Last year at Full Gear, Eddie Kingston challenged Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship. He lost an I Quit match to the wrestler who would later become his partner. This year, Kingston takes on CM Punk in a match he is calling the most personal of his career.
Kingston took part in an interview with DAZN and spoke about what his match with Punk means to him.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest match of my career but it’s definitely the most personal match,” Kingston said. “Professionally, it was me and [Jon] Moxley last year because I truly believe in my heart that the AEW World title is the biggest prize in all of America. That was the biggest match for me, but this weekend, personally, it’s me and Punk.”
Kingston would continue to talk about his run with AEW. He started with the company in the summer of 2020 as Cody Rhodes was giving TNT title shots to wrestlers from outside AEW. Kingston challenged Cody on the show taped on July 16th (aired July 22nd, 2021). Later that month, it was announced that Kingston had signed a full-time contract with the company.
“I did not expect this, and I have to pinch myself every once in a while,” Kingston continued. “I still don’t think it’s real. I’m just trying to live in the moment. This can all be taken away at any moment just like 2020 has shown us.”
Bully Ray believes there’s a way AEW can avoid rushing CM Punk vs. Eddie Kingston too soon.
All signs are pointing to a Full Gear showdown between Punk and Kingston. The two were involved in a shouting match backstage on the Oct. 29 episode of Rampage. Kingston had just been eliminated from the AEW World Heavyweight Title Eliminator Tournament by Bryan Danielson and he interrupted Punk’s interview in frustration.
On the Nov. 3 episode of Dynamite, Punk said he was expecting an apology from Kingston. He wants to hear the apology on the Nov. 5 episode of Rampage in St. Louis.
Bully Ray holds CM Punk and Eddie Kingston in high regard when it comes to their promo abilities. During an episode of Busted Open Radio, he expressed his belief that Punk and Kingston can carry their feud for months before actually coming to blows.
“Let’s just say you wanted to build to Punk and Kingston, which you should definitely do. You should not blow through this at all. Let’s say you wanted to get three months out of them, three months leads up to one match. If you do this the right way, you can keep them away from each other for three months and walk and talk the whole thing.
“Mic time and every time it looks like they’re gonna come to blows, security is on high alert, the boys are on high alert, massive pull aparts anywhere and every time. You build to them actually touching. It’s a very old-school way of thinking but it works. All of that old-school booking still works with the modern characters and the modern ways of 2021. Like I always say, old-school rules, new-school tools.”
Bully Ray pointed out how during the ECW days, Paul Heyman managed to keep Tazz and Sabu away from each other for a full year before the two finally collided. He also said he feels Kingston’s authenticity can carry the momentum of the feud.
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Paul Wight thinks CM Punk is one of the best storytellers in wrestling.
Punk has made a positive impact on the AEW locker room since making his return to the wrestling industry. We’ve seen AEW stars such as Ricky Starks praise Punk for being willing to give advice to anyone. In terms of his performance both in the ring and on the mic, Paul Wight believes CM Punk hasn’t missed a beat.
Wight made an appearance on the Brandon Kravitz podcast and he gave his take on what makes Punk believable in the ring and on the mic.
“I love CM Punk’s matches because he starts slower and builds toward the end. By the end, you’re going nuts because he pulls you right in with his work and his ability to tell that story in the ring, and he’s great on the microphone. His timing on the promo when he came back in Chicago– if you are a younger talent and are looking at cadence, and meaning, and telling a story, and how to cut a promo, that promo is one of the best promos that I have ever heard for storytelling.”
Punk is a Great Storyteller
Paul Wight has cut his share of great promos over the years, However, Punk is on a different level. Wight feels that Punk masterfully explained why he left wrestling, why he returned and left fans wanting more. Punk’s storytelling abilities in and out of the ring make him a huge asset to AEW.
“CM Punk told a story, he didn’t knock anybody or bury anything. He spoke from his heart about how things affected him and he took you on that journey and made you understand why he was gone so long, but then he made you understand what brought him back. That’s what you want to do in a promo, you want to have a beginning, middle, and end, and tell a story, and Punk is a great storyteller on the microphone and in the ring. To have him back, it was a great shot in the arm.”
Punk is fresh off a victory over Bobby Fish on the Halloween episode of Dynamite. AEW Full Gear is coming up on Nov. 13 and Punk doesn’t have a match on the PPV currently. A leaked bout sheet featured Punk vs. MJF’s bodyguard Wardlow but Tony Khan has claimed that list was simply filled with ideas and nothing was finalized.
AEW has a unique feel to its programming that no other wrestling promotion has and CM Punk has the perfect analogy to describe the reason behind the success of the company. The straight edge star recently had an interview with Sports Illustrated. He discussed things such as his Dynamite match with Bobby Fish and more.
Punk also talked about the spirit of AEW. The wrestling veteran explained that it has the soul of a local indie promotion with the reach of TNT behind it:
“This is really about the soul, the spirit, and the art of professional wrestling, it reminds me of how I started. It’s why guys like me and Bryan Danielson would drive 15 hours to get to a show, and barely get gas money in return, to wrestle in front of 300 rabid fans in Philadelphia. That’s what this is, with TNT behind it.”
CM Punk then gave the analogy of a small rock band that used to play in the local bowling alley, saying that his current company has a similar spirit and love for the art of professional wrestling:
“We’re the punk rock band that used to play at your bowling alley. It has that spirit and love of the art. It’s a place where you can make a living and learn the craft.”
Punk also discussed the recent big developments that have created a lot of buzz for AEW such as the signing of talents like himself and Bryan Danielson or the announcement of the Owen Hart cup tournament.
CM Punk takes on Bobby Fish tonight on AEW Dynamite. Ahead of their match, Punk tells DAZN that he’s not too familiar with Fish’s work. He didn’t watch NXT, or much wrestling at all, during his 7-year hiatus from the ring.
“I wasn’t paying attention to NXT or wrestling whilst I was gone,” Punk said. “I knew who he was and the group he was in but I can’t say I’ve watched him too extensively.”
“Looking at him now, he’s definitely an impressive person. I was there and to see him mix it up with Danielson a couple of weeks ago and it got the gears grinding here. He’s somebody I can’t wait to share the ring with.”
Punk also commented on not being included in the AEW World Title Eliminator tournament that is currently ongoing. He noted that while he was disappointed not to have the opportunity, he knows his chances will come in time.
“Looking at the field and seeing the names that that that were in it, I definitely think I could have fit in there. It’ll come. You know, it’s not my time but it’ll come at a later date.”
Bobby Fish will come into this match with a 4-2 record in AEW. He dropped his first match in the promotion to Sammy Guevara with the TNT title on the line. Fish would get his first AEW victory against Lee Moriarty the following week on Rampage. The next night on another edition of Saturday Night Dynamite he was defeated by Bryan Danielson. Since then, he’s rattled off 3 straight wins on episodes of Dark.
As for CM Punk, he’s 4-0 since debuting in AEW. He’s rattled off wins over Darby Allin, Will Hobbs, Daniel Garcia, and Matt Sydal.
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CM Punk admits that he was open to the idea of doing a swerve for his AEW debut.
Most agree that AEW pulled off Punk’s debut perfectly. The company dropped several hints about CM Punk making his promotional debut on the second episode of Rampage. As a result, AEW was able to sell out the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Fans weren’t disappointed as Punk made his way down the aisle to a thunderous ovation.
Ahead of the big debut, some fans speculated the possibility of Punk’s theme song playing only for MJF to make his entrance and troll the crowd for massive heat.
Appearing on Z100 New York, Punk claimed that the MJF swerve was actually in consideration.
“Lowest hanging fruit in that aspect. That, of course, did cross my mind. Once I realized that was the thought on everybody’s mind, to me, it wasn’t the right thing to do yet. Not yet.”
Punk has yet to feud with MJF but the general consensus is that it’s only a matter of time. A recent sheet of potential AEW Full Gear matches leaked. Tony Khan said these matches are simply ideas. On the bout sheet was Punk vs. Wardlow, who is MJF’s bodyguard.
MJF is currently in a feud with Darby Allin. While it hasn’t been announced, many expect that match to take place at the Full Gear PPV on Nov. 13. It’s a match that was also seen on Khan’s bout sheet.
Former WCW President Eric Bischoff has gone off on CM Punk.
Bischoff has made appearances on AEW TV in the past but he isn’t very chummy with Tony Khan at the moment. Bischoff has been none too pleased after Khan’s recent comments about not repeating the same mistakes WCW made. The former WCW boss has also laid into CM Punk for saying his return was bigger than the nWo formation.
Eric Bischoff Believes CM Punk Isn’t As Hot As He Thinks He Is
On his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff blasted CM Punk for telling fans to wait five years from now to see just how big his impact and others were long-term for AEW.
“This is what lit my fuse, I wasn’t going to comment on any of this until Punk came out and said ‘It’s going to take five years for the effect of this talent to really show up significantly in the ratings,’ are you f***ing kidding me? Does anybody other than an uninformed wrestling fan who loves CM Punk, is anybody going to believe that nonsense? It’s going to take five years?”
Bischoff continued, “Dude, you’re going to be getting AARP mail, because it happens soon as you start getting close to 50 they start pounding you with this s–t. I let that one go but then to come out a couple weeks later, after in my opinion he should be embarrassed, and for the ratings to take the dive the way they did after his debut, suggests to me that he ain’t as hot as he’s trying to make people think he is. If he was, the numbers would be much bigger.”
While Bischoff may have been ticked off by Punk’s nWo comments, he may also be taking jabs due to Punk’s known hatred for Hulk Hogan. Back in September, Punk told Barstool Sports that he still views Hogan as a “piece of sh*t.” Bischoff and Hogan have been good friends for decades.
Bischoff hasn’t been impressed by AEW’s head-to-head numbers with WWE. He has criticized Tony Khan for gloating about the key demo. He believes AEW has been spinning the narrative.
Following last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite from Orlando, CM Punk and several others appeared in front of the live crowd. PW Insider is reporting that following Dynamite going off the air, Cody Rhodes remained in the ring after defeating Malakai Black in the main event and kickstarted a post-show segment.
Rhodes asked the fans if they had a good time and also noted that his father was buried in Orlando. He then called out Brodie Lee Jr. (-1), Fuego Del Sol, Griff Garrison, and TNT Champion Sammy Guevara. He was then interrupted by the Acclaimed who rapped about Cody and Fuego and also blamed Tony Khan for them not being on Dynamite again. This brought out Tony Khan who said that the people didn’t pay to see the Acclaimed, they paid to see CM Punk. Punk’s music then hit and the babyfaces took on the heels in a melee.
Fuego hit a tornado DDT on Max Caster and Punk hit the GTS on Anthony Bowens. Brodie Jr. then pinned Bowens with the crowd chanting along with the count.
Footage of the post-event segment can be viewed in the Tweets below:
Earlier in the evening, CM Punk came out to rescue Anthony Greene. Bobby Fish had just defeated Greene in singles action but continued the attack after the match. Punk vs Fish has been booked for this Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Posted October 24th, 2021 in AEW, News. Tagged: CM Punk.
CM Punk has dealt a “receipt” to Sasha Banks following AEW’s impressive showing against WWE last Friday night.
The Internet has been buzzing about the Friday night ratings showdown between AEW Rampage and WWE SmackDown. Rampage aired in its usual time slot, while SmackDown aired on FS1 instead of the Fox broadcast network. WWE took the fight to AEW by extending SmackDown an extra 30 minutes (commercial-free) to go head-to-head with the first half of Rampage.
Prior to the showdown, Sasha Banks tweeted, “It’s Clobberin time #SmackdownonFS1” – a clear reference to CM Punk’s famous catchphrase.
Overall, the 2 1/2 hour SmackDown broadcast averaged 866,000 viewers. The 60-minute Rampage show did 578,000 viewers. Both shows did a 0.24 rating in the Adults 18-49 demographic, which caught many people by surprise.
Even more surprising was the 30-minute block when Rampage and SmackDown went head-to-head. Looking at that key demographic, AEW Rampage actually topped WWE SmackDown 328,000 viewers to 285,000, a 15% margin.
CM Punk has since responded to Sasha Banks’ tease that it would be “clobbering time” when WWE and AEW went head-to-head for 30 minutes. With AEW coming out on top, Punk agrees: “Indeed, it was.”
CM Punk will be commentating once again for the upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite.
There was no Dynamite episode this past Wednesday night due to a scheduling conflict with the NHL. Instead, it’ll air live on Saturday night (Oct. 16) at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
Punk is fresh off a victory over Matt Sydal on the Oct. 15 episode of Rampage. One night later, he will be making his way back to the commentary booth. AEW made the announcement on its Twitter account.
Jim Ross Has Massive Praise For CM Punk As A Commentator
During an edition of his Grilling JR podcast last month, AEW play-by-play commentator Jim Ross had the following to say about Punk’s abilities in the booth (h/t Cultaholic).
“He was great. I’m not saying that to kiss his a** because that’s what some feel obligated to do, and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like having his a*ss kissed.
“I was very, very honest with Phil, and we built a great relationship because of it. He and I spent a lot of time together on those TV days. He is a natural. He’s as good as anybody, any ex-wrestler, that stepped into that spot and did it for the first time. Just astonishing.”
We won’t have to wait long to find out if Punk’s time doing commentary will be uninterrupted or if someone will get testy with the self-proclaimed “Best in The World.” Perhaps Punk may feel inclined to get in the action himself at some point. Fans will have to tune into Dynamite to see what transpires.
Posted October 16th, 2021 in AEW, News. Tagged: CM Punk.
Roman Reigns hasn’t been impressed by the return of CM Punk.
Punk made his AEW debut on the Aug. 20 episode of Rampage. He received a thunderous ovation inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. He’s had three matches since his return.
Roman Reigns Not Sold On CM Punk’s Impact
During an interview with Complex, Reigns dismissed the significance of having a match with Punk in the future. While the two are obviously signed with different companies, Reigns feels Punk just isn’t as good as he used to be.
“That’s not going to elevate me at all. He’s older now. I haven’t really seen a full match. I’ve seen a clip or two. And to me, a step or two has been lost. Then also he got his ass whooped in the UFC. I don’t think anybody really believes someone 200 pounds soaking wet with no explosive bone in their body could ever really do anything to me.
“I’m 6’3, 265 pounds, a legitimate athlete who can throw some weight around and has been on the gridiron at the highest level. D1. All ACC. I probably would’ve maintained in the NFL if my health issues didn’t happen when I was 22 years old. So, I mean, when it comes down to it, I’ll throw him and pretty much the rest of that roster out the club no problem. They’re just little brothers, you know?”
This isn’t the first time Roman Reigns has been asked about CM Punk. During an interview with Ariel Helwani for BT Sport, Reigns said Punk was never a true draw for WWE in the way that The Rock and John Cena were.
On Oct. 15, WWE and AEW will be going head-to-head for a half-hour. The last half-hour of SmackDown will be commercial-free and it’ll go up against the first half-hour of Rampage.
CM Punk encouraged his wife, AJ Mendez, to take that meeting with Jeanie Buss.
Mendez got the wrestling world buzzing with the announcement of her return to the industry. Mendez will serve as an Executive Producer for Women of Wrestling and she’ll also be providing color commentary.
It’s not every day that the owner of the LA Lakers wants to get ahold of you. CM Punk told Robbie Fox on My Mom’s Basement that once he heard Jeanie Buss wanted to speak to AJ, he was all for it.
“I had somebody reach out to me, saying, ‘Hey, Jeanie Buss wants to talk to April.’ I was like, ‘What?’ April doesn’t know anything about sports, like nothing, you know? So I took the idea to her and I was just like, ‘You have to at least take this meeting. Jeanie Buss is the most powerful woman in sports.’ You know, I think in my mind, I was just doing cartwheels thinking of my wife talking to Jeanie Buss. I thought that was super cool.”
Mendez doesn’t plan on wrestling for WOW, at least not now. In an interview with Izzy on the official WOW YouTube channel, Mendez said that while she can technically make a return to the ring, she’s content with stepping aside and allowing this current generation of talent to shine.
WOW is expected to begin its relaunch in the fall of 2022. The company has agreed to a syndication deal with ViacomCBS. Older episodes of WOW are expected to start airing on CW Seed and Pluto TV in Dec. 2021.
CM Punk continues to show his interest in stepping inside an NJPW ring.
Punk has been enjoying his return to the pro wrestling industry. The self-proclaimed “Best in the World” made his AEW debut back in August. He’s had three matches in his time with AEW. Those were against Darby Allin, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Daniel Garcia. Punk was victorious in all three matches.
When Punk first made his return to the wrestling business, he said that dipping his toes in the NJPW waters could prove to be fun.
During an interview with Rich Eisen, he doubled down on his desire to work against NJPW’s top names. “I’m both feet in on AEW, but I know a bunch of New Japan guys wind up coming over and wrestling on AEW Dynamite and Rampage,” said Punk. “I’m not averse to the idea, but I know they’re in the throws of their G1 and stuff like that, so I don’t know if they can spare the guys. And I think because of the pandemic, you don’t see a whole lot of travel from America to Japan.”
He continued, “I definitely think you’d have to do a hard quarantine once you got to Japan, and I just don’t think that’s a viable option at this point. I gotta do that when I kick acting gigs, and that’s hard enough. To be in Japan for two weeks sitting in a hotel, I’d probably lose my mind. But I’m for sure interested.”
As CM Punk mentioned, there’s still the travel issue when it comes to making appearances for NJPW. Japan has begun softening its travel restrictions, but a 10-day quarantine is still required for those entering the country.
CM Punk recently commented on the Owen Hart Cup tournament upcoming in AEW. He was on the Sport1 podcast and noted that he had heard about it before the official announcement was made. Still, he says the announcement had a big impact on him and he’s hoping to participate in the tournament.
“I knew about it beforehand, but it still hit me like a truck when I read the press release just because I think it’s such a staggering and monumental bridge,” Punk said (Transcriptions via Fightful). “I think it goes a long way to show and prove that Martha always wanted Owen’s memory to be revered and his legacy preserved. It just couldn’t be at WWE and if you really look at it, it makes a lot of sense. Now, the fans can embrace Owen again, like they’ve always wanted to, Martha can embrace the fans and support Owen’s legacy, like she’s always wanted to. There just wasn’t an outlet or a place to do it before. Now there is. It got me emotional reading the press release. I was like, ‘Wow.’ This is pretty special. Just as a wrestling fan.”
AEW announced a partnership with the Owen Hart Foundation last month. As part of the deal, AEW will be able to create merchandise featuring Owen’s likeness. This includes clothing, action figures, and his inclusion in the upcoming AEW console video game. The Owen Hart Foundation, run by Martha Hart, has various programs dedicated to underprivileged youth, education, and helping low-income families achieve home ownership.
“I’m not sure how the tournament is going to go, but I’m for sure throwing my name in that hat. I want to be in that tournament,” Punk continued.
The Owen Hart Cup
No details as to the format or schedule of the tournament have been announced thus far. Tony Khan has said he plans on it being an annual event, however.
Chris Jericho, who grew up idolizing Owen Hart and dreaming of being in a tag-team with him has also expressed his appreciation for AEW partnering with the Owen Hart Foundation.
AEW Rampage has seen a big drop in viewership rating and key demo ahead of their upcoming confrontation with SmackDown this Friday Night.
This week’s episode of the show featuring the CM Punk vs. Daniel Garcia match as the opening bout of the night drew an average of 502,000 viewers per Showbuzz Daily.
This is a big 19.29% decline from last week’s episode of the show. The Rampage episode featuring the singles match between Nick Jackson and Bryan Danielson had drawn 622,000 viewers in total.
The taped show also saw a big decrease in the key demo rating. The episode drew a 0.17 rating in the 18-49 demo, which is a steep 32% decline from last week’s show.
With the decreased ratings, Rampage ranked #15 for the night on Cable Top 150 which is based on the demo rating. Last week’s episode of the show had ranked at #3.
This is the lowest rating for the weekly show since its debut back on August 13. This is the seventh straight week the show has seen a decline in the rating, since the August 20 episode featuring CM Punk’s debut.
The first half-hour of next week’s Rampage will be going head to head against supersized SmackDown featuring Brock Lesnar among others. WWE has confirmed that the final half-hour of the show will be commercial-free.
Posted October 12th, 2021 in WWE, News. Tagged: CM Punk.
CM Punk believes that he will eventually meet Kenny Omega and the match won’t go to a time limit draw.
Since making his return to the pro wrestling industry, Punk has been slowly getting back into the swing of things. He hasn’t been thrust into the main event scene right away, although he is getting main event reactions. That’s because in AEW, there is a rankings system and CM Punk is slowly climbing his way up the ladder.
Eventually, Punk does want a piece of the AEW gold. The current World Heavyweight Champion is Kenny Omega. During an interview with Sport1, Punk said that unlike the match with Bryan Danielson, Omega will not be going the distance with him.
“The AEW Title is definitely something I want. I look at my career as being, I haven’t wrestled for seven years, I can’t come in and challenge for a world title right away. I look at the situation with Bryan Danielson coming in and wrestling Kenny Omega in his first match, but it wasn’t for the title. When I wrestle Kenny Omega, it’s gonna be for the title and I’m not going to need 30 minutes to beat him.”
Punk is 3-0 under the AEW banner. He’s picked up wins over Darby Allin, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Daniel Garcia. Many are wondering what will be the next big feud for Punk as we’re a month away from the Full Gear PPV.
As for Omega, he’s been feuding with Danielson but there’s an interesting situation. Hangman Page recently won the Casino Ladder Match, earning him a shot at the AEW World Heavyweight Championship.
Punk made his debut for AEW back in August. This was also his big return to the professional wrestling industry. Punk hadn’t appeared for a wrestling promotion since making his exit from WWE in early 2014. While some may point out Punk’s appearances on WWE Backstage, that show was a FOX project.
During an interview with The Wrap, CM Punk discussed the importance of AEW not having the typical drama he had been used to for so many years.
“I’m here to stay. Trust me, in 10 years, people will be talking about what we have with AEW. It’s such a just hang out, wait and see, and have fun and enjoy the ride kind of thing. Everything is fluid: dates, contracts — literally everything. This has been the best working experience I’ve ever had in the wrestling business, and if there is an issue on either end, everybody just talks. There’s no drama, it’s fantastic.”
Punk had his first wrestling match since 2014 at the All Out PPV event on Sept. 5. He went one-on-one with Darby Allin and scored the pinfall. Since then, Punk has taken on Powerhouse Hobbs of Team Taz and Daniel Garcia. Punk emerged victorious in both matches.
We’ve also seen Punk make quite a few appearances at the commentary table. AEW’s play-by-play ace Jim Ross has said that he feels Punk is a natural at the desk. We likely haven’t seen the last of Punk with a headset on.
Posted October 10th, 2021 in AEW, News. Tagged: CM Punk.
CM Punk, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson made their AEW debuts in close succession. These major arrivals helped AEW create an incredible buzz, even leading to them beating Raw in the 18-49 demo for a couple of weeks.
The straight edge star had compared this momentum to the time the Outsiders and Hulk Hogan made the jump to WCW. He had gone even as far as to claim that their moment in AEW was bigger.
Though after the backlash from fans, Punk clarified his comments in a recent interview with Sport1. He explained that he never said that the trio of himself, Bryan and Cole were bigger than the founders of nWo:
“If you look at the long-term effects [of Hogan, Nash, and Hall joining WCW]: it burned out relatively quickly. Five years later, WCW came to an end.
So ask me in five years where will AEW be. As for the comparison, I never said Adam, Bryan and I were bigger than the nWo. I said: The change felt bigger for us than the changes back then.” said CM Punk, “This is my opinion. Others may disagree, cool too. In five years you will be able to judge it correctly.”
The effect of the buzz surrounding these big debuts seems to be wearing off already. AEW Dynamite has seen big declines in viewership ratings in the past couple of weeks and Raw has increased the lead in the 18-49 demo.
Apart from this, CM Punk also talked about things such as future opponents he wants to face in AEW, his role in wrestling-based TV series Heels, and more.
The quotes in the article have been translated via Google translate.
Will Ospreay is fed up with people like CM Punk, Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson and others dropping his name.
The self-proclaimed “real” IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is gearing up for a clash against Alex Zayne. That match will take place at NJPW Showdown, a 2-night event taking place October 16th & 17th from Philadelphia’s historic 2300 Arena.
Ospreay spoke to SEScoops correspondent Samira this week about his preparation for that event, why he can’t stand American wrestling fans, and much more.
When asked who he wants to wrestle in the months ahead, ‘Big Match Billy’ named Kazuchika Okada as the only person he cares about from Japan. “The guy’s been ducking me for a while now,” he said.
However, there are several other people on his radar. Ospreay tells SEScoops that he’d “love” to wrestle CM Punk, as well as some of the other AEW stars who have called him out in recent months.
Ospreay Ready to Embarrass AEW’s Top Stars
CM Punk named Will Ospreay as someone he’d like to work with during a March 2020 appearance on the Swing & Mrs. Podcast. Punk is now an active competitor for AEW, bringing this potential dream match one step closer to reality.
“I would still love that match with CM Punk,” he began. “He’s the one that called me out. He said, ‘I want to wrestle Will Ospreay.’ So with that, Bryan Danielson, he said ‘I want to wrestle Will Ospreay’ and I get it. Kenny Omega wants to wrestle Will Ospreay. Take a ticket and I’ll get to you when I get to you guys. They called me out. Sammy Guevara, he’s another one that called me out.”
He continued, “There’s a list that goes on and on and on. They all call me out and there’s a reason why. Because when Big Match Billy is in town, their stock goes up. Everyone that wrestles me – and you can’t deny it – every single person that wrestles me ups their game because they know they’re going to be in the ring with one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. So, I completely understand it.”
These Guys Don’t Want Me To Show Up
Ospreay continued railing against Punk, Danielson, and Omega.
“If you guys really want it that bad, you know what to do. You just gotta call my number and I’ll show up. I’ll show up. But 9 times out of 10, these guys don’t want me to show up. Because A, I’ll embarrass them. I’ll embarrass them.”
“Guys like Bryan Danielson made a living being one of the best wrestlers in the world. But if I showed up, he would not last in the ring with me. Kenny Omega was THE guy in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He left. I took over. Nobody could compete with me in 2019. If I got in the ring with him, I’d embarrass him.”
Best in the World
CM Punk
“CM Punk called me out when he wasn’t a wrestler. So in that case, he was keeping an eye on me the entire time, looking at me and thinking I’m a challenge – and damn right, I’m a challenge. I’m THE challenge. So, if those guys want it, I’m ready. But, you guys hit me up. I didn’t hit none of you guys up.”
Ospreay took offense to the notion that CM Punk could still be considered the best in the world. “Is he though? He says he’s the best wrestler in the world. When was he saying that, 2011? Was he the best in the world, or was he the best of the bad bunch? Maybe you were the best at that time. Are you the best now? No. You’re nowhere near Will Ospreay’s level. So step up, brother. I’m ready for you.”
John Cena has found success in Hollywood after stepping down from his role as the face of WWE. Though his arch-rival CM Punk is not very surprised by it. The AEW star recently had an interview with Shakiel Mahjouri of ET Canada. He talked about the various WWE stars who have gone on to find success in the movie biz.
When asked if he is impressed with Cena’s acting skills, Punk admitted that he is impressed but not surprised. He explained that his skills were developed while working on WWE TV which according to the straight edge star, is similar to theatre:
“100 percent, but I’m also not surprised, I think a lot of people conflate the two. Cena has always been that funny guy. I always thought behind the scenes, and I think anybody who has worked with him always thought. A lot of the guys at that top-level in WWE may not want to admit it, but alls we are theatre actors. We’re doing live theatre every Monday, every Friday, Thursday, Tuesday, whatever the hell the schedule is now.”
CM Punk Is Not Surprised With John Cena’s Success
Their 2011 feud was an instant classic
The former world champion said working on WWE programming gets you accustomed to improv and working on the fly. He then mentioned how Suicide Squad director James Gunn praised John Cena saying that the Cenation leader is the best improv actor he has ever worked with. CM Punk explained that this doesn’t surprise him at all:
“I read James Gunn said that John Cena was the best improv actor he’s ever worked with. That does not surprise me in the least. We do it every week for decades. When we transition to film, I think people are pleasantly surprised like, ‘Oh wow, I thought you were just going to be this muscled up stiff guy.’ I’m not surprised that John is killing it.”
CM Punk had a number of high-profile feuds with John Cena during his time in WWE. Many believe it was their 2011 feud, consisting of moments such as the infamous pipebomb promo that helped establish Punk as a main event caliber talent in the company. The former WWE star recently revealed the backstage reaction to that promo and you can check it out here.
Thinking back to his groundbreaking promo, Punk [jokingly] says he was ready for a physical confrontation when he returned to the backstage area. He hoped to avoid a scuffle with anybody he offended and decided to exit the side of the stage instead of the usual entrance way. To Punk’s surprise, he found the whole area empty:
“When I got in the back, nobody anywhere,” he said. “Backstage is normally buzzing, people in the hallways. It was empty.”
Punk continued, “I remember looking around like, ‘Jeez, what’s going on’. And then I walked past the curtain through Gorilla and everybody in the company was jammed into the tunnel waiting to see me come through Gorilla, because they figured the same thing, they were like, ‘Ah man, this is gonna get real.’”
Texts From ‘Lofty People In The Business’
The storyline was among the first to blur the line between reality and kayfabe
Revealing some interesting reactions to his promo, CM Punk mentioned how chef Robert Irvine was in the arena at the time who told him that the promo was amazing. He then detailed the weird reaction of Chris Masters:
“And then I saw Chris Masters and Chris Masters looks at me and goes, ‘Did you just hear what Punk said?’, and I was like, ‘Chris, it’s me’, and he was like, ‘Oh. Oh it is you! You’re gonna get fired dude’. And then I just walked up. It was a weird scene. I didn’t know it was gonna become as big as it did, but I knew just based off those reactions, I knew we had something.
The straight edge star went on to claim that he received texts from some ‘pretty lofty people in the business’ who he respected after the promo. So he knew that he did some good television. CM Punk delivered his pipebomb promo criticizing the WWE chairman Vince McMahon among others during the June 27, 2011 episode of Raw.
CM Punk was recently a guest on the AEW Unrestricted podcast and spoke about a variety of topics. Early in the discussion, Tony Schiavone asked Punk when he started to consider a return to pro-wrestling.
“At some point when I was free and clear of all the fugazi lawsuits that people filed against me,” Punk responded. “I think there is a point where that stops and I’m free and clear and I’m like ‘sweet’ and I think that the healing can begin and it kind of coincided with the rise of AEW.”
In June of 2018, CM Punk and Colt Cabana won a civil trial, successfully defending themselves from a defamation claim stemming from Punk’s appearance on Cobana’s podcast in 2014. The lawsuit was filed by WWE doctor Chris Amann, who said that Punk had defamed him on the show. Unfortunately, Punk and Cabana then ended up in a legal battle over attorney fees from that trial. They settled with each other in 2019.
Punk also noted that the Brodie Lee tribute show played a pivotal role in him deciding to sign with AEW.
“The Brody tribute show and the way the Brody stuff was handled was just so classy and not what I’m used to. So, it made me raise an eyebrow,” Punk continued.
CM Punk On Joining AEW
Punk also spoke about his debut being the “worst kept secret” and also that he didn’t actually sign his AEW contract until minutes before his debut.
“I feel like we got the best of both worlds. I feel like it was maybe leaked or somebody found out, but there was still a giant question mark or a cloud of mystery over it.”
Punk also noted that he did not actually sign with AEW until the night he debuted.
“I read a report that I had signed, I never signed my contract until I was in the United Center maybe 90 or 30 minutes before I walked out,” Punk said. He joked that if he was a “carny guy” he could have gone to the “other Khan” and asked for money not to go to AEW.
“Props to Tony Khan because I don’t know anyone else who would do handshake deals like that. I wasn’t signed, and he had (Tony Schiavone) go out there and announce the United Center.”
Posted September 30th, 2021 in AEW, News. Tagged: CM Punk.
The name of CM Punk has been associated with the best in the world conversation for a long period. He even embraced this gimmick for a run in WWE. Though according to the former WWE star himself, the current time is the toughest to single out one wrestler as the best among others because there are so many greats.
Punk was asked who he thinks is the best wrestler in the world currently during an interview on Rasslin’ with Brandon Walker. Replying to it, the former WWE champion mentioned how he used to be able to choose one name in the past:
“You know, for the first time in I think a long time, the waters as muddy as it has been, I remember in 2002 – 2003, I was like, Eddie Guerrero is the best wrestler in the world, easily. I remember in 2004, Samoa Joe is the best wrestler in the world. It’s kind of the whole animus for the best in the world thing.”
CM Punk Thinks It’s Very Subjective Nowadays
CM Punk continued his explanation saying that if you had your finger on the pulse of wrestling, there was always a guy you could distinguish as the best. However, according to the AEW star, things have been the murkiest in a very long time because there are so many great athletes in different companies:
“Now, I think it’s so subjective too. You could say it’s Bryan Danielson. You could say it’s Kenny Omega. There’s an argument for Roman Reigns. I think now, in 2021, like I said, I think this has been the murkiest it’s been in a very long time.”
CM Punk then talked about the forbidden door and how you can see wrestlers from many different companies competing in AEW. He said that this crossover should be very appealing for someone who wants to find out who in fact is the best wrestler in the world right now.
CM Punk is not a fan of Hulk Hogan’s. He’s mentioned this in numerous previous interviews. In a recent appearance on the Rasslin with Brandon F. Walker podcast, Punk compared Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan’s careers and then offered up his opinion of Hogan.
Punk and Walker were talking about the biggest stars in wrestling’s history when Punk compared Austin and Hogan.
“A lot of this is subjective, though, right? Like, you can make the argument, ‘oh well, Hulk Hogan is a bigger star than Steve Austin’ but then you look at business periods and eras and box office receipts and all that other stuff,” Punk said on the show. “I think Hogan is a piece of s**t, so obviously I’m going to be like ‘Steve Austin, yeah!’ but that’s another podcast.”
The clip of Punk comparing Hogan and Austin can be heard in the player below:
Punk also responded to a Tweet from someone critical of his comments about Hulk Hogan.
“Brother, just tune in tonight. Just got off the phone with Arthur Ashe and he’s excited to host us tonight. Gonna party with Belushi in nyc after I slam Baba. Hope I don’t tear anything in my back. Metallica,” Punk wrote.
Brother, just tune in tonight. Just got off the phone with Arthur Ashe and he’s excited to host us tonight. Gonna party with Belushi in nyc after I slam Baba. Hope I don’t tear anything in my back. Metallica.
Jim Ross knows a thing or two about commentary and he feels CM Punk is a natural.
Punk first appeared on commentary for AEW on the Sept. 3 edition of Rampage. He was in the booth for the main event of that show between Darby Allin and Daniel Garcia. He then provided commentary on the Sept. 15 edition of Dynamite before being attacked by Powerhouse Hobbs and Hook of Team Taz.
During an episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross said that Punk nailed his role on commentary.
“He was great. I’m not saying that to kiss his a** because that’s what some feel obligated to do, and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like having his a*ss kissed.
“I was very, very honest with Phil, and we built a great relationship because of it. He and I spent a lot of time together on those TV days. He is a natural. He’s as good as anybody, any ex-wrestler, that stepped into that spot and did it for the first time. Just astonishing.”
Punk has dabbled into commentary in the past. He was in the booth for a period of time when he worked for WWE. With AEW reportedly going with a rotating commentary team for Rampage, we probably haven’t seen the last of CM Punk with a headset on.
Punk is set for his second match under the AEW banner. He will meet Powerhouse Hobbs on the AEW Grand Slam edition of Rampage. That show will air on Sept. 24 via tape delay.
Posted September 21st, 2021 in AEW, News. Tagged: CM Punk.
