Less than a week into 2023, All Elite Wrestling still can’t escape the ghost of CM Punk. The 44-year-old was last seen representing the company following the All Out pay-per-view. His scorched Earth comments about Hangman Adam Page and AEW’s EVPs—Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks—led to an alleged backstage altercation that left Tony Khan without his biggest stars for several weeks. There were conflicting reports about legal action being taken, but September 4, 2022, was one of the darkest days in company history. AEW has been on a hot streak as of late, so it makes sense that Punk’s name would pop back up in the dirt sheets.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer dropped the following tidbit: “Things have heated up regarding the Dax Harwood podcast and C.M. Punk seemingly pushing that he wants to come back and do business.” The podcast in question was released on December 29 and featured Harwood speaking candidly about the CM Punk situation. Some backstage in AEW was reportedly unhappy with Dax for his comments. Meltzer continued, writing that “Punk posted on Instagram a photo of him with FTR, as well as pushing his No. 2 in merch sales and a list of the most-watched YouTube videos from AEW in 2022, of which he was in many of them including the top two.” Meltzer also opined that Punk “should be okay by April or May after his triceps surgery. That would also be around the time FTR’s contract expires.“
AEW Should Be Focusing On Growing Stars At This Point
Tony Khan built AEW’s storylines around CM Punk in 2022 and paid for it dearly. Even if fans ignore what the self-proclaimed “best in the World” said at All Out, the veteran won the World Championship twice and was injured both times. In a Universe where Punk didn’t decide to bury Hangman, Omega, and The Young Bucks, AEW would still be without his services because he got hurt wrestling Jon Moxley at All Out. That came just a short while after he injured himself stage-diving into the crowd before a trios match alongside FTR.
If Punk and AEW can come to terms on a return angle in the spring, then more power to them. Khan shouldn’t be putting any eggs into the Phil Brooks basket at this point, however. Not only because of his actions following the All Out pay-per-view but because he’s proven too injury-prone to be a reliable World Champion. Add in the fact that he clearly can’t be trusted with a live microphone and an audience, and there’s no need to make him the focal point of the promotion again. A feud between CM Punk and The Elite would likely be gangbusters for the company, but it’s not something that All Elite Wrestling should be counting on. Continue to focus on rising stars such as MJF, Ricky Starks, Wardlow, Britt Baker, and Jamie Hayter, and let the stars of yesteryear stay there. Learn some lessons from 2022 and apply them to 2023, lest history repeat itself with CM Punk.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter