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AEW shocked the professional wrestling world when former WWE Champion CM Punk made his epic All Elite Wrestling debut this past Friday on AEW Rampage: The First Dance.
This marked CM Punk's return to professional wrestling after a seven-year absence, signing with a company for the first time since departing WWE in 2014.
Rumors of Punk's impending debut led to AEW drawing a sell-out crowd at The United Center in CM Punk's hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
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In his return promo, CM Punk pointed out how he signed with AEW to work with some of the younger, up-and-coming talent that he has never wrestled before. This was before announcing that he would be facing Darby Allin at the All Out pay-per-view on September 5, 2021.
However, Punk also mentioned that he was in AEW to "settle some old scores" with certain members of the locker room. This could refer to wrestlers currently signed to the company that Punk previously faced off against in WWE.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at five matches in AEW CM Punk should have with former WWE stars.
#5. Current AEW TNT Champion Miro
Current AEW TNT Champion Miro is experiencing a new lease on professional wrestling life in All Eite Wrestling.
After being released by WWE in April 2020, Miro made his AEW debut in August later that same year. Initially paired with Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford, Miro's AEW career certainly got off to a slow start.
However, since splitting with Kip Sabian, Miro has experienced a significant amount of success. The former WWE Superstar is undefeated in singles action since signing with AEW.
Dubbing himself 'The Redeemer', Miro's dominance has turned into gold as he defeated Darby Allin in May 2021 to capture the AEW TNT Championship for the first time.
Miro and CM Punk only briefly interacted in WWE back in 2014 during the Royal Rumble match. Seven years later, a Miro vs CM Punk match in AEW could be a spectacular sight to see.
Whilst some fans would like to see CM Punk eventually challenge for the AEW World Championship, perhaps the former WWE Champion could challenge for the TNT Championship first.
Punk holding the TNT Championship would certainly add some serious credibility to the title's lineage.
#4. Current AEW wrestler Andrade El Idolo
AEW wrestler Andrade El Idolo has experienced an interesting start to his AEW career.
After months of sitting on the sidelines in WWE, Andrade was granted his release from the promotion back in March 2021. Despite having no non-compete clause, it wasn't until June later in the year that Andrade officially became All Elite.
Andrade has only competed in one match inside of an AEW ring so far. He is also scheduled to face PAC at the All Out pay-per-view on September 5, 2021.
Andrade El Idolo has never faced off against CM Punk. However, Punk does have history with Andrade's manager, Chavo Guerrero Jr., from their days in WWE ECW. Therefore, there certainly could be a story to tell here.
CM Punk famously feuded with Guerrero over the ECW Championship in WWE. Guerrero captured the ECW Championship for the first time by defeating CM Punk for the title in 2008. This famously led to Punk defeating him in a Gulf of Mexico match on ECW television.
13 years later, Chavo Guerrero could request that Andrade El Idolo get revenge on CM Punk on his behalf.
#3. Former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley
Former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley does have a significant amount of history with CM Punk from their days in WWE.
Jon Moxley made his WWE main roster debut as a member of The Shield, assisting CM Punk in retaining the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2012. The faction was then loosely associated with Punk for several weeks on WWE television.
Moxley and Punk also faced off against each other in a series of matches when CM Punk feuded with The Shield in the fall of 2013 on WWE television.
During the AEW Rampage: The First Dance media call, CM Punk pointed out that while he had wrestled Dean Ambrose, he has never wrestled Jon Moxley.
The former AEW World Champion's character is completely different from his WWE gimmick. So much so that it feels like a completely different person. Therefore a Punk vs. Moxley feud on AEW TV would certainly feel fresh and unique.
#2. Current AEW wrestler Malakai Black
Current AEW wrestler Malakai Black has one of the most interesting wrestling stories of 2021.
After months of sitting on the sidelines, Black returned to WWE television in May 2021. However, he was then released by the company the following week due to the ongoing "budget cuts."
A loophole meant he only had a 30-day non-compete clause, as opposed to WWE's traditional 90-days. Malakai Black then made his AEW debut at the Road Rager edition of Dynamite on July 7, 2021, attacking Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes.
In August, Black made his in-ring debut at AEW Dynamite: Homecoming, defeating Cody Rhodes in dominant fashion.
CM Punk and Malakai Black have similar backgrounds and appear to be two wrestlers cut from the same cloth. Their unique characters could create compelling matches if they work together in AEW.
Both Punk and Black incorporate striking based offense with several devastating kicks and knee shots. Both wrestlers also incorporate a lot of heavy metal and punk music references and inspiration into their respective characters. Considering the similarities between the two wrestlers, a CM Punk vs. Malakai Black feud would certainly create some fascinating segments.
#1. Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho and CM Punk have a lengthy history against each other from their rivalries in WWE.
CM Punk successfully defended the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a major match at WrestleMania 28 in 2012. Since then, Punk and Jericho have had several matches against each other under the WWE umbrella.
This included a memorable match at Payback in 2013, when Punk returned after a hiatus to WWE television in Chicago, Illinois.
Some AEW fans will want to see CM Punk face off against names he hasn't competed against previously. However, the AEW version of Chris Jericho is certainly different from the Y2J character Punk fought against in WWE.
CM Punk coming face-to-face with Jericho's 'Painmaker' character would certainly provide a different approach to having the two rivals settle the score once and for all.
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