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CM Punk has finally arrived in AEW, and things in the wrestling world have changed (again) forever. Ten years after his famous 'Pipebomb' promo, Punk's arrival in All Elite Wrestling was inevitable.
He even cheekily hinted at it on Instagram using an image from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, which shows an aged Bruce Wayne down the cowl after retiring for 10 years.
CM Punk's return will send shockwaves
There is no doubt Punk has lit a fire under fans whose imagination will run amock online with every booking scenario they can think of. In a sense, the once-named 'Straight Edge Messiah' has come to the promised land eager to share his knowledge among the masses and spread his message to those who have spread from his flock. But such connotations are best left to the past.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. CM Punk has clearly stated that his first opponent will be Darby Allin, and they will be competing against each other at AEW All Out.
While it would be fun to speculate who else would serve as a great opponent for Punk in All Elite Wrestling, it would certainly be interesting to look at the flipside of it.
Here are five opponents that CM Punk would be unlikely to face in AEW.
#5 AEW star Orange Cassidy
When Orange Cassidy joined AEW, not many believed he would turn into the big star he has become. His ring style, or lack thereof, was not mainstream, and some even considered him to be a one-note comedy act. But the company saw something else, and with some help from Chris Jericho, Cassidy became a bonafide main-eventer in the eyes of fans worldwide.
Considering all that Orange Cassidy has done, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he would engage in a feud with CM Punk, but it's improbable. The latter's return to pro wrestling is an event in itself, requiring a dramatic presentation. This is not to say that Cassidy couldn't pull that off, it just wouldn't work given the scenario.
It's still unclear how Punk will be booked or how often he will appear on TV. Of course, having a run-in with each other would certainly be on the cards, given Cassidy's recent interaction with Sting on AEW Dynamite. While the pair will meet, it likely won't be in a one-on-one competition.
#4 AEW star Marko Stunt
AEW star Marko Stunt is a remarkable individual. Despite his physical slightness, he has the heart of an underdog who never says die. His alliance with Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus as part of The Jurassic Express seemed to be a match made in heaven. They are over with the fans, with Stunt serving as a de facto mascot or a substitute partner in the tag team.
With all the fanfare that he generates, would that translate into a feud or even a match with CM Punk? The answer would most likely be no. It's highly doubtful that Punk would be placed in singles matches on Dynamite to get a shot at the AEW World Championship.
CM Punk's return is being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime event that is not taking place in WWE but instead in All Elite Wrestling. Would Stunt have a run-in with Punk? It's possible. CM Punk is not above shenanigans and would welcome entertainment, but it wouldn't suit the story that the company would be telling with him.
Though it would certainly tickle the funny bone to have a dance-off between the pair.
#3 AEW star Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy is a creative genius in professional wrestling whose adaptability has been on full display in AEW. Like others, Hardy was dropping hints on CM Punk's debut in the company with tweets like the one below.
He is a proven commodity, starting with his "Broken" gimmick when he debuted in AEW. But quickly changed to his "Big Money" Matt Hardy persona managing Private Party and The Butcher and the Blade creating the Hardy Family Office faction.
Now, Hardy does have history with CM Punk via Jeff Hardy. While the latter and Punk had an outstanding feud in WWE, The Charismatic Enigma was not that pleased with his 'straight-edge lifestyle' with his brother chiming in a shoot video. Could this be turned into a storyline for CM Punk? Probably not.
Matt Hardy seems comfortable in his role as a mentor, on-screen manager, and performer, who's more interested in elevating the next generation of wrestlers. It's not that Hardy would say no to a feud with CM Punk, but given that he will most likely be billed as a special attraction, he would be saved for a feud with some of the leading main-event talents.
#2 AEW star Sting
CM Punk was always interested in AEW star Darby Allin. In recent interviews, Punk has praised Allin:
"I think Darby Allin is great. Everybody in the wrestling world needs to never do a dive again because you can't do it better than Darby. If you watch Darby wrestle, he looks like he's trying to murder somebody. It doesn't get any better than that. Stop doing dives, everybody," said CM Punk. (H/T: Fightful)
The Voice of the Voiceless explicitly named Darby Allin on AEW Rampage as his first opponent and challenged the latter to a match at All Out.
With that said, it's highly improbable that he would get into a one-on-one match with Sting. While the two have never really crossed paths, them being in the same ring at the same time would be worth the price of admission.
Sting's recent performance on Dynamite in a Texas Tornado match was a sight to behold, and a welcome in-ring comeback. But given his age, The Icon's battle with a returning CM Punk would likely be restricted to a battle of wits on the mic.
#1 AEW star Colt Cabana
It's not hyperbole to say that CM Punk was best friends with AEW's Colt Cabana. The two came up together in the independent circuit, with the latter even referenced in the now-famous 'Pipebomb' promo. After leaving WWE, Punk even gave his first major interview on Cabana's podcast, The Art of Wrestling. But that also seemed to serve as the beginning of the end of their friendship.
Due to that podcast, the pair were sued for defamation by Dr. Chris Amann, who was explicitly named in the podcast with allegations of him misdiagnosing a staph infection and prescribing Z-Paks. While CM Punk and Colt Cabana prevailed, they sued each other as Cabana alleged that Punk said he would cover his legal fees but pulled out after a year.
While the case was eventually settled, this effectively dissolved their friendship. On Twitter, Punk accused Cabana of being greedy and not being a good friend. Now, does this mean a match between the two isn't possible? At the moment, it probably isn't. While it's unclear whether CM Punk has smoothed things over with his former friend, it's doubtful that a feud is on the cards.
Never say never in pro wrestling, but at the moment, its a no-go.
Check out Sportskeeda Wrestling's review of AEW Rampage: The First Dance and this week's episode of WWE SmackDown in the video embedded above.
