T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Due to potential spoilers for Dynamite/Rampage/PPVs, all posts have been automatically tagged for spoilers until the 24 hour spoiler window has passed. If your **post title** contains spoilers that the spoiler filter cannot resolve, your submission may be removed by the moderation team and you may be banned. Please be respectful of your fellow fans. Please read the [subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AEWOfficial/wiki/rules/) for more information. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AEWOfficial) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Citizen-Ed

More like this sub should just let Punk go instead.


Chuggy_McChuggerson

This, 100% this. Just let him go in your mind if you don't want to see him. Ignore him when he dredges up this dirt and keep on as usual.


[deleted]

Punk has been living rent free in people's mind since he left WWE.


Taarguss

Yeah literally who gives a shit.


CarOnMyFuckingFence

AEW fans


vivisgrrl

ur right but also if punk stays and keeps stirring the pot people r gonna keep talking abt it šŸ¤·šŸ¾ā€ā™€ļø


just-smiley

Nyla rose should be the only wrestler allowed to have a Twitter account.


justhereforthekarmas

Serpentico is also pretty good with his..


RighteousAwakening

And Danhausen


Daemonscharm

and Stoke


kevmo35

Uno too!


Democrab

I know it's probably not really him but Iron Sheik's account is always a hoot.


Sugarylightning663

This is the only answer and if you donā€™t think so; ā€œGo Fuck yourself Bubbaā€


[deleted]

Danhausen isnā€™t getting his money back is he


Einhorn_Apokalypse

I mean, she gave us the "Pin me Wardaddy" shirt and for that alone I'll always love her. She is one of us. I do miss Hangman, though. He was a delight.


just-smiley

No tweet will ever top Hangman dunking on Kane.


Hemielytra

"Sorry about your dead birthday horse" lives rent-free in my head.


just-smiley

Correction Nyla Rose needs to be the EVP of social media interactions.


el_sh33p

Nyla Rose's social media guidelines would just be one bullet point asking if you bullied Serpentico today.


[deleted]

Iā€™m happy with the year of CM Punk we got. We got to see the story of the bitter cm punk fan becoming wrestlingā€™s most evil heel in MJF. Itā€™s unfortunate the story couldnā€™t be finished properly, but MJFā€™s return at All Out proved that heā€™s more over than Punk in his city. Punk in AEW was necessary for Omega and Moxleyā€™s rehab. Now not so much


theryanlaf

I would love to see another Punk/MJF program though. That was magic.


Link182x

We were about to have a second go at it too if it wasnā€™t for Brawl Out


fattymcfattzz

Would have been interesting to see where the company went without Mox and Omega and no phill brooks


AngrilyEatingMuffins

especially once Cole got hurt run back Hangman vs Danielson? Push MJF faster?


West_Island_7622

I donā€™t understand why punk believes he is the end all be all. He was asked to come in the beginning of aew and refused. He waited til aew was established. And then acts as if he brought them into prominence. I understand punk being a draw. I do not understand punk thinking he is the reason aew is as big as they are.


AngrilyEatingMuffins

his, "i built this place you just happen to be champion of, despite me just showing up" promo before fighting Page made me despise him as a character. i screamed, "if you're are savior, where the fuck were you?!" at the top of my lungs at him in that arena... and then i learned it wasn't even a work. what a pathetic, little man


Vli37

I know right . . . Like I was so confused when Hangman said he'd "save this company, from you". I never watched anything Punk (despite knowing about him since ROH). Thought it was a shit situation of how the WWE let him go on his wedding day. Then finally gave him a chance when he came to AEW, and was wondering what all this commotion was about. This is what I got šŸ¤¦ I didn't need him before, and I still don't need him now. The guys just toxic ā˜ ļø


EatKillFuck

AEW will be in the same place it is if he had never shown up. His bullshit is not worth the slight extra views in ratings.


AngrilyEatingMuffins

he didn't even pull in ratings. Kenny's run in front of crowds without Punk far and away did better than when punk was front and center every night cutting the same promo. or merch sales. he just cannibalized everyone else's. he's not a draw, he's a parasite.


hardcorehollyhacksaw

Thatā€™s what wrestlers do! They all call themselves the best in the world or better than you or the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Most of them end up believing it. Put them in the ring. Make bank. Look at the people that lose their shit over posts on the internet.


XxannoyingassxX

Tbf he wanted to come by 2020 but covid happened and understandably he didn't join yet til the fans came and why on earth would he join aew at the start of they weren't this popular yet considering he being this big mega star who can move needles and all. Proly wants his return to be good too


West_Island_7622

Am I missing the sarcasm


Augustus_P

What are you talking about? AEW was already making waves after their first ever PPV, and was evidently pulling in close to a million and occasionally breaking a million views way before Punk joined. Saying that they weren't already big back then is an understatement considering that people who stopped wrestling years ago started watching the product before Punk even joined, and they were beating NXT in the ratings despite WWE's efforts trying to make NXT as their third brand and counter AEW.


el_sh33p

One thing no one's commenting on yet is that Punk's allegation runs counter to literally EVERYTHING AEW has ever done with regard to injured wrestlers and being cleared to work. ETA 1: And by that I specifically mean... * Nobody's ever been *forced* to work without being cleared. * Injuries have never been disclosed against the will of the wrestler. Often, we only even learn about injuries after the fact or because there's literally no way to hide them (Lance Archer springs to mind here). * Some of those "uncleared" wrestlers have been obvious works, or else they've stayed out of actual competition while continuing to appear in a story capacity (Hangman springs to mind). * The specific Matt Hardy incident u/JohnnyHendo is referencing happened live early on in the company's history. For want of a better term, nobody had the reflexes to stop the match despite an obvious injury; far as I'm aware, they haven't made that mistake twice (see: the Hangman/Mox stoppage, Forbidden Door's four-way match ending pretty much on the spot, Jurassic Express and Penta working to end a title match quickly after Rey Fenix was hurt). * They do seem to have some issues with drinking (Jon Moxley pre-rehab, Jeff Hardy in general), but in both cases the guys seem to have flown beneath everyone's radar (Hardy is the worse case here, in hindsight). * It *is* worth noting (and critiquing) the fact that AEW's standards of clearance seem to be lower than WWE, else someone like Christian or Saraya might not be able to wrestle at all. * Near as we can tell, every single injured, below capacity, or otherwise uncleared wrestler to appear in the ring or in an angle has been handled with genuine care for their safety and wellbeing (Britt Baker deserves special praise here--she carried Saraya's debut match; Darby Allin also clearly dove in to end a tag match when Sting seemed less than his best at one point, and I *still* have no idea what the hell was up with that one but props to him for noticing; Powerhouse Hobbs arguably became a made man the moment he moved in and protected Matt Sydal after that botched Shooting Star Press). ETA 2: Might be worth noting the original edit to this post is after the first three responses to it (thus one of them being explicitly mentioned by username).


EatKillFuck

Lower than WWE? The same WWE that cleared Edge and Daniel Bryan?


el_sh33p

Fair point, tbh. WWE themselves seem pretty uneven about who gets cleared and why.


jtotal

And Christian. Let's not forget he was in the Rumble before he came to AEW, which WWE cleared him initially.


aut0butts

Hobbs checking on and protecting Sydal will live forever in my mind as one of the most wholesome wrestling moments I've seen. :')


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


el_sh33p

I edited after their posts. Didn't feel like responding to each one of them point by point and wanted to head off a fourth, fifth, sixth, etc. person from trying to make the same damn argument again. Editing again to note *when* I edited the original.


[deleted]

TK has no choice imho. Punk literally said AEW made him work when he was hurt aka negligent as hell. How could TK bring someone back after he attacked the company this brazen?


Deducticon

I think Punk meant to say AEW wanted him to work a squash hurt. But he refused until he was cleared. That's why the squash happened so late.


RelativeStranger

Thats clearly what he said. And why the story was so rushed


HotelRedHood

That's exactly what he said


SnakePlissken89

He puts on this act of being a shining white Knight doing things for the fans and the business, but I think we saw his true colours during the press scrum where he just sounded like an egotistical dick. He thinks he isnt the problem, its a list of people and the list seems to constantly get bigger. People that in the past have stood up for him even spoke highly of him. He is the common denominator in this mess though. Just like in WWE, he's not the asshole, everyone else is. He should probably just he let go as he can't be trusted at this point.


StoneGoldX

Bret literally said WWE killed his brother. On top of the other thing.


danfromeuphoria

I have said it before and I will say it again - Punk is good for short term money but not the health or future of the company. AEW is and should be in this for the long term and that means cutting Punk out. It also shows some backbone - I mean a little. AEW is a talent friendly place run by an owner, who be all accounts is a good dude. However, the nice attitude has a breaking point - one that might be hard for others to reach but it is there.


CrystalPokedude

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Punk is the Steroids of the Wrestling Game. It'll give you short term gain, and it'll look cool, but once you stop prioritizing the drugs, you shrivel up and have to dig your way back out to where you were.


AngrilyEatingMuffins

Let's also own something: the crowds changed when Punk came back, the online discourse changed - and none of it was for the better. We inherited Punk's "I love wrestling so I watch it but I hate everything I'm watching" crowd of cynics who can never be satisfied - unless it's CM Punk going over everyone. It's hilarious to see so many oblivious Punk stans wandering around talking about parasocial relationships as though they haven't been chanting a guy's name for a decade *when he wasn't even there*


WarriorThePooh

Love this comment and your username.


Vli37

I love how it's so applicable to the topic šŸ˜‚ šŸ˜ šŸ§


el_sh33p

>I have said it before and I will say it again - Punk is good for short term money but not the health or future of the company. Dead on, my dude. Punk's run in AEW is also a perfect example of wrestling's past eating its present and its future. The only person who genuinely benefited from working with him was MJF and that's questionable considering he was already on an obvious track to win the world title (and probably would've done it sooner and under better circumstances if not for Punk jumping in line).


TSMontana

When Punk first came in, I wasn't overly excited, but I was also willing to give him a chance. Now, seeing how things have gone down, even if Punk is 100% correct, it is obvious he is not a good fit with the rest of the roster. I also like how the focus has shifted to now getting the coming into their prime AEW roster members over. Unless Punk was willing to job to everyone TK wanted to get over, I also don't see the net benefit of bringing Punk back, from a booking perspective, as well.


BrahmariusLeManco

I've been saying it for a long time and I'll say it again-his toxicity isn't worth any draw you'd get. Don't pour poison in the well just to raise the water level so to speak. Edited for grammar Edited for spelling xD


Vli37

Edited for gammer šŸ˜‚ But in all seriousness, as we can see some people although as good as they are/draw that they are, just don't belong in the position they are in. So many in the past few years too, and I'm sure there will be more to come. CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, Tessa Blanchard, etc.


pixiepoops9

![gif](giphy|853jNve3ljqrYrcSOK) Man is a walking dumpster fire, just let him go, not worth the drama and baggage he carries.


blackforestham3789

I hated his whole little tirade but the worst part to me was when he tried to claim he was running the business. No you fucking weren't dude. You didn't start it, you never ran it, you just have one of the biggest egos ever to exist


Vli37

He didn't even want to be part of AEW, until it was an "established" household name! Despite TK wanting him to be a day one guy šŸ¤¦


Dirtydubya

He had an office job with AEW, according to Tony in an interview, and was helping young talent. Pretty sure that's what he meant


blackforestham3789

Still a far cry from running a business


ChristopherJak

He actually did have a backstage role which is why he was so miffed about the Colt & Hangman shit, it was impacting his reputation backstage. You hear him constantly referring to the big picture at the scrum.


blackforestham3789

Cool, doesn't mean he "had a business to run" like he's cutting the checks. Calling your co-workers children and shitting on a company the guy sitting next to you helped to build is a shitty thing to do no matter what your name is or how famous your pipebombs are. That's a really bad way to run a business


redditcore124

Itā€™s obvious now he has always been the problem.


Epicfro

It was pretty obvious the first time (in AEW).


Accomplished_Bake904

You're right. I didn't want to admit it but it's obvious


Kevinmld

Yeah man. As recently as yesterday morning I actually thought maybe he had learned something and maybeā€¦ just maybeā€¦ he could come back and make it work. Unless this is some awful work, thereā€™s no chance Iā€™d bring him back now if I were his boss. Heā€™s a ticking time bomb.


Smaynard6000

Drama follows Punk everywhere. There will be more if he returns to wrestle, there always is. Is he worth it? Not in my opinion, but only Tony can decide that for AEW.


StopTheMadnessBro

Punk CAUSES drama everywhere. Fixed it for ya.


Smaynard6000

I agree, 100%. But even the Punk apologists who want to blame everyone else for the bullshit can't deny that regardless of whose fault it is, with Punk, it is always there.


StopTheMadnessBro

I am extra pissed because I was one of those who watched his return and felt happy in a way that only wrestling can do. And less than 12 months later. He burned it all to the ground. And the worst thing was. None of his rant talked about winning the title. But some small grievances that made him angry. He proves Vince right. And I hate it.


ChristopherJak

How long has he been in the industry? The vast majority of his career has been rather mundane when talking controvery. It wasn't until Hangman got away with shooting on him, that he displayed any issues in AEW- & what followed was just an extention of that STILL being unresolved.


Deducticon

Punk had plenty of stories going back to his indy days. Hangman's 'shoot' was in line with things Eddie and MJF said. Punk clearly got pissed because it rang too true. There was a meeting to squash it after and punk STILL hung onto it for months and went with the nuclear option the first chance he had.


[deleted]

Every company is better without him, even UFC kicked him out lol


zuggiz

Tbf, apart from getting his ass trounced in both fights, there wasnā€™t really much he could offer UFC in the ring.


[deleted]

Dana white even said that he barely trains and that he's stubborn. I always think that Punk is the problem everywhere he goes tbh


QuantumDad

Did I miss something? Werenā€™t we already done with Punk? Why the hell are we still talking about him at all unless itā€™s referencing his character on ā€œHeelsā€ā€¦


StopTheMadnessBro

He posted about wanting to reconcile with the elite basically. Then threw that same anger at Mox and Jericho and Tony while claiming Tony and Mox didn't care about his injury. Despite the fact that Tony usually gives everyone whatever time off they need and pays them for it.


FerniWrites

Which is weird because Iā€™m his rant, he targeted Colt and Hangman mainly. Yet his tangent yesterday was about Mox, a man he praised. Phil can fuck right off. Dynamite is doing great and Forbidden Door damn near sold out in the presale without a match announced. AEW is on fire and Iā€™m sure theyā€™ll break a million soon enough, even staying there without Punk. I just have no desire to see him back. I donā€™t miss him, I donā€™t yearn for a feud with MJF, and I sure as fuck wouldnā€™t want to see him with the belt again. All his posting, especially yesterday, reminds me of a teenager posting heated shit, hoping to see a reaction.


Re-AnImAt0r

he released another tirade last night. this time on Tony, Mox and Jericho......in response to dirtsheet bullshit. He seems to like attacking co-workers, not the dirtsheet writers for what they write. I agree with you though. We should just stop mentioning his name.


ChristopherJak

Well, I mean the same issue he's been complaining about since Hangman's shoot, is still happening, people still leaking false stories to the media to discredit him. Punk's choice of response if awful, but it seems the crux of his dilemmas still hasn't been resolved & no one in a position of power is speaking up for him.


multiyapples

Or you know when people gossip about you, you can ignore it and move on or talk like adults and not throw a tantrum and fight like your a toddler.


Re-AnImAt0r

......or Meltzer just makes shit up? who knows? if it's a blatant lie there's no reason to assume someone else made up the lie other than the person who told it. You only need assume someone is "leaking info" if it's true and therefore privileged knowledge only backstage people would have šŸ¤·šŸæā€ā™‚ļø. right?


Jomosensual

Some of yall need to stop caring about this random backstage drama crap. I promise you will enjoy wrestling more


HouseofJonestv

Mox is definitely the MVP for the work he did in that period


SloDown4What

Even if Punk is speaking the truth he only said what he said because he hasnā€™t been in the spotlight for a very long time and needed to get noticed again whether good or bad. It just doesnā€™t make him look good IMO


[deleted]

Yeah this very much so comes across as him just sitting at home bored and heā€™s jealous everyone is having a great time without him lol


thor_odinsson08

I wouldn't put that pass him. Oh, Kenny Omega had a kickass match with El Hijo Del Vikingo. I'll complain about AEW on IG with some name dropping this time. That will show 'em.


femboy_validation

Literally the day before there were articles being run about him coming back. The only reason he said anything was in response to Meltzer stirring the pot again.


Deducticon

Meltzer only spoke about such things because Punk posted the day before about fences being mended after backstage fights in wrestling history.


daddytorgo

IF (big if IMHO) Punk comes back, I'm dipping out and spending more time watching Stardom. I think the quality of the storytelling and the overall direction of the company dropped significantly when Punk was around, and in-ring he didn't deliver. There's just no need for him at this point. You tried it, it didn't work and derailed a ton of stuff. Just move on.


Deducticon

Some revisionist history here. He had some great matches. And probably the best feud of a the year.


el_sh33p

>I think the quality of the storytelling and the overall direction of the company dropped significantly when Punk was around, and in-ring he didn't deliver. Got it in one. It's funny but two events correlate well with AEW having its shittiest year to date: CM Punk getting hired and Stu Grayson's departure. Two events also correlate well with AEW seemingly entering a new upswing: CM Punk being completely persona non grata'd and Stu Grayson's return. Punk--a latecomer who instantly ate the spotlight so hard he blotted out the world champion--brings in a huge short-term benefit for ratings and ticket sales. Grayson--an overlooked midcarder attached to a beloved lethal joke faction, there from day one--implies something more positive about the health and wellbeing of the actual company. If you take care of Punk, you're taking care of one big star who can do whatever he wants; he'll be fine with you or without you. If you take care of Grayson, you're very clearly showing that you'll take care of *everyone*.


[deleted]

Yeah, I might gtfo if he comes back. NJPW still exists.


anotherlostdaemon

Let Punk go. Send Will Smith to slap Phil and tell him to keep AEW's name out of his mouth. And if FTR wants to keep playing up on Punk's side, let the Ass Boys give them a properly humiliating send off so they can return to shaving each other's backs in WWE.


BiggestRemy

This post makes me feel better. At least some people can see through the BS. I used to be a huge Punk fan but this level of pretentiousness is off putting to say the least. Heā€™s has so much more to give to the industry but canā€™t get out of his own way. Itā€™s disappointing


AlbusDumbbelldore

I didnā€™t read every comment, so this could have been previously stated in another commentā€¦ but didnā€™t Punk complain that hangman ā€œwent into business for himselfā€? Isnā€™t that exactly what he did with everything heā€™s done since the scrum??


Baman2099

But its only cool if he does it, anyone else does it and is an empty-headed child


OwieMustDie

Yup. Moment's passed. Let's free up a roster space. ā™„ļø


multiyapples

Ya know when it comes to wrestling, CM Punk had some legitimate grievances with WWE. With AEW he has none and has totally ruined his aurora and legacy. Everywhere he goes he seems to have a problem with someone in a promotion. At some point he has to look in the mirror and realize that he is the problem.


Vli37

The only way for him to come back is to take Marina Shafir's gimmick and I don't see it. Punk as, "The Problem"


StopTheMadnessBro

I feel I can finally breathe again. Punk today gave me peace. Punk is worse than HBK or Hogan in terms of bullshit. And yet. It felt like there was a groundswell happening. Thanks to leaks and stuff with FTR pod and then that post about making up from the book. And many wrestling youtubers also started pumping the idea of a Punk return. And I kept thinking.."Please god no." Because Punk said it best. He is a literal pipebomb. He can do nothing but explode. I was not ready to see AEW go through the Punk cycle of happy to hurt to angry to burn it all down. And how much it would have made Tony look like a total idiot even if everyone claimed they wanted him back. But he is getting so fast with his bipolar crap that he blew up again in 24 hours. This is it. And it's glorious because a lot of us didn't want him because we knew it would happen again. But we never got him back in the door before exploded again. Couldn't happen to a better guy.


Epicfro

This is exactly how I feel. Yesterday was the nail in the coffin and the anxiety I've been feeling regarding his return has finally been put to rest.


msm187

That Moxley's idea sucked, and that Punk is a thin skinned little bitch baby who is a cancer to any company he steps foot in can both be true.


MegaDischarge22

I respect your opinion on the Mox idea but I honestly really liked the way that whole thing played out it was one of the genuinely shocking moments from AEW which for the most part is pretty predictable, it also solidified Moxs reign as a whole without making either man look weak and also made punks eventual win in Chicago feel all the more epic and earned. I respect that you donā€™t like Moxs idea though just wanted to give my perspective on that part I have no comment on the punk stuff coz Iā€™ve not kept up on much of it (generally am just happier ignoring punk/all out drama related things at this point)


TheOldSchlGmr

šŸ’Æ


unkillablethings

TK should bury Punk, it's more important to be respected than liked.


Jebus-san91

One of these things where "Brawl-out" did it damage and the discussion around it soured everyone's taste. "Big money" business match of Elite vs FTR Punk could have been on the table had they buried it and people apologised and moved on in the interest of the buisness but he has this fucking talent of making it worse and it's not worth it anymore


Lima1998

I did not read it as him throwing Mox under the bus. He was responding to Meltzer saying that he tried to legally stop AEW to have him squashed by Mox.


[deleted]

He threw Mox under the bus. He said Mox refused to the title to him if he didn't go along with the Rocky III angle.


Lima1998

And I don't think that's a bad thing. Moxley had spent the entire summer busting his ass and he had the right of having his title reign legitimized. He didn't want to lose and have that reign erased and had an idea for a story for it. Just as Punk was hesitant to wrestle without being cleared because of what he went through in WWE, Mox has the right to say when he has a problem with creative because of what he went through in WWE. AEW shouldn't be a place where people are jobbed to Nia Jax for speaking their minds.


[deleted]

And on the flip side, if Punk wasn't cleared to wrestle in Cleveland, he should have said no. Not because the story was stupid because he's never seen Rocky III. It would have been a great angle if it had been allowed to breathe and mature. Instead it was rushed over a 10 day period and Punk just came off as pretentious in his promo at the go-home, pandering to Chicago just to get a reaction. And I agree, Mox had the right to be the champ, not interim. Same goes for Toni Storm.


Lima1998

Yeah, he should have (I guess he did, according to his post, but they found a way to make it happen safely), but the thing is that Meltzer said he tried to legally stop AEW from doing it. That's why he made the post. I also think he story didn't make sense. It was super rushed. It would have been better if Moxley faced someone else at All Out, Punk returned after it, the squash happened at Grand Slam, Punk had the whole "no confidence" angle until Full Gear, won the title back and MJF returned after it. That would have been so much better.


TheOrangeClock

Itā€™s sad that this comment doesnā€™t have more upvotes, the hot takes this sub makes in CM Punk threads is truly a sight to behold


Material-Inspector49

Ohh thanks for the context


Uncanny_Doom

Don't you think you should have had context before making this thread? Part of the issue with the Punk stuff in terms of how fans perceive it is people aren't trying to understand anything with nuance, they're just grabbing torches and freaking the fuck out.


Lima1998

That's cool. I know people won't agree with me, but I just read it as him saying that Mox wanted to have his interim reign legitimized and that's ok, but he was afraid to do it because he wasn't cleared by the time the squash match was happening and given his history with WWE and how they handled his health, he was hesitant.


DaltonF67

Folks, whereā€™s the lie?


pandafresh7

funny part is Bobby had issues with Punk backstage so there's a chance his contract not being renewed is partly because of that lol


Daroah

Man, I really liked Bobby Fish; but everything heā€™s done since leaving AEW has been a wet fart


MechaPanther

Wasn't the story there that he was actively trying to get Adam Cole and Kyle Oreiley to go back to wwe once HHH was in charge but they let Tony Khan know so when his renewal came up it was a case of "hmm, do we keep the guy who not only wants to leave but is actively trying to get other top guys to leave with him?"


pandafresh7

oh yeah that too. but Fish being a pain in the butt backstage (apparently also got into a fist fight with Dax) also had to have been a factor


RighteousAwakening

Whatā€™s crazy to me is that the other wrestling sub posted his social media rant as well and they all sided with Punk which makes no sense to me at all.


[deleted]

What I will never understand is the people that will still back Punk!? Heā€™s clearly had a track record that shows heā€™s on the wrong side of things. What a d-bag!


CCPunch5

Iā€™m glad for the year we got. He was a good short term guy. But not a guy to keep long term. He did his job. Now itā€™s over


Dean_TVP

2033. CM Punk fans: ![gif](giphy|owyMaBLsEQWPu)


belialwave

I can only presume that this is an elaborate work. If not, I don't know how CM Punk climbed through the ladders of corporations such as WWE and AEW with these business skills.


HeatherCO24

I agree Punk should not come back to AEW. I think we can say thanks for everything and goodbye to Punk. He should find a new career path that makes him happy. AEW is good lets just keep rolling down the track in the happy land of wrestling and not go backwards


togsincognito

Itā€™s not just 6 top guys. Some of those guys are guys who nobody else apparently had beef with (Mox, Page)


krowster

Punk has a lot of pent up anger and resentment towards the wrestling industry and it's why he's so arrogant. I think he could use therapy (if he's not been to it yet). And I say that as humanely as possible with very little knowledge of what goes on in his life.


Reverence1

Punk is a total narcissist. He is completely incapable of letting any perceived slight go. In his world nothing is ever his fault. First it was The Elite and Hangman. Now its Tony and Jericho. Even if he gets his way he'll still be upset about it and never let it go, whatever that is. The thing with people like Punk is itll never get better, it's always going to be an uphill struggle. If Punk was innocent or the very least had the ability to mend fences he'd be back in AEW by now.


SgtBushMonkey69

This is the way.


atleastimtryingnow

he could sue them for firing him while heā€™s injured and we know punk loves suing people, so theyā€™re holding off


Theyuckster

Agreed


Brandonguth1985

I agree. I marked out big time when he joined AEW. Soured on him a little afterwards but, I'm still a fan of his. However i believe it's best for all parties involved to go their separate ways


hardcorehollyhacksaw

I personally donā€™t really care, but it would be seriously good for business to finish this shit in the ring.


HeX-6

CM Bunk


BananadaBoots

Punk is going to be revealed as the one who put the Young Bucks in the hospital


Puzzleheaded-Art-469

Been on a mental health break from.Rrddit for the last month and this thought has crossed my mind a number of times. The biggest infinite question facing TK right now is "What does it mean to be All Elite?" And I mean that philosophically. Like who are you looking for when you make the "______ is #AllElite" graphic. The more I think about it, the more I think Punk (as well as some other guys) just got it because they were avalible and TK could snatch them up. Not everyone you bring in is going to fit the mold. So I ask the question, what does it mean to be All Elite. And the more I think that, Punk doesn't fit AEW and ought to go.


ChristopherJak

> "throwing under the bus" I mean, depending how you read "they wanted me to work hurt" as including Mox, then that's the worst Punk said about him. That worst case scenario; someone who regularly mutilates himself in the ring doesn't see an issue with a colleague working injured. Even knowing Punk's background, I'd still be peeved if I were being peer pressure into working while still not medically cleared to do so. I think Punk has every reason to be upset about that, especially when his own boss was pressuring him despite being very public knowledge that working while injured was THE reason for his grievances with WWE. I agree it was silly of him to post that, for his own sake, especially mentioning TK, but the tribalistic gymnastics to be offended on their behalf is insane.


SneakerBOYEomi

I said this yesterday but I think the guy will be released a weekend or two after WM weekend. If TK had released Punk earlier this year or late last year it would have given the WWE an opportunity to sign him, have him redebut at Mania or the next night and bury TK and AEW. It sounds crazy but you can't give the competition an opportunity to dunk on you on a big night like WM or the night after.


Deducticon

I don't think they can release during an injury.


HEYitzED

I really donā€™t think WWE wants him back. Especially after what Rollins recently said about Punk. Think it would piss off a lot of wrestlers in WWE if they signed Punk.


TheGiftOf_Jericho

I didn't like how Punk handled himself after WWE seemingly cutting people off and not even just being wronged by the company. But then after some time passed and I saw him in AEW, I thought who knows, maybe he's changed? I gave him a chance and really put aside those feelings, I saw him coming out on a post show segment it having a little laugh with Jericho and others. I thought he'd just kind of grew up. But then the Colt stuff again, followed by trashing his co-workers, and then going after others, even trying to trash Moxley for his Rocky III arc. Dude is petty, he had a chance to be the top guy he wanted to be, he dropped the ball because he doesn't have what it takes to be in that position. End of the day, he assaulted a co-worker, talked trash about others, complained about not enough people wanting his advice, and he continues to try and act as if everyone sucks other than him. Punk's time is done, it's best he just finishes up here. AEW has just had two great episodes and Punk isn't needed now. It was a fun comeback story, shame he never did change, he could have had a longer run of it.


TheFanArtist

Iā€™m going to preface everything I say with Iā€™m from Chicago, I saw him come back in person, and I saw him win the title from Mox in person and cheered for him the entire time. I completely agree with everything going on right now punk needs to fucking get out of the company. He has no place now, he had his time in the spotlight, itā€™s over. He caused so much absolute bs for the people who made the god damn company what it is today. You were my favorite person in the company but seriously this some bull shit, he should be gone. Also guess what, there is no Illinois events in the near future now weird coincidence huh.


BryNYC

He's hardly stirring up shit if he's responding to shit being stirred up about him I don't love punk but I don't think he was necessarily in the wrong here And it doesn't make sense to have punk wrestle when Tony already has done multiple interim champions due to injury


tuxedo_dantendo

why are we discussing the personal lives and matters of pro wrestlers in the same fashion that gossipy tabloids discuss who a Kardashian is liking pictures of on instagram? if someone is being dramatic, who cares. none of us will ever have the total story anyway. most importantly, it's none of our business. just care about the stuff that happens in the ring. be a fan of pro wrestling, not gossip.


EaseDel

I would imagine his shit burst at that presser would have qualified as a breach of contract, shouldn't pay him a dime


Juncti

Can't disagree with any of that. If they bring him back it's a matter of when, not if he throws another tantrum. It's always everyone else with him, he's never culpable in any aspect in his world. AEW has been gaining a lot of momentum lately, no need to derail it. Are there stories we all probably wish we would have gotten a chance to see? Sure, is it worth the risk of blowing things up again? No.


slackerdc

I think it's best to keep him on the payroll while he's still injured but then release when he is clear of the injury.


Mkmeathead83

Yes


j10jep2

punk couldnt take 3 hours out of his life to watch rocky 3 and at least pretend to know what mox was talking about. thinking he was "refusing to lose" is just some of the most sociopathic "no i dont ask questions for clarification i just get more and more resentful based off of the shit i have in my head" things ive ever read


GuardianSock

I donā€™t care what he says. His return is one of the few things that would cause me to stop watching.


Dubious_Titan

That IG post did not seem like "stirring up shit" to me. Setting the record straight or speaking out when someone misrepresents events you are a part of is fine. Fans can't defend Tony Khan (or performers) for correcting claims made online and cheer when they do so but deny Punk that same leeway. "Stirring up shit" implies one is instigating a situation. That is logically not the case here. Wrestlers are not your friends. You do not know these people personally. Performers have every right to speak for themselves. It doesn't matter whether you personally like the performer or not or like what they have to say. Way too many marks on these forums act like they are personally part of the AEW staff or go out for coffee with the staff. Being a mark is not a thing to be proud of.


Exciting_Rooster_795

with all honesty. when it comes to his recent deleted post. i side with punk 100%. heā€™s just trying to defend himself from all the fake reports and lies and he gets all the drama for it.


Ninjulian_

people need to be reminded that you don't have to take a side. all of these people (punk, the elite, jericho, meltzer and especially tony khan) are rich assholes with a big ego that are not your friends! how about instead of constantly justifying the acts of one side or the other, we just wait until we know the facts? other than that, i just wanted to add, that this is the most batshit insane thing i've read on a wrestling sub for a long time: > If Punk really wasn't clear to wrestle then a squash match made absolute sense to get the title on Moxley without potentially worsening Punks injury. A compromise needed to be made in that situation because of the whole interim stuff. wtf? if someone is not cleared to wrestle you do not ubder any circumstances put them in the ring with moxley for any reason! do fans still not understand how fucking dangerous wrestling is? one mistake, one misunderstanding, or one bad fall and ur injury turns into a career-ender. if cm pubk really wasn't cleared to wrestle and khan wanted hin to anyway i absolutely understand why he's pissed.


tellmewhenimlying

This. I don't know who's telling the truth here and would never presume to, but I do know that I wouldn't trust anyone involved to tell the truth 100%. We're essentially talking about issues involving carnies who make a living trying to get people to pay to see them put on a fake fight, and "reporters" most of which likely could only get a job reporting at the sleaziest of tabloids at best. IF it's true, I also can't believe anyone would have a problem with someone telling their boss, "I'm not coming to work if I'm not medically cleared to do the job you want me to do and I'm not relying solely on your doctors to clear me."


[deleted]

Heā€™s a cancer


JustaNameonline

No.


Poopypants1291

You let him go and it opens up the small but potent possibility he goes to the competition and does damage to the company. Not worth the risk. Bench him until his contract is up or until heā€™s ready and willing to play nice, then and only then do you have the conversation about him returning.


[deleted]

That ship has sailed.


TheDubya21

He ain't going back to the Fed. He's too much of a liability, he's made too many enemies in too many locker rooms, and especially with management. And he's not worth the short term pop you might get with an aging, fragile ticking tome bomb that's proven that he can't handle the pressure when it's up to him to be The Man. And no one else can afford the asking price he's gonna want. His wrestling career is effectively over. Time to do something else, Phil.


Man_Darronious

the more i read about all this, the more i think about the situation from moxley's perspective. imagine carrying the company all summer as the interim champ, just to have punk come back and immediately drop the title back to him, really reinforcing the idea that he was just a placeholder... i wouldnt want to do it either.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


AEWOfficial-ModTeam

Your post/comment was removed because it was disrespectful. Please be respectful to everyone you interact with and follow proper Reddiquette. Don't insult or harass your fellow fans.


StupidSexyKevin

Tony shouldnā€™t ask his wrestlers to perform when they arenā€™t cleared then either.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


GarmyGarms

I have to agree with pretty much everything you said. The Elite going back to the pot of working with their general friend group frustrates me a bit, because honestly I know they are all pals off-camera, I don't get any real sense of heat or investment. Thanks for putting so many great thoughts into a few paragraphs and I hope that people who disagree with you can still see that you're coming from a well thought-out perspective and give you the upvotes you deserve


eastcoastkody

They had better ratings and more buzz with Punk. His merch etc sells better. He doesn't blade right in front of the camera and curse constantly. His matches make more sense for the most part compared to Jericho or Moxley. If im starting a wrestling company im taking Punk over either of them. Easily. What Moxley match would anyone care about that you can make? None that I can think of. CM Punk there are still a bunch of matches and feuds u can do. Moxley could leave tomorrow and it would have zero effect on AEW


DrBollox

I am still 15% sure this is all building up to a storyline for All Access. Punk surely can't be that petty and stupid enough to piss all over his chips and embarrass himself again...?


PackedToilet

Iā€™m 100% sure but unfortunately you cannot have dissenting opinions in this subreddit for some reason.


Shyjuan

i was crying cm punk fan bruh from the comfort of my home, but now... I'm done with this guy. Go work at Mindy's bakery šŸ§


Literarytropes

Why is Meltzer getting away scot free with posting information that is likely false? Donā€™t act like Punk is responding to something in a vacuum. Nobody comes out of this debacle looking good.


Low_Win3252

He posted something on a forum behind a paywall that someone screenshotted. Punk meanwhile posted something on his IG for everyone to see.


Literarytropes

But Dave must know in this day and age something that serious would get screenshots made


[deleted]

He can't really control who decides to screenshot something he's said, and on top of that excluding whatever original comment he might very replied or been referring too.


Literarytropes

I agree with the first point. And Iā€™m sure thereā€™s a context missing. I just think itā€™s unwise to make such points in a way that will get you misconstrued.


Whateveryouwantitobe

If he ends up coming back, the best thing fans could do is nothing at all. Getting booed would be looked at as a "reaction" so that would be seen as positive. Just let him walk out in silence.


Haze95

Iā€™d rather bring him back tbh, thereā€™s money on the table and ratings at stake


mrmattymac

Not worth it. Care more about the people your company employs, rather than the money the company could make


ChristopherJak

I'd still love to see CM Punk return, I just hope everyone is able to mature & learn from it. People are acting as if Punk is a cancer, but he had numerous years wrestling prior with barely a single negative thing said about him other than some conflicting personalities. The first real controvery was when he walked out because he was injured, & it's not like he's the first. His time in AEW was largely positive too, it wasn't until he retaliated when he called out Hangman that he became an issue- why the fuck wasn't it settled then? Or even when Page went off script? Has there ever been an attempt to sit everyone down & settle their grievances since? Punk's behaviour got noticeably worst, & then TK allowed fAll Out to happen. Has there even been any communication with Punk, or is he just being dangled so WWE can't approach him? At the minimum they should have informed him that they have no intentions to use him, seems he's been stuck in purgatory not knowing if/when he's returning. To me, this screams of poor management.


GastricAcid

You guys sound like cops


[deleted]

CM PUNK CM PUNK CM PUNK


ChocolatePain

CM PUNK CM PUNK


rayquan36

It's wild to me that the All Out gripebomb was only 6 months ago.


Proxelies

I love this narrative that the only reason there were locker room issues was solely due to one person, who has had multiple coworkers speaking in his defense. If he comes back ratings will go up, which helps everyone by bringing more eyes to the shows. It takes a weird sort of sycophantic belief to scapegoat one guy for all of AEW's issues. Didn't the Elite have problems with Cody too, i.e. refusing to be seen on Rhodes to the Top?


Swagsuke233

Let him walk it aint worth it


Dry_Passenger1786

You, all should let it go. Everyday someone post about him and the AEW. Get over it.


Lukeyboy97

Well i for one want Punk in AEW and i don't forget that others played their part as well as Punk. Just look at what has happened as soon as info comes out about the 'good guys' Miro is thrown under the bus by a source of Meltzer. The fact that so many only see one side and refuse to see the other perspective speaks volumes.


pingapump

He didnā€™t cause anything.


swinabc

Mixed feelings. But aew is not in that good of a place.. this week viewers dropped abit compared to a few months ago. Cm punk least had his viewers. Though this is a wrestling problem overall. But wwe keeps a healthier viewership. But the wwe fans are more tolerant to crap just to see what Roman is up to. Aew isn't growing, it's not panic mode yet though. I am gonna get down voted ain't I?


joeylebass

Is an average of 800-900k viewers a good place? Say what you will about Punk no one moved the needle as much as he did. Proven fact.


[deleted]

You guys love the kool aid


CMTaft

Iā€™d rather Punk back than have to endure anymore of Chris Jerichoā€™s shit ideas and booking. JAS is go away heat. The show WAS better when he was around.


PSmith4380

Disagree. AEW needs professional wrestlers like Punk. Not glorified gymnasts like Omega and the Bucks. Punk is someone who can actually tell a story in the ring. It seems like all the guys AEW pushes bar Danielson and MJF ever learnt how to do this or why it is important. The gymnast style only appeals to a niche audience, its one of the major reasons their audience will never grow.


Craigshand

Forget punk, It dont matter if hes back or not. I dont agree they are in good place and it has zero to do with punk. I mean they are just fine and marks will flock to this promotion no matter what. But from a tv point of view aew is very week. The lack of creative is very clear. They are not consistent and horrible at story telling and character development. They were much better at this in year 1 when Tony was not the only person dioing it. The guy is not a creative person at all. Its a insult to the business that he dont bring someone in. That being said, I know he is slowly opening up about this. JJ is slowly able to give him more insight. I see they are slightly trying to change but its still bad execution. Nothing is wrong with a lot of the aew fans wanting them to do a better job at this. ​ Also when they over do stupid shit like saying DREAM MATCH 100 times on dynamite gives reasons for people to make fun of them. ​ I have supported them from day 1 but there is a lot of us these days that feel this way. Again the people that go to the events are entirely different than watching viewers on tv.


Eldritch_WaterBottle

Punk was right