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CM Punk's earth-shattering AEW debut on Rampage took the internet by storm. The capacity crowd in the United Center jumped out of their seats as soon as the Cult of Personality theme song shrieked through the speakers in the arena.
It was a surreal moment for anyone watching, be it from television or live in attendance. The Second City Saint delivered a passionate promo, notably taking a sly dig at WWE for making him sick and eventually prompting him to quit wrestling once and for all.
Every word that came out of CM Punk's mouth that night felt real. Despite fans chanting his name in every sports arena for over seven years, very few thought he would make a comeback someday.
It truly makes sense when someone claims, never say never, in professional wrestling.
CM Punk has now signed a full-time contract with AEW and will be gearing up for his first match against Darby Allin at All Out. Moreover, fans are now intrigued to see how his AEW career will pan out.
That said, let's take a look at five opponents who could become CM Punk's biggest rivals in AEW.
#5 CM Punk and MJF could develop animosity towards each other
MJF emerged as one of the rising stars of AEW during the pandemic era. Although he has more to improvise with his in-ring skills, fans appreciate his ability to cut promos. MJF is one of the top talkers in professional wrestling today.
For that very reason, pitting him against CM Punk would be money. Both men can embark on a long-running and heated rivalry in AEW. More than their match, people would be excited about the build. It would be a sight to behold, watching them engage in a war of words.
The Salt of the Earth has already developed a character based on stretching feuds until he completely dominates his opponent in the ring.
Meanwhile, a returning CM Punk will be looking to rewrite the final chapter of his wrestling career in Tony Khan's promotion.
It would be a classic heel vs. babyface feud. Moreover, Mr. Friedman could even add realism to this feud by enlightening everyone with how he used to be a CM Punk fan back in the day. Both men can add a special mystique to their rivalry every time they meet inside the ring.
#4 CM Punk could prompt Jon Moxley to embrace his villainous side
Both CM Punk and Jon Moxley are well aware of each other's game in the ring. If we turn back the clock, The Straight Edge Superstar was involved in a highly personal feud with The Shield back in the day.
CM Punk and Jon Moxley have wrestled multiple times, be it in WWE or FCW. Much to everyone's surprise, the Voice of the Voiceless has dismantled him every time Mox steps foot in a ring with him.
AEW won't miss out on an opportunity to revisit this feud, especially when both men can grab immense worldwide attention. CM Punk's ability to bury anyone on the mic could benefit Jon Moxley a lot.
Turning Moxley heel in the process could do wonders for his character as well as their story.
Moreover, it would be nostalgic for fans to witness the two biggest WWE superstars squaring off in AEW. Mox's character could even bring back the infamous death-match stipulation for their rubber match whenever it takes place.
#3 Hangman Page vs. CM Punk; a potential match of the year contender?
Hangman Page facing CM Punk isn't a storyline that sounds too exciting on paper. However, both men have all the credentials to put on a match worthy of a five-star classic. The comparison between Page's cowboy lifestyle and Punk's Straightedge lifestyle can lead to a simple but effective story.
We have always witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime match in WWE, but not in AEW. It could be argued that the company only emerged in 2019, but people are yet to see a match that people talk about on this day.
If Hangman Page becomes AEW World Champion down the road, CM Punk could come up as a great challenger for him. Both men could create a long-running rivalry that could last throughout the summer without people getting tired of it.
#2 Malakai Black could intimidate CM Punk with his mind games
Throughout his long and illustrious career, CM Punk has rarely faced a superstar that has terrorized him. There couldn't be a more suitable star than Malakai Black at the moment who can put CM Punk in a bundle of nerves..
The company appears to be protecting Malakai Black's sadistic gimmick moving forward. Imagine a storyline where Black is becoming a hurdle in CM Punk's chase towards the AEW World Championship.
Black could disturb CM Punk's mental peace with his mind games. Given both men's sound technicalities in the ring, their match will tear the house down if given proper time in the ring.
#1 Kenny Omega vs. CM Punk is a blockbuster rivalry
Kenny Omega is arguably the biggest superstar AEW has right now. He became the pioneer of other wrestling promotions by winning the IMPACT World and AAA Mega Championship.
The arrival of CM Punk has now opened the possibility for the downfall of Kenny Omega. The company is unlikely to keep The Straight Edge Superstar in it's mid-card for long. The moment CM Punk stepped foot in AEW, people felt that he could be the chosen one to dethrone Kenny Omega down the road.
They're probably the dirtiest players in AEW right now. CM Punk could take a few losses but ultimately dethrone The Cleaner from his top position in the company.
CM Punk's legacy is built around his impressive resume in WWE. However, CM Punk is laser-focused on recreating his legacy under the AEW umbrella. CM Punk engaging in a feud with any of these wrestlers will be written in history.
