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CM Punk has once again become a popular name in the headlines with the news that he is in talks to return as an in-ring performer. Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported yesterday that the former WWE Champion is returning to wrestling for AEW as the likely destination. His association with the second biggest promotion in the business will lead to many dream matches with the stars of today.
In addition to encounters with Kenny Omega, Hangman Page and Cody Rhodes, CM Punk's possible signing with AEW could open up the possibility for matches with other companies as well. All Elite Wrestling have established working relationships with NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling and NWA among others over the past year that create for many tantalizing cross-promotional battles.
With a lot of options out there for CM Punk, it seems like an ideal time to speculate about what his signing with AEW could lead to with the other major promotions in wrestling. In this article, let's look at the six CM Punk forbidden door matches that might be possible with AEW.
#6 CM Punk vs. Nick Aldis (NWA)
The first promotion that AEW started working with was National Wrestling Alliance. Last summer, All Elite Wrestling brought in NWA Women's World Champion Thunder Rosa to face AEW Women's World Champion Hikaru Shida at All Out 2020. However, many fans questioned if and when the NWA World's Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis would arrive in AEW.
With CM Punk's arrival in All Elite Wrestling, NWA and Nick Aldis have the opportunity to deliver one of the biggest matches they could imagine. Punk is an old school wrestling fan and definitely has a love for the traditions of the business. The NWA World's Heavyweight Championship has to be one of the oldest titles in wrestling today.
It could be very appealing for CM Punk to compete for the same title that Ric Flair, Harley Race and Lou Thesz once held. Nick Aldis has proven to be a masterful promo and could create magic with an all-time great microphone worker like CM Punk. It would be amazing to see the two men in a promo exchange or in the ring. This would be the best possible matchup for NWA in gaining more fans as well.
#5 CM Punk vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW)
CM Punk has clashed with several AEW stars, from Colt Cabana in ROH to Chris Jericho in WWE. There are a lot of new possibilities beyond, especially with the forbidden door. When fans think of the forbidden door with AEW, they think of New Japan Pro Wrestling. One of the biggest stars of the past two decades for NJPW is "The Ace" Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Tanahashi is the man responsible for pulling NJPW up from the dolodrums of the 2000s and early 2010s. He became the equivalent of John Cena in Japan as the top babyface star. In addition to his success in raising the profile and business for NJPW, Hiroshi Tanahashi is one of the greatest wrestlers of the century. His storytelling and psychology are top notch in every way possible.
CM Punk needs a competitor who could lead with coming back in the ring for the first time in seven years. He would be hardpressed to find a better worker to match up with than Hiroshi Tanahashi. Punk could lead the way and do the work on the microphone, while The Ace would put together a marvelous match layout to hide the ring rust of "The Second City Saint".
Hiroshi Tanahashi could represent NJPW in an invasion type story with CM Punk coming in to try to prove himself as "The Best In The World". Punk created greatness with John Cena in WWE, so the question would be "could he match that excellence with NJPW's Cena?". There is a lot of angles to explore with this encounter and that is what makes it extremely alluring.
#4 CM Punk vs. Josh Alexander (IMPACT Wrestling)
CM Punk has locked horns with some of the best wrestling technicians of the past two decades. From Daniel Bryan to Eddie Guerrero, Punk's career has featured him matching holds with extremely talented in-ring performers. IMPACT Wrestling has quite a few exceptional competitors, but none might be more gifted than "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander.
The current X-Division Champion has been a revelation for IMPACT Wrestling this year. After his successful run in The North with Ethan Page, Alexander thought that he might have to wait on the sideline for another opportunity. However, his shot at gold came a lot sooner than he thought. Josh Alexander defeated Ace Austin and TJP in a three way at Rebellion to win the X-Division Championship.
Josh Alexander hasn't slowed down his momentum since then. He beat TJP in a 60-minute Iron Man Match to retain the X-Division Championship in a TV Match of the Year candidate. Alexander also defeated five of the X-Division best in an Ultimate X Match at Slammiversary. CM Punk will have a tough test if he clashed with The Walking Weapon.
One of the dream matches that fans missed out on was CM Punk vs. Kurt Angle. If there is one wrestler that fits the mold of Angle, it is Josh Alexander. He would be able to put on a wrestling clinic with "The Straight Edge Superstar". Those two men could go hold for hold and have a great encounter that would be truly memorable. IMPACT Wrestling would be wise to make this match happen.
#3 CM Punk vs. Kazuchika Okada (NJPW)
CM Punk has plenty of intriguing matches to explore in NJPW if he sees fit. At the top of any NJPW dream match list will always have Kazuchika Okada. "The Rainmaker" has been the top star in the promotion for almost a decade now. He has become a bonafide superstar who has been viewed as an all-time great by many fans and fellow wrestlers.
With seven years since CM Punk's last professional wrestling match, he needs a competitor who can lead the way and allow him to work off his ring rust. It doesn't get much better to create a match layout to hide his weakness and emphasize his strengths quite like Kazuchika Okada.
The longest reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history has produced epic encounters with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kenny Omega that put NJPW on the map. Years of amazing matchups have taken their toll on his body, but Okada has found a way to still be a premier performer in the industry. He can teach CM Punk to do what he does.
Throughout his career, CM Punk has put on long form contests that have been critically acclaimed. His trilogy of matches against Samoa Joe featured two 60-minute classic time limit draws and a final bout that finally settled the score. This series made both men household names and led to their signings with WWE and TNA respectively.
Knowing these two men's individual histories, it makes the potential clash a compelling battle that any fan would love to see. CM Punk vs. Kazuchika Okada could be a match that makes fans remember how great "The Voice of the Voiceless" was in the ring during his prime.
#2 CM Punk vs. Kota Ibushi (NJPW)
The biggest dream match for CM Punk in AEW has to be Kenny Omega. The battle of two men that have been known as "The Best In The World" really writes itself in many ways. If there is one man that knows The Cleaner better than anyone in the business, it has to be NJPW's Golden Star, Kota Ibushi.
Ibushi and Omega made up a revolutionary team known as The Golden Lovers. The two men weren't just exceptional in the ring together, but they crafted a beautiful wrestling love story over the course of four years that has been chronicled in a documentary. They showed love in a different way than has ever been explored in professional wrestling.
After CM Punk feuds with Kenny Omega, it could lead to a perfect transition into feuding with Kota Ibushi. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has to be considered a once-in-a-lifetime performer who is well versed in any realm of the business. Ibushi can fly seamlessly, has the stiffest kicks in the business and is an extremely gifted storyteller through his selling.
The things that made Kota Ibushi so special should gel well with everything that CM Punk has become known for. Punk is an impressive in-ring expert and also has a wide variety of skills that allows him to mesh with whomever he stands across the ring from. The way Punk paces his matches would allow Ibushi's quickness to resonate well and force the tempo.
These two men could create real drama and get across a level of intensity that would make for a fantastic encounter. Kota Ibushi has been able to have great matches with lesser performers and exceptional classics with his equals. Depending on how CM Punk returns to wrestling, this has the potential to something special.
#1 CM Punk vs. Will Ospreay
When interviewed by many different outlets, CM Punk has stated a few competitors as dream matches for him. One of the names that typically comes up is the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay. The reasons for Punk's interest are very clear when you watch Ospreay in the ring.
"The Aerial Assassin" has made a name for himself as one of the most extraordinary high flyers to ever step foot in a wrestling ring. The things that Ospreay is able to do in the squared circle have never been seen before or performed better. He has incredible speed and has become versatile over the years as well.
Will Ospreay can trade strikes with Kota Ibushi, go hold for hold with Zack Sabre Jr. and pull out grueling long-form epics with Kazuchika Okada. CM Punk has always called himself "The Best In The World", while Will Ospreay has garnered that same type of praise through sheer will and amazing performances over the past few years.
CM Punk may be returning to professional wrestling with a chip on his shoulder. Due to how long he has been out of wrestling, Punk has had to hear a lot of fans and pundits to demean his body of work. The appreciation for what he was able to accomplish has been diminished by many who may be bitter with the way he walked away from the business.
Will Ospreay's love for professional wrestling is undeniable. He has worked through painful injuries to his neck and other body parts to get to the top of the industry. Ospreay had to relinquish the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and may be looking to regain the crown of "The Best In The World" as soon as he gets back. Clashing with CM Punk could present his biggest opportunity yet.
This contest would be a confrontation between two extremely versatile performers. CM Punk has had many outstanding bouts with AJ Styles, who mirrors a lot of what Ospreay is as a performer. The action, storytelling and drama that these two men could create would be breathtaking. That is why Will Ospreay is the biggest forbidden door match possible in AEW for CM Punk.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
