Where has CM Punk Been?
AEW was in the healthiest position of its existence. With Alas, Omega, Punk, and MJF on the roster, all of whom were healthy and capable of lifting the company to the next level.
Unfortunately, Tony Khan and crew ran out of luck.
On September .4, 2022, Punk returned and won the AEW Championship, MJF continued his feud with Punk, and Omega appeared in his first pay-per-view match in nearly a year. Alongside The Young Bucks as they lifted their first-ever trio title.
The same night, Punk was beaten and bloodied during the post-event conference, and he went off on The Young Bucks, Colt Cabana, Adam Page, and the media sat in front of him. He wasn't cutting a promo, which can be difficult to separate when Punk's on the mic, as he's so damn good. This was personal, resulting in a backstage scuffle between Punk and The Elite.
Punk, Omega, and The Young Bucks were suspended. All three of The Elite would eventually return, but speculation over Punk's future lasted months.
However, on June 17, 2023, in Chicago – Punk's birthplace – we saw the long-awaited return of CM Punk. It was convenient timing as it was the first-ever broadcast of AEW Collision.
Punk had been on a 10-month hiatus, and the welcome he received was as gigantic as when he made his debut for the promotion in 2021 following a decade-long absence from the industry. Whether it's ten years or ten months, the packed arena at the United Center in Chicago reminded us that any period without the talents of CM Punk is dearly missed.
The Red Bag & Promo Masterclass
Sporting a t-shirt paying homage to his dog, Roddy Piper, and a hoodie bearing respect to Bret Hart, Punk went on to deliver a legendary promo – could we have expected anything less? It took him around seven minutes to provide the promo, and it was delivered effortlessly, off the cuff, and would make most legends in the business weep. He made his feelings known, with a promo structure boasting a few indirect messages and a point to be made that he'll uncover the trust regarding a handful of his peers (I think we know who). Punk entered the ring holding a red bag. The bag itself contained the AEW Championship that he won in September and notably never lost. Of course, he teased a feud with the current champion MJF.
"The last time you saw me with my tricep meat hanging down, I held what's in this bag above my head. It is not because I deserve it. It's mine because I earned it. And it's not mine because I had 'the best dog-collar match,' it's mine because I won the dog collar match," Punk said to the crowd referencing his dog collar match with MJF last year.
AEW Back in New York
Naturally, he took shots at The Young Bucks, referring to himself as "the one true genuine article in a business filled with counterfeit Bucks."
Will we witness the real-life incident between Punk and The Elite sprawl out on-screen? It could evolve into the biggest feud in wrestling. Punk had previously told ESPN that it wouldn't be the case, but a betting man would unquestionably put his money on this feud surfacing. And on that topic, AEW Dynamite Rampage in Albany, New York, could be the idealistic moment to involve yourself in NY sports betting because the wrestling fan base in the East is gifted with AEW personnel that is at its strongest. The company's stars have finally aligned, are completely healthy, and are back on television in unison. The roster is stacked throughout with newcomers, legends, and future stars.
AEW resumes its Dynamite show on Wednesday, July 26, at the MVP Arena, Albany, NY. However, with the Saturday night prime-time addition of AEW Collision, the company has two shows to balance its roster. This could be idealistic if future roster mishaps like we witnessed with CM Punk and The Elite arise.
As for ratings, Punk's return on Collision's debut drew 816,000 viewers. It landed as the #3 ranked show on cable for the night.
AEW has struggled over the past year, but overcoming the low points proves that Tony Khan is a worthy promoter. And now, with the company boasting two shows and raising its game behind a solid roster, can they undergo an evolution within an industry where WWE owns most of the market share?
