AEW News Roundup - Current WWE star happy with Punk's return, Legend says he was 'axed' after 3 shows, IG post potentially confirms next big signing (26th August 2021)

CM Punk's arrival in AEW has given Tony Khan and his team the most momentum they've had since the company's establishment. Of course, today's AEW News Roundup revloves around CM Punk as he is the most trending name in wrestling at the moment.

The former WWE champion may have confirmed the signing of another massive superstar as he posted an interesting photo on Instagram after Dynamite.

Drew McIntyre also reacted to AEW's latest acquisition, speaking about Punk's debut during a recent interview.

Britt Baker opened up about the possibility of seeing AJ Lee return to wrestling following Punk's reappearance. A legendary referee revealed that he was axed after three shows in AEW despite his desire to work as a trainer in the company.

The roundup also features a story about Vince McMahon being impressed with a member of a recently-signed AEW tag team.

On that note, here is the latest AEW News Roundup:

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#5. Drew McIntyre reacts to CM Punk's return to wrestling for AEW

Drew McIntyre was a guest on Pro Wrestling Bits, and the former WWE Champion was asked about Roman Reigns' recent comments about CM Punk.

Unlike Reigns, the Scottish superstar had a really positive reaction to CM Punk's return as he felt the moment would help the entire wrestling business.

McIntyre recalled working outside the WWE for a few years and doing his best to develop other companies on the independent circuit.

The two-time world champion admitted that while WWE is still at the top, events like CM Punk's long-awaited return to the ring will only make wrestling a better place for other performers.

McIntyre gave his thumbs up to AEW's latest signing and stated that it would significantly improve professional wrestling as a whole.

"If anything, it's good for wrestling. I was outside the company between 2014 to 2017, working in the independents and with Impact, and just trying to make wrestling a healthier, better place, and it's healthy right now. It's an incredible place. Obviously, WWE is still at the top and leading the charge, and anything that can make it better, I'm all about. If it makes a positive difference, it gets a thumbs up from me," explained Drew McIntyre.

AEW and WWE might be direct rivals, but McIntyre has chosen to look at the big picture regarding CM Punk's next chapter in wrestling.

#4. Did CM Punk confirm Daniel Bryan's AEW signing?

CM Punk pretty much confirmed Daniel Bryan's impending AEW signing during this week's AEW Dynamite when he addressed the "YES" chants.

During an interview segment with Tony Schiavone, Punk responded to the chants and urged fans to be a little more patient regarding his former rival's reported debut. Here's the line that added fuel to the speculation of Daniel Bryan being AEW-bound:

"That's somebody else's shtick, and you might just need to be a little bit more patient, okay?" Punk said.

However, Punk was not done with the blatant hints, as he posted a throwback photo on Instagram after Dynamite. Punk released a cropped image of him shaking Daniel Bryan's hand from their match before they both signed with WWE.

You can check it out below:

A screengrab of CM Punk's Instagram story.

CM Punk and Daniel Bryan have had several memorable matches in the WWE, and the Cult of Personality's latest hints might be enough to validate reports of AEW's next major signing.

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#3. Mike Chioda on his desire to train AEW referees and being axed after three shows

Former WWE referee Mike Chioda appeared on the Such Good Shoot podcast and spoke about his desire to train AEW referees.

Chioda officiated a few matches at AEW after his WWE release in 2020, but has not returned to take up a full-time role. The legendary referee stated that while Cody Rhodes and many other veterans in the company vouched for him, Tony Khan has apparently never been high on referees.

Chioda claimed that Khan didn't want him to train and groom AEW's team of referees.

While Cody Rhodes wanted Chioda to appear on AEW pay-per-views, the referee stated he was 'axed' after working on three shows for the promotion.

Here's what Chioda revealed:

"Cody wanted me [in AEW], and there was a lot of guys that pushing for me like Taz, Jim Ross… a ton of guys," Chioda continued. "Tony Khan's not high on referees, bro. I mean, he didn't want me there to train them, and like Cody wanted me to do a lot of their PPVS, but they axed me after like three shows. That was it." H/t Cultaholic

Mike Chioda was also highly critical of the refereeing in AEW and shared his issues in detail, which you can read here.

#2. Britt Baker would love to face AJ Lee in AEW

AJ Lee's in-ring status has been one of the most significant talking points following her husband CM Punk's return to wrestling for AEW.

Fans have urged the retired former WWE Divas champion to make a comeback, with Britt Baker doubling down on fans' desires while recently speaking at Planet Comicon in Kansas City.

Baker revealed that she was a big fan of AJ Lee and specifically told her trainer early on in her career that she wanted to learn Lee's Black Widow finisher.

The reigning AEW Women's champion understands that fans want to see CM Punk and AJ Lee wrestle together in 2021, and she is also hoping to see it unfold in the future.

While Britt Baker would cherish working a singles match with Lee, she also teased the possibility of a mixed tag team match in AEW.

"I was a big AJ Lee fan. One of the first moves I asked my trainer to teach me when I was training was her finisher, the Black Widow. So, that would be really cool," revealed Britt Baker.

"Again, I think it's giving the fans what they want. I think the fans - to see both of them [Punk & Lee] in a wrestling ring again in 2021, let alone in one that's not WWE; it's evolutionary. So for the moment alone, I would love to see her back in a ring. I would love to see her in the ring with me... Speaking of her, I know we said we don't really do mixed tags, but I think a mixed tag I would like to see involving her, him [Punk], me, and somebody else."

Adam Cole & Britt Baker vs. AJ Lee & CM Punk? Would you like to see it happen in AEW?

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#1. Vince McMahon liked one member of AEW's 2.0 after watching their backstage promo

Jeff Parker and Matt Lee, collectively known as 2.0., were recently guests on 'Talk is Jericho,' and the tag team spoke about a backstage promo they cut several years ago on RAW.

Parker and Lee were enhancement talents at a RAW episode in Montreal, and they had the opportunity to cut an impromptu promo at Gorilla position in Vince McMahon's presence.

While they impressed officials with their performance, Vince took a particular liking to Jeff Parker as he felt the wrestler had a "hateable" personality.

AEW's Parker revealed that a friend from the WWE later told him about Vince McMahon's opinion of him.

"We had a friend who was a writer at the time, and he said they had the post-show meeting or whatever; maybe it was the day after," Parker said. "Vince said, 'You know that kid, he was just so hateable. I like him!'" H/t WrestlingInc

Parker and Lee spent a few years under the "Ever-Rise" moniker in WWE until their release earlier this year. The gifted Canadian duo have since signed with AEW and made a solid impression during their early days at the company.