer” and the same term was used by WWE’s Seth Rollins last month during a Royal Rumble week interview.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry discussed Punk, and said that while he may rub some people the wrong way, that’s only because Punk is passionate about his craft.
“He’s not a cancer. He’s opinionated, but he’s also a teacher and supporter. I’ve seen him do stuff he didn’t have to do. He just did it because he loved the business and he wanted to make that wrestler better.”
Mark Henry.
Punk remains the only person suspended after AEW All Out 2022 to still be suspended at this time.
Others who have spoken favorably of Punk following All Out include FTR’s Dax Harwood and AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill.
Bringing Punk Back
CM Punk’s arrival in AEW saw the company’s ratings rise dramatically, and many believe that only by bringing Punk back can the company reach those heights again.
While Punk has some allies backstage, it has been reported that some top names have refused to work with the former World Champion if he is brought back.
Punk is currently healing from a torn triceps injury suffered at All Out, but should be 100% within two months.
Is CM Punk truly a ‘cancer’ to the wrestling industry as some believe, or have those claims been greatly exaggerated?
This week will mark the six-month anniversary since Punk’s infamous comments on the All Out post-show, and the backstage fight that led to his suspension.
Punk is now the only person suspended following All Out to still be suspended, with the Elite and others being brought back to TV and Punk’s trainer Ace Steel being fired.
Cancerous
After the All Out fight, which came amid a difficult year for All Elite Wrestling, Chris Jericho branded Punk a “cancer” to the company.
Jericho isn’t the only one who feels this way, with Seth Rollins using similar verbiage when asked about Punk during a pre-Royal Rumble interview with Wrestling Inc.
In an Instagram post this week, Punk poked fun at the idea that he is cancerous, with the help of a photoshopped image of Danhausen.
In the image, Danhausen can be seen taking lemonade from a child without paying, which is actually from a panel from Marvel Comics featuring Kang the Conqueror.
Punk joked that ‘Danhausen’ was “cancerous” and needed to be blackballed for this action, and also made reference to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
What’s Next for CM Punk?
For Punk, the idea that he is “cancerous” may seem laughable, but many don’t find his actions at All Out so funny.
In addition to calling him a cancer, Jericho is reportedly part of a group within AEW who are trying to fight against Punk being brought back to TV.
Many in WWE also feel the McMahon-led promotion would be making a mistake if Punk is brought in, believing that he would just cause more problems as we’ve seen in AEW.
Speculation has grown that CM Punk’s wrestling future may be with New Japan Pro Wrestling after the former World Champion was spotted at Battle in the Valley this week.
Punk a two-time former AEW World Champion, has been suspended from the promotion since September’s All Out Pay-Per-View over his post-show comments and backstage fight.
CM Punk is now the only person suspended following All Out to remain suspended as his trainer Ace Steel was fired, and everyone else was brought back to TV.
Battle in the Valley
All attempts to get an answer about Punk’s future from Tony Khan have come up fruitless, with the AEW President refusing to provide an update.
On Twitter, a fan shared photos of Punk attending Battle in the Valley, which happened this week in San Jose, California.
No details are currently known as to whether Punk is interested in signing with New Japan Pro Wrestling, or merely attended the event as a fan.
Punk’s Future
We can’t say for sure where Punk will wrestle next (if he wrestles again at all,) but if an AEW return is in the cards, then he shouldn’t expect a warm welcome.
Multiple top stars have said they will refuse to work with Punk if he is brought back, believing his comments at All Out were entirely inappropriate.
Chris Jericho reportedly called Punk a “cancer” after the All Out backstage fight, and the inaugural AEW World Champion is said to be part of a group trying to block a return.
There are some in WWE who have made their views clear that a Punk return would only bring problems as seen with what happened last September.
Seth Rollins has doubled down on his recent comments about All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star and ex-WWE Champion CM Punk.
Prior to the Royal Rumble, Rollins was asked in an interview about his thoughts on Punk potentially returning to WWE. Rollins was completely against the idea, calling Punk a “cancer” and telling him to stay away.
He also went as far as saying he flat out doesn’t like Punk, calling him a “jerk.” Recently, Rollins was a guest on Covino & Rich to discuss several professional wrestling topics. During the conversation, Rollins was asked about his comments on Punk.
Rollins explained that his dislike for Punk is similar to Logan Paul, labelling both as selfish in their intentions.
“Look, the bottom line is it’s the same thing as with Logan Paul. Punk and Logan Paul are two different personalities, but they’re both as selfish as it comes. If you’re not going to help, then I don’t want you to be part of our industry. I don’t want you to be part of our company, and that’s all that there is to that.”
(WWE)
“The Architect” did give Punk credit, however, for what he has done for the industry in the past. He explained that it pains him to speak ill of Punk, especially after how nice he was to him early on in his career. However, the past several years Punk has been in a different headspace.
“Here’s the thing, I will say one thing about Punk, I’ll end it on a positive note with him. That guy has given my career so much that it pains me to have to say bad things about him because he helped me out. He really did.
“He’s been a good guy to me for a lot of my career, but for whatever reason, the past maybe six, seven years, he’s in a different headspace, and we’re not on the same page and to see kind of what he’s done and taken and taken, it’s always been about him.
“I’m not a fan. I’m just not a fan of it. There’s a place for him, man. He’s got a lot to give. I just wish his head was in the right spot.”
Rollins is currently gearing up to challenge for the United States Championship inside the Elimination Chamber. The action goes down at the Elimination Chamber PLE on February 18 from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
CM Punk could be back on our screens within a matter of months if AEW wants him back that is.
The two-time former AEW World Champion has been suspended since September’s All Out Pay-Per-View, following his comments on the post-show media scrum and the fight.
Punk is now the only person suspended to remain suspended, with everyone else being brought back, or in the case of his trainer Ace Steel, fired from AEW.
Getting Medically Cleared
During his AEW World Championship victory over Jon Moxley, Punk suffered a torn triceps, which made the decision to strip him of the title much easier for Tony Khan.
On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Punk is mere months away from being cleared to return.
A torn triceps usually takes eight months to fully recover from (unless your name is John Cena) which would put Punk’s return in early May 2023.
Not Wanted
Of course, it’s not the injury that has had fans believing Punk’s time in AEW, and possibly in wrestling, is over.
It has been reported that Punk is seeking a buyout of his AEW deal, something that Tony Khan is in no hurry to grant, believing he could jump to WWE.
Chris Jericho called Punk a “cancer” following his actions at All Out, and WWE’s Seth Rollins used similar verbiage last month when asked about the controversial star.
It has also been reported that people from both companies believe Punk returning to AEW or WWE is a bad idea and that he will only cause more trouble.
Was CM Punk right with what he said and did following AEW All Out 2022?
Since the infamous September Pay-Per-View, Punk has not been seen on AEW programming, due to his comments on the post-show media scrum.
After lashing out at several roster members, including The Elite, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, and Colt Cabana, Punk was involved in a fight backstage that led to several suspensions.
Jake Hager Weighs In
Punk is now the only person suspended at the time to still be suspended from AEW, and many believe his days with the company are through.
While Tony Khan refuses to speak about Punk when asked in interviews, Jake Hager weighed in when speaking on Story Time with Dutch Mantell.
“Who knows how animosity builds and how lack of communication leads to certain things. I think it all stems from how you view things, and obviously one person in that party was viewing things so negatively. And I don’t think he was correct.”
Jake Hager on CM Punk.
AEW has not revealed the results of the investigation into the backstage fight that was conducted by a third party.
Given that the Elite are back on TV and AEW Trios Champions again, while Punk is still suspended and his ally Ace Steel fired, the results have seemingly damned the former AEW World Champion.
What’s next?
Today is day 155 since the All Out altercation, and Punk’s future in AEW, and wrestling as a whole, remains uncertain.
It has been reported that Punk is seeking a buyout of his AEW deal, something that Tony Khan is in no hurry to grant.
Some speculate that Punk wants out of AEW in order to return to WWE, the promotion he walked out of in 2014.
It has also been reported that people from both companies believe Punk returning to AEW or WWE is a bad idea and that he will only cause more trouble.
Seth Rollins made his stand on a potential CM Punk WWE return very clear recently and it appears Matt Hardy was amused by The Architect’s clear vision.
On the latest episode of his podcast, Hardy talked about a number of things. During the AMA episode, the hardcore legend discussed things such as his tag team with Bray Wyatt and more.
Matt was also asked about Seth Rollins recently calling CM Punk a cancer and telling him to stay away from WWE. The Broken One claimed that the WWE star won him over with his statement:
“He especially won me over just because of his comments on Punk the other day, I popped huge when I saw that. I was laughing out loud. Very funny stuff.”
– Matt Hardy
Seth Rollins appears to be building a feud with Logan Paul for WrestleMania 39. The YouTube star eliminated him from Royal Rumble. Rollins has since called him out, and said that he doesn’t need Logan Paul in his locker room.
The former Shield member is also set to enter the Elimination Chamber match for Austin Theory’s US championship in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on February 18.
Matt Hardy on the other hand has been involved with The Firm in AEW. The trio of Hardy, Ethan Page and Isiah Kassidy unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW Trios Title during this week’s Rampage.
Seth Rollins doesn’t sound too interested in having CM Punk back in the WWE locker room.
Rollins is currently in San Antonio, Texas for the Royal Rumble. WWE has been hosting a series of media events over the past few days, including one on Saturday to promote the upcoming launch of the WWE 2K23 video game.
Nick Hausman of WrestlingInc caught up with Rollins, who was dressed up as a “Dripping Cowboy” to honor the local heritage. The 2019 Rumble winner scoffed at the idea of Cody Rhodes being the odds-on favorite to win this year’s match.
Hausman asked Rollins about a few potential free agents, and whether or not he’d like to see them [back] in WWE.
Regarding FTR, Rollins was all about it. “Yeah, great talents, hell of a tag team,” he said. “[They’re] good guys, always had a hell of a relationship with them, I’d love to see them come back if they’d like to come back with us.”
As for CM Punk, not so much.
“Aww, Philly Phil, stay away! Stay away, you cancer. Get away from me forever.”
– Seth Rollins on CM Punk returning to WWE
Hausman was surprised by the answer, which led Rollins to double down. “I don’t like Phil, he’s a jerk. Oh, did we just figure that out? Everybody in the room is like, ‘Oh no, did he say that?’ Yeah, he’s a jerk, we figured that out over there [AEW], we knew it over here [WWE]. I don’t want him back. Go do something else. Bye-bye! See ya later!”
Rollins says the new WWE 2k23 game looks sick. The next-gen systems have the graphics looking unreal, the gameplay is incredible and he’s eager to try out the new WarGames match. Most importantly, he and his wife (Becky Lynch) look great, so “it’s all a win.”
WWE 2K23 is due out Tuesday, March 14. You can pre-order the game now at Amazon.
Is CM Punk the best wrestler in the world as he claimed during his iconic June 2011 Raw pipebomb?
Perhaps, perhaps not. But he’s a darn fine ‘Sports Entertainer.’
Punk has been a huge topic of discussion ever since his actions following last September’s All Out 2022 event, and he has been suspended ever since.
Sports Entertainer
Punk has often credited himself as a professional wrestler, and during his 2011 pipebomb spoke about ‘sports entertainers’ like The Rock and John Cena.
Oh his Oh You Didn’t Know podcast, ‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James admitted that Punk is a great wrestler, but believes that the Sports Entertainer label fits him better. He added:
“Punk’s a great example of a guy that if you just went with wrestler, wrestler, wrestler, wouldn’t have made it without the attitude, mic skills and I don’t want to say character because Punk was never really a character, he was just himself, but he’s good at it.”
‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James.
CM Punk’s Future
Punk’s future with AEW remains uncertain, with Tony Khan refusing any and all requests for comment on the former World Champion’s situation.
It has been reported that some top names in AEW have refused to work with Punk if he is brought back, and that Chris Jericho is one of them.
Things are not looking better for Punk in WWE, with reports that some in the company absolutely do not want him to return.
The belief is that Punk (who walked out of WWE in 2014 on bad terms) will only bring the problems seen in AEW if he is rehired.
Could CM Punk make a shocking return to WWE, over nine years after his departure from the promotion?
In January 2014, Punk walked out of WWE following that year’s Royal Rumble and was released from the promotion that June.
The former World Champion was sent his termination papers on his wedding day, timing that Vince McMahon later said was merely coincidental and apologized for.
WWE Return
With Punk still suspended from AEW due to the All Out brawl, questions remain as to his future with AEW.
Speaking on his ‘Oh You Didn’t Know’ podcast, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Live Events ‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James weighed in on whether Punk could return.
“Never say never with these guys. They will give you a second chance. [WWE] will give you an opportunity if it’s business savvy, and bringing him back might be. The reason it might be is because he’s a needle mover.”
‘Road Dogg’ Jesse James.
Punk has had a hostile relationship with WWE following in the years since his walkout, but did appear for WWE Backstage, though his contract at the time was with FOX.
Unhappy Roster
CM Punk could (in theory) return to WWE, but if so, he shouldn’t expect a warm response.
It has been reported that there are some who “absolutely do not want” Punk back, believing he would just bring the same attitude that has inflicted his AEW run.
A return to AEW won’t be much better for Punk either, with top talent refusing to work with him if he is brought back by Tony Khan.
There is a group, said to be led by former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho, which is working to prevent his return to the All-Elite promotion.
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill has revealed how she feels about CM Punk when discussing the infamous backstage All Out incident.
Cargill was recently a guest on the Bootleg Kev podcast to discuss a variety of topics. During the interview, Cargill was asked about the backstage brawl that took place between Punk and The Elite shortly after his explosive post-event press conference at All Out.
The champion said she had already left the stadium by the time the madness broke out backstage, but did note that she has had nothing but positive interactions with Punk in the past, and has a ton of respect for him.
“I wasn’t there. I had already left the stadium — right after my match, I left,” Jade Cargill said. “So I heard about it just like the rest of the world, at the same time. It was pretty shocking… from my opinion, Punk’s a great guy.
“He’s been nothing but nice to the women’s locker room. He talks to me, tells me his experiences. Again, at Comic Con, we got really close because he was my tag mate in the interviews, and I learned so much from him, and so much knowledge in the industry.
“He’s been in two different companies, and he can do whatever the hell he wants to do. So he doesn’t need it. He does it cause he loves it. And that speaks to me. I don’t need it. I do it because I love it. And I appreciate people like that.”
Punk’s future with AEW remains in limbo. With some expecting him to eventually be released from his contract and go his separate way from AEW, others believe he could be brought back into the fold as well.
The fate of CM Punk in All Elite Wrestling remains hanging in the balance, with Tony Khan yet to make a decision on the problematic star.
Punk has not appeared for AEW since September’s All Out due to his comments on the post-show media scrum and his involvement in the backstage fight.
The two-time former AEW World Champion remains the only person suspended following the fallout from All Out to remain suspended.
Decisions, Decisions
Given Punk’s lengthy hiatus, many believe his time with the promotion is up, but that is not the case just yet.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that it is “months away” from when Tony Khan will have to make a decision on whether to keep Punk under contract.
Those on Punk’s side believe that Khan has put Punk “on ice” for the time being, with no plans to use him at this time.
The belief is also that there has been “no talk at all” as of late to release him either.
Tony Khan has repeatedly refused to comment on Punk or the All Out backstage fight when asked in various interviews.
Friends and Enemies
Punk’s actions following AEW All Out have split the locker room, with many believing he should be fired from the promotion.
It is also reported that Chris Jericho is part of a group that is trying to prevent Punk’s return to the company.
The Chicago-Made wrestler does have some allies, including Dax Harwood, who defended Punk and praised his work on the premiere episode of his FTR podcast.
For months after the proverbial ‘Brawl Out’ situation between CM Punk and The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) CM Punk has pretty much remained radio silent on all of his social media platforms.
Recently, Dax Harwood spoke about Punk on the first episode of his podcast for Adfree Shows. Since then, Punk has come out of the woodwork on a couple of occasions.
As always, Punk has chosen to remain mysterious and evocative with his social media presence.
On December 28, a twitter user quote a comment that Dax made on his podcast, in which he pleaded that CM Punk and The Elite “find a way to make it work.” Punk responded to the tweet, simply saying ‘Duh.’
It gave a lot of people hope that maybe, possibly, there might be a way to turn ‘Brawl Out’ into an angle that would make everybody involved a lot of money.
(AEW)
CM Punk Toots His Own Horn
Now, Punk has made a couple more posts, touting his success in AEW in terms of merchandise and video views.
Punk noted that his action figure was the number-one seller for AEW action figures in 2022. His AEW debut action figure was also the number-six best seller. That action figure came complete with an ice cream bar and commemorative t-shirt.
Punk was also the subject of three of the top 10 viewed YouTube videos that were published in 2022.
Whether Punk is simply taking a victory lap, or trying to sell others on how big of a “draw” he was remains to be seen. But there can be no question, Punk was a big component of the success of AEW in 2022.
Hopefully he could be a part of their success in 2023 as well.
Dax Harwood’s new FTR podcast has only had one episode so far, but the show is already garnering both a following and a backlash.
Harwood’s new show with co-host Matt Koon replaces William Regal’s Gentleman Villain podcast, which has ended due to Regal’s departure from AEW and iminent return to WWE.
The first episode of the FTR podcast featured an in-depth discussion of CM Punk, who is currently on an extended hiatus from All Elite Wrestling.
Among the many Punk-related topics discussed, Harwood pleaded with Punk and The Elite to sit down and make amends so they can all move forward and do business together.
On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that people in AEW were ‘not particularly happy’ with everything that was said.
“From what I heard from different people, not the people who you probably heard from, they were not particularly happy at all about this. All I heard the other day was how unhappy people were about that podcast.”
Dave Meltzer.
It has been speculated that Harwood’s pro-Punk stance has caused this backlash, given that many in AEW are against bringing back the former World Champion.
When Harwood’s comments were shared on Instagram, Punk commented “Duh.”
The roller coaster year that AEW had in 2022 has come to a close.
Riding high from their 2021 ending, AEW went into 2022 with tons of momentum. Hangman Page was crowned the AEW World Champion, CM Punk returned to pro wrestling, and Bryan Danielson was delivering high quality pro wrestling matches on a weekly basis.
2022 gave AEW multiple new world champions, backstage controversy, and a fresh slate to close the year out. 2023 promises to bring more exciting storylines and matches that the promotion has hung its hat on since their inception in 2019.
Here are five of the most anticipated matches for AEW in 2023.
Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page
Hangman Page is looking for revenge against Jon Moxley (AEW)
The parallels between Jon Moxley and Hangman Page are aplenty.
Both are former AEW World Champions, tough as nails, recently sober (in kayfabe for Hangman), and fathers to toddlers. On top of this, they were also across the ring from each other on the third-ever AEW Dynamite episode — a tag match where Kenny Omega and Page defeated PAC and Moxley.
Fast forward to 2021 as Hangman Page returned from paternity leave to win the Casino Ladder Match on October 6th for a shot at the AEW World Title. He battled with Jon Moxley on top of the ladder, ultimately knocking him off to secure the casino chip and title match.
October 18th, 2022. Jon Moxley knocked Hangman Page out with a lariat, giving him a concussion in the process, and retained his AEW World Championship in brutal fashion. Page has been seeking revenge ever since.
Grudges make tremendous bouts. This one is sure to be physical and likely with a lot at stake in the AEW main event picture moving forward.
Jade Cargill vs. Jamie Hayter
Picture a battle of the 2 most imposing women on the AEW roster, Jade Cargill being one of them.
The irresistible force meets the immovable object.
A Jade Cargill vs. Jamie Hayter match isn’t on the horizon for the early portion of 2023, but can you imagine if these two squared off? The athleticism and physicality in this bout would be tough to match on the women’s side of AEW.
Jade Cargill is currently the AEW TBS Champion and undefeated in the promotion. Jamie Hayter is the AEW Women’s Champion and on the biggest run of her career. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that these two women meet up in 2023.
It also would likely be for one of the championships that these women hold present day. The larger question would be: Which of these women will lose first this year? Both look to be poised for long title runs, and Jade Cargill has held the TBS title for nearly a calendar year already.
One way or another, look for the two most dominant women of last year to continue on their paths in 2023. Let’s speak this mammoth dream match into fruition as we look forward to the continued growth of Jade Cargill and Jamie Hayter this year.
MJF vs. Eddie Kingston
MJF has plenty of men breathing down his neck for his AEW world championship.
MJF is the current AEW World Champion. Can you picture a feud with fellow New Yorker Eddie Kingston?
Long Island vs. Yonkers. A cake eating, trust funded character vs. a man from the inner city with the street savvy to match. The contrast in how each man portrays themselves would build immense anticipation.
Then we move on to their exploits on the microphone. The promos alone between MJF and Eddie Kingston would make this a feud of the year candidate without physically interacting. Two of the very best talkers in pro wrestling, on top of their ability to make you feel something every time they talk or wrestle. Their styles and mouths sell themselves.
To go a step further, let’s book MJF vs. Eddie Kingston in September at the AEW Grand Slam show — which will resonate from Flushing Meadows, New York. Could you imagine the crowd responses and magic that would take place at that event?
Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson
Kenny Omega vs Bryan Danielson 2 in 2023?
Speaking of AEW Grand Slam, Kenny Omega and Bryan Danielson wrestled to a 30-minute draw in September of 2021 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The bout was lauded as a match of the year contender. Since then, fans have been salivating over the thought of their eventual rematch.
Omega would take nine months off to heal from injury after losing his AEW World Title in November of 2021. When he returned in August, his focus moved towards the AEW Trios Titles with his Elite running mates, The Young Bucks.
Danielson would eventually wrestle for the AEW World Championship twice in two months, includingwrestling to a 60-minute draw with Hangman Page. He would lose the return title bout on Dynamite in January 2022.
This is a rematch that doesn’t need a championship at stake for it to be another match of the year quality affair. The larger question is: Could they one-up what the two of them put together in their first AEW encounter?
The Elite vs. CM Punk and FTR
There is business to be made in a trio’s bout for the ages
This is the biggest boom or bust match on this list. A lot of it hinges on CM Punk rebuilding trust with AEW management and most importantly, the locker room.
Yet the opportunity presents itself for AEW to do the biggest piece of business in company history if Punk returns. The storyline sells itself. The Young Bucks and FTR are the two most decorated tag teams outside of the WWE promotion in the world today.
Both teams have each won a match against the other. You proceed to add Kenny Omega and CM Punk to this equation, two of the biggest presences in pro wrestling worldwide, fresh off a backstage encounter marred with controversy.
It was rumored over the summer that CM Punk and FTR were going to team up quite a bit, all while Punk was AEW World Champion. A match with The Elite at some point in time would’ve brought the house down — now you add personal stakes to it.
Only the parties involved in “The Brawl Out at All Out” know what really happened. If those damages can be repaired (with a lot of money on the line, they should be), the fans are in for one of the largest showdowns in professional wrestling this century.
Six men with chips on their shoulders to tear the house down and prove superiority in AEW would be at stake. If this is not the most anticipated match in AEW for 2023, it will only be due to the lack of cooperation on behalf of both parties’ sides to set it up.
Is CM Punk open to returning to All Elite Wrestling given the right circumstances?
Duh!
Punk hasn’t been seen on AEW TV since All Out where he became a two-time World Champion, dethroning Jon Moxley.
The Chicago-Made wrestler’s incendiary comments on the post-show media scrum would lead to a fight backstage, resulting in Punk and others being suspended.
Duh
It is believed that Punk’s time with AEW is coming to an end, with reports that he is seeking a buyout from the promotion.
During this week’s FTR podcast, Dax Harwood spoke about his hope that Punk will be able to return and make amends with The Elite
“This is my plea to all four guys. Please find a way to make it work. If we can make it work, we can set up the future of professional wrestling for a long time.”
Dax Harwood.
Responding to a quote of Harwood’s comments, which added that Punk and the Elite should “just shake hands and say sorry” Punk responded with a simple “Duh.”
CM Punk has reportedly requested a buyout of his AEW deal, something that the company is in no hurry to grant him.
The belief is that AEW’s higher-ups fear Punk will join WWE soon, bringing a ton of attention to their competition.
It has been reported that some in WWE are against the idea of bringing Punk back, believing he will only bring trouble similar to what has been seen in AEW.
Dax Harwood of FTR is starting a new podcast with co-host Matt Koon for Ad-Free Shows. And while many in AEW remain tight-lipped about the ‘CM Punk Situation’ in AEW, Harwood is dedicating an entire podcast episode to it!
For those unaware, CM Punk has been MIA since his world title win against Jon Moxley at AEW All Out, in September of 2022. This is due to comments he made at the post-show media scrum, in which he called members of The Elite ‘Children’ who ‘couldn’t manage a Target.’ Punk also called ‘Hangman’ Adam Page ‘an empty-headed f*cking dumb f*ck.’
Punk also had words for Colt Cabana and others. The situation was a bleak one, made even worse by an alleged ‘backstage melee’ that occurred between Punk, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Ace Steele, Ace Steele’s wife, and Larry the Dog. It’s alleged that punches were thrown, chairs were also, um, thrown, and arms were bitten. It was a very volatile situation that resulted in the suspension of The Elite and the banishing of Punk.
There are still so many questions that have yet to be answered regarding that night in Chicago. It looks like it may still be sometime before fans get answers, but Harwood is certainly open to giving his own opinion about the situation.
Punk’s Love for AEW
Harwood spoke in-depth about how much Punk loved being in AEW.
“Punk was still so joyous and happy to be in the wrestling business,” Harwood stated. “To be honest, he told me, when they were going to put the belt on him, that he didn’t want the belt. He said, ‘I just want to have fun,’ but he understood that Tony putting the belt on him would put AEW in a better light. He took it, begrudgingly a little bit, but he took the belt.
At the time, he was taking me, Cash, Max [MJF], Wardlow, Hobbs, I’m missing so many guys, he was taking us out to eat, always paying for it. He bought all the girls in the locker room Starbucks gift cards and had one of the girls hand them out, anonymously, and didn’t say who they were from, but it was from him, just because he loved the atmosphere and loved being there. He also loved the work the girls were putting in. He thought they were busting their ass to try and get the attention that WWE’s women’s division was getting.”
CM Punk vs ‘Hangman’ Adam Page
(via AEW)
That love for wrestling was obvious in many of the interviews and promo segments that Punk offered, but it seemed as though things took a turn during Punk’s program with Hangman Adam Page. Punk alleges that Hangman went “off script” during a promo segment between the two, and that’s when things began going downhill.
“After the promo segment, I went to Punk and I said, ‘that was really good, that was a great segment,” Harwood shared. “They got the fans to react. It’s hard sometimes to get the fans to react to a babyface-babyface match. I thought it was a great segment. He was like, ‘Ahhh, I’m kind of feeling a certain way about it.’ I had no inkling that anything went wrong or went sideways or anything like that.”
But sideways it did go; the result of which being Punk no longer in AEW for the time being. Harwood said that he had no idea about the fight that happened backstage until Punk actually called him to explain the situation.
“All the boys in the locker room were drinking and having a good time, and we were hugging, I have picture of me and Jay Lethal on the ground together just laughing our ass off,” Harwood remembered. “I had my wife and daughter there, Cash had his girlfriend. It was such a great time. After our match was over, I shower up, we had a couple of drinks with the guys real quick, grab my girls, and head back to the hotel. I was laying in bed and I got a text from one of the wrestlers that said, ‘is this shit true?’ I had no idea what he was talking about.
Right after that, I got a call from my buddy CM Punk and he told me what happened. I said, ‘You’re lying to me dude. There is no way that happened.’ He was covered in blood from the match. He Face-Timed me, it was that night. He said, ‘I want to let you know, you’re going to hear some things. I want you to hear it from me. This is what happened.’ I said, ‘Dude, are you okay? Do you need anything? I’ll come right now to help you out, get you cleaned.’ ‘No, no, everything is fine, it’s died down, we’re good.’ That’s when I first heard about it.”
“Nobody Knows the Full Story”
Harwood referenced the fact that all sorts of wrestling news sites picked up the story; it was one of the biggest from 2022. But, he said, nobody has the full story. Nobody even knows the full story.
“Obviously, I wasn’t there,” he admitted. “Who I perceive to be God is the only person who really knows the truth. Everyone is going to have their own version in their head. We’ve all done it before, we’ve made what we perceive to be the truth. What I’ve heard that is reported, there are elements of truth in it, but then there are also some things that raise a red flag to me. It seems like we’re only getting a portion of the story or what this journalist wants to put out, whether he has a bias or grudge against one of the parties, that’s just how I felt. I also knew that I didn’t know the whole story.
I also felt that the stories that I heard from a few people, I don’t feel like they would blatantly lie to me. I do think there are bits of truth, but I also believe that some fans have read too much into it and I think they should let what happened, happen, and it die down. When it’s all said and done, I can’t tell you that I know 100% of the truth and I can’t tell you that the journalist reporting is 100% of the truth. I know what I perceive to be the truth and from the things I’ve read and heard, there is partial truth and partial things that are a bit exaggerated.”
Dax Wants Punk Back in AEW
People may never know the full story of what happened that night in Chicago. But, Harwood is of the belief that there are still bridges to be mended, and money to be made. He wants to see CM Punk back in AEW.
“I can tell you what I hope, because I don’t know,” he said. “Everyone knows about the legalities of the situation and no one is really expressing what is going to happen, what has happened, and what won’t happen. I can tell you, all I can be truthful about, I can only tell you what I know and what I perceive to know, I hope that he comes back. I feel that AEW should have the Young Bucks in their locker room. AEW should have Kenny Omega in the locker room. I know that I feel AEW should have CM Punk in the locker room. With those four entities, it makes our talent roster so much deeper and better. It’s four guys who want to be the best. Regardless of what any of us think personally, I know that we all want to be the best and I know we all want the best for professional wrestling. It’s given us a life that we could never have otherwise.”
The stories that could be told if Punk were to return to AEW could light the business on fire, once again. They could blur the lines between reality and fiction. They could fill those elements of AEW that some people feel the company is missing. It would be a story worth telling. It would be the biggest story of 2023 (probably). It would be a happy ending to this otherwise sad, weird story. That’s what Harwood wants. And it’s what many AEW fans want as well.
This is my plea to all four guys. Please find a way to make it work. If we can make it work, we can set up the future of professional wrestling for a long time and we can change the course of professional wrestling for a very long time. When you think about it, unselfishly, we’re doing this for 20-30 years down the road so guys and girls can make a living.
– Dax Harwood
You can check out Harwood’s new podcast, ‘FTR with Dax‘ when it premieres on Thursday, December 29.
Ricky Starks faces the biggest challenge of his career later this week. The former FTW Champion looks to etch his name in the history books when he challenges MJF for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship at Winter is Coming.
Sparks spoke with DAZN about a number of topics, including the opportunity to work closely with CM Punk and William Regal in AEW over the past year.
Punk name-dropped Starks during one of his first promos after returning to pro wrestling. He thinks the ‘Punk thing’ really helped the way fans perceive him, but he’s a bit annoyed they never got to work together in the ring.
“It’s not to stroke my own ego, but it’s about iron sharpening iron,” he said. “I’m definitely a type of person that would be able to benefit from that in terms of just excelling in my talent.”
Starks says he learned a lot from working with Punk and Regal behind the scenes. Punk’s AEW status remains questionable at best, but Starks is still hopeful they’ll get to wrestle at some point down the line.
“I am hopeful that down the line I do get that matchup. If not, then I get it. That’s how the business is. But it would be nice (smiles). It would be nice to be able to work with somebody of that caliber because besides Sting, I’ve yet to work with someone of such a high caliber.”
Catch Ricky Starks vs. MJF this Wednesday on TBS when AEW presents the special ‘Winter is Coming’ edition of Dynamite.
The AEW roster was left fighting for their professional livelihoods in the fall out of the All Out braw, Chris Jericho has claimed.
After the now-infamous September Pay-Per-View, new AEW World Champion CM Punk bashed several members of the roster during the post-show media scrum.
Backstage, a fight broke out, which pitted Punk and Ace Steel against The Elite.
Fighting
Chris Jericho was present at All Out, as he had defeated Bryan Danielson on the Pay-Per-View and was far from impressed from the backstage brawl.
On the latest Talk is Jericho, the first AEW World Champion recalled the negative publicity the company faced following what happened.
“We were fighting for our lives at that time. There was so much bad publicity on the company and kind of a black cloud, a haze over it, and dude, we were fighting back.
“We kind of took charge, [Jon Moxley] and Bryan and I and let them know the sky wasn’t falling, that things happen, and we gotta keep the show rolling.”
Chris Jericho
Jericho had been critical of Punk after the brawl, telling the now-suspended AEW wrestler that he is a “cancer” to the locker room.
Jericho, Moxley, and Danielson
Following the AEW All Out backstage fight, Punk, Steel, the Elite, and others associated with the fight were suspended.
In their absence, the trio of Jericho, Jon Moxley, and Bryan Danielson assumed roles as locker-room leaders.
Before the first Dynamite after All Out, all three men, as well as AEW President Tony Khan, spoke at a talent-wide backstage meeting.
At the meeting, talent were told to “keep their personal issues personal” and were encouraged to move on from All Out.
In a Fightful report, it was said that Danielson was a “calming” presence, Jericho was praised for his professionalism, and Mixley was “adored” for being a reliable name in the company.
