CM Punk AEW Return Plans

AEW

A look at potential plans for CM Punk if/when he makes a return to AEW, which could happen in a couple of months’ time.

He’s been out since September but Punk is still causing a stir, so let’s take a look…

Will CM Punk Return To AEW?

It can be argued that AEW is still reeling from the effects of what transpired after All Out last September, as CM Punk embarked on a verbal tirade against Colt Cabana, AEW’s EVPs (Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks), and Adam Page.

This stemmed from Punk believing the EVPs had leaked a story about Punk preventing Cabana from being involved with AEW since his debut, and Page attempting to reference the real-life backstage tensions on TV, which Punk didn’t know he was going to do.

With Punk being out due to injury after All Out he wouldn’t have been a factor in TV plans since then anyway, but as he continues to recover from that injury, AEW CEO Tony Khan is going to have a decision to make soon about whether to bring Punk back.

The biggest question right now isn’t even “how” Punk will be brought back, it’s “if”, as recent reports suggest there’s been no mending of fences between Punk and the other parties.

Obviously it’s not impossible that he returns and everyone just accepts they’re not going to get along, but it certainly wouldn’t be advisable.

If it’s a choice between having Punk OR having the Elite, that’s a very tough call for Tony Khan to make.

If you look at it from an immediate business perspective, the advantage does go to Punk. The Elite have not been successful in the ratings for months, and Punk always was.

There’s also the fact that you don’t want Punk showing up in WWE. We pretty much know that is a concern because of the reports a little while back of non-compete negotiations being held up.

That wouldn’t have been held up if 1) Tony Khan wasn’t worried about it happening, and 2) CM Punk was ruling it out – so he clearly isn’t.

But on the other hand is the whole “spirit of AEW” argument – the Elite are the ones who were there to build AEW from the very start, and much of the roster is people they handpicked (although as time goes on, that’s becoming less and less the case).

Who Should CM Punk Work With If He Returns To AEW?

Let’s just say for the sake of making this article somewhat interesting, Punk is coming back and the Elite isn’t an option for him to feud against. Who should he work with?

The obvious answer is MJF, which is what was supposed to happen. It seemed that their issue had ended, but it actually just restarted and the direction was MJF cashing in the poker chip against Punk who would have been world champion had he not been suspended and/or injured.

Beyond MJF, there’s still a plethora of potential feuds for Punk. You could go back to Moxley, but it’s been done. If you want something completely new (in AEW), there’s Bryan Danielson (or Punk and FTR vs Blackpool Combat Club), Jay Lethal, Samoa Joe, Malakai Black (or Punk and FTR vs House of Black), Ricky Starks, Swerve Strickland, HOOK, and probably plenty of others I haven’t mentioned.

The point is, if Punk doesn’t come back, there’s a lot of money, and great wrestling television, that’ll be missed out on.

But we all know where the money is. The money is Punk vs The Elite. Whether that’s Punk vs Page, Punk vs Omega, Punk & FTR teaming together against Omega/Page and the Bucks.

You don’t have to be friends, you just have to coexist in a professional setting. If the fans wanting it so bad isn’t enough of a reason for you, then do it for your own bank accounts.

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• The Elite
• cm punk
• Return
• AEW

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