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AEW pulled off the biggest coup in modern wrestling when the company brought CM Punk back from his self-imposed exile. After 7 years away from the business, the former WWE Champion made his AEW debut on Rampage: First Dance in Chicago back in August and the promotion's stock has skyrocketed ever since.
Punk, of course, famously fell out with WWE back in 2014, citing burnout and creative differences with management. In his time away from wrestling, the real-life Phil Brooks dabled in mixed martial arts in the UFC, comic book writing and even acting. But the way his WWE run ended left a sour taste in fans' mouths as they clamored for his return ever since. Chants of "CM Punk" regularly reign down the arenas whenever the audience hijacks a bad segment on any given Raw or Smackdown, and it's clear the bond that Punk has with his supporters remains strong.
Punk’s debut on AEW Rampage: The First Dance took the wrestling world by storm. It was a homecoming of epic proportions, as Punk sat cross-legged in front of his hometown crowd in Chicago. As AEW head commentator Jim Ross put it, it truly was Jordan-esque.
But just how successful has CM Punk's signing been for the promotion? Here's a look at 5 major effects the Straightedge Superstar has already had in his brief run with AEW.
#5 CM Punk has made AEW must-see viewing
It's simple really. CM Punk = ratings. The Chicago native's segments on AEW Dynamite and Rampage regularly feature amongst the highest-viewed videos on the company's official YouTube channel. Social media impressions have gone through the roof and Punk's debut trended on Twitter, drawing over a million viewers during his first appearance. In a statement put out by AEW owner Tony Khan shortly after, he stated:
“The debut of CM Punk to open ‘AEW:Rampage’ on Friday made professional wrestling history; it was an emotional moment that created a memory of a lifetime,” ... I’m also grateful to TNT, who gave us amazing support promoting ‘AEW Rampage: The First Dance,’ and wrestling fans responded with unprecedented massive viewership on Friday night, as well as new all-time highs for live fan attendance and merchandise sales."
Punk has reminded viewers why he is still one of the best promo men in the wrestling industry, engaging in unforgettable verbal jousts with MJF and Eddie Kingston. While the ring rust is apparent, the Voice of the Voiceless still delivered excellent performances in his PPV matches. AEW's All Out, where CM Punk made his in-ring return against Darby Allin, was the most successful non-WWE show in terms of revenue since 1999 as well. It certainly is no coincidence.
#4 CM Punk has elevated AEW's young talent
AEW could have put CM Punk up against anyone in the company, but the Straightedge Superstar went straight for 28-year-old Darby Allin, thereby elevating the young star. The former TNT champion is considered the heart and soul of the company and is regularly touted as one of the four pillars of AEW.
And it's not just Darby. Punk's star presence has benefitted every young wrestler who has stepped foot in the ring with him, from Will Hobbs to Lee Moriarty.
In his interview with The Wrap, CM Punk cited AEW's youth movement as one of the biggest factors in the veteran joining AEW:
“The best thing they had was a youthful exuberance," he added. “I came up and I was surrounded by old-timers who did nothing but criticize. Always criticized. They had their way of doing things and they said it was the right way... I can give them input and advice and if they want to listen to me, awesome - but you don’t gotta live or die by it.”
By signing CM Punk, AEW is able to harness his star appeal and use it to put over the next generation of young wrestlers. It is a formula that has spelled success throughout wrestling history. With Punk guiding the next generation along with other veterans behind the scenes, AEW's future looks brighter than ever.
#3 CM Punk has brought back lapsed WWE fans to AEW
AEW might be a relatively new company but CM Punk is already an established star and made man. Despite his issues with WWE towards the end of his run there, Punk accomplished quite a lot in the biggest wrestling company in the world. He was a multi-time WWE and World Heavyweight champion, 2-time Money In The Bank winner, WWE Tag Team champion, Intercontinental champion and ECW champion.
He led his own stable as the leader of the Straightedge Society and engaged in many era-defining feuds with Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, The Rock and John Cena. Then there was, of course, the infamous "Pipebomb" promo when Punk ascended to wrestling legend status and ushered in the "Summer of Punk" in 2011. Not only did he have a passionate fanbase in Chicago but throughout the WWE Universe for his straight-edge lifestyle and renegade attitude.
It wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility that a lot of CM Punk's WWE fans stopped watching wrestling altogether after the superstar's departure.
During the media scrum following AEW Full Gear, the wrestler expressed his belief that there's been an overlap of WWE fans who have followed him to AEW. While he also emphasized that he's uncertain whether all of his old WWE fans watch Tony Khan's promotion because of him, it seems like that's exactly what has occurred.
"I definitely think there's overlap," said Punk. "I don't know if everybody who is a WWE fan came over here specifically just to watch me. But what I recognize in front of an AEW audience is an audience that I used to wrestle in front of prior to the [WWE], it's the wrestling fans."
Punk has definitely reignited a jaded fanbase. With AEW treating their audience better and providing a platform for the wrestler to express his creative freedom, the company is certainly building a positive amount of goodwill with the fans.
#2 CM Punk provides AEW with multiple dream matches
AEW signing CM Punk opens up a Pandora's box of possibilities. Since Punk's exit from WWE in 2014, new wrestling superstars have emerged, including Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, Darby Allin, Adam Cole, MJF and current AEW world champion "Hangman" Adam Page.
He can even face former WWE talent that he's shared a ring with in the past and it will still be fresh as the likes of Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and Miro have completely reinvented themselves in AEW. The stacked roster brings about and endless glut of possibilities and it's exciting to armchair-book as a wrestling fan.
The best part is that CM Punk will not be hindered by bad creative in AEW and be allowed to showcase his best attributes and ideas, untethered by Vince McMahon or incompetent scriptwriters.
So far Punk has engaged in rivalries with the likes of Darby Allin, Team Taz, Eddie Kingston and now MJF. That is barely 10% of the roster and it will be intriguing to see how he mixes up with new opponents down the road.
#1 CM Punk's signing proves that AEW can be a viable alternative for wrestlers
AEW has gained so much from CM Punk's signing but the most important signal it sent was that now the company is able to attract proper top-level talent. It's not just Punk.
AEW has managed to lure a number of main-event stars from WWE including Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole. But Punk was a rare capture, an acquisition many fans thought will legitimize AEW as a viable company for wrestlers to thrive in. And so it has been proven. AEW EVP Cody Rhodes reflected on Punk joining the company in an interview with Sports Illustrated:
“We’re essentially at the three-year point of AEW, and our stability is the tell-tale sign that our vision was the proper vision,” Cody Rhodes said. “We have such a stable company that Bryan Danielson decided to cross that line, that CM Punk decided to join after seven years away, that Adam Cole, who was being groomed to be a massive star in WWE, decided to cross the line. And that’s not a knock on them, it just shows that we have built a very stable infrastructure.”
Punk also spoke with great pride about his time with AEW and his Rampage debut:
“Over the last seven years? I’ll take it back further, honestly. I was discussing this with a couple of my friends and that might have been the greatest moment, the greatest night of my career,” revealed Punk.
WWE is no longer the only game in town. Beyond the stability that AEW provides, the company is also offering compelling arguments for wrestlers who want to succeed in the business outside of WWE. With the Owen Hart Cup on its way, a new title for women in the TBS championship plus a secure television deal with WarnerMedia, AEW is here to stay. Punk's signing just further cements this.
