AEW News Roundup: More major signings incoming, Daniel Bryan update, How CM Punk's first opponent was chosen (August 30, 2021)

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Could Daniel Bryan make his AEW debut this weekend?
Could Daniel Bryan make his AEW debut this weekend?

Welcome to another edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's AEW News Roundup as we continue to look forward to All Out.

On this edition of the roundup, we take a look at Tony Khan hinting at more additions to the AEW roster in the future, an update on Daniel Bryan signing with All Elite Wrestling and a whole lot more.


#5 Tony Khan hints at more AEW signings in the near future

Tony Khan hinted at more signings in a recent interview
Tony Khan hinted at more signings in a recent interview

Tony Khan was recently a guest on Wrestling Observer Radio hosted by Garrett Gonzales and Dave Meltzer. During the interview, he was asked about possible additions to the AEW roster in the near future.

While Khan didn't reveal any particulars, he did confirm that we can expect more signings in the coming the coming months:

"I'm definitely going to make more additions over the next four to six months and I think there will be some activity in the near future. I can't specify what it is and I don't think anybody will really want me to, just like nobody would have wanted any confirmation of anything going into The First Dance, what it was or how it was going to come off. I definitely will be active and have been active, signing people, from day one in this company and recruiting talent is key to any wrestling company."
"It's key to any sports business, whether its the NFL or English football or wrestling and in this case of wrestling I think we've built as good a roster as I believe you can build in this amount of time with so many stars," said Tony Khan. H/T: Sportskeeda

The next major debut on AEW television is expected to be Daniel Bryan. Other names who have recently been linked with a move to All Elite Wrestling are Adam Cole, Ruby Soho and Bray Wyatt.

#4 Tony Khan on Daniel Bryan's rumored AEW debut

Daniel Bryan could debut at AEW All Out
Daniel Bryan could debut at AEW All Out

While speaking to Wrestling Observer Radio, Tony Khan was also asked about the rumored AEW debut of Daniel Bryan, which is expected soon. While Khan did not answer the question, he did praise Bryan as one of the all-time greats to have stepped into the squared circle:

"I can't answer that question but I mean, it's fair for you to ask that question. It's not anything I can address on the Observer today but it's fair enough for you to ask it. He's one of the all-time greats," said Tony Khan. H/T: Sportskeeda

We also got a big update on Daniel Bryan's debut from Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live. According to Alvarez, he has been told by a source that Bryan will be making his first appearance for All Elite Wrestling at the All Out pay-per-view this weekend:

"Here's what I can tell you about Daniel Bryan. I have been told that he will debut at All Out," said Bryan Alvarez.

Alvarez's statement collaborates with what was reported by Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net earlier this week. According to the report, those in AEW are worried about rising COVID numbers in the United States which is why Bryan's debut has been brought up from the Grand Slam edition of Dynamite at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 22nd.

#3 Jim Cornette was a fan of CM Punk's promo on AEW Dynamite

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CM Punk made his first appearance on AEW Dynamite last Wednesday, for an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. One person who was a fan of Punk's promo was wrestling legend and often outspoken critic of All Elite Wrestling, Jim Cornette.

He gave props to Punk for his promo, putting him over for doing his job to promote his match against Darby Allin at AEW All Out amongst other things. The wrestling legend also said that the promo would have slotted in perfectly into any wrestling show over the years:

"Punk retired the Voice of the Voiceless because this place has a voice. Classic babyface material and then he wondered if he can still go like these young guys. Darby Allin, in particular. He put Darby Allin over. 'If I was 15 years old, he would be the guy that would be my favorite wrestler.' This is obviously Punk's material, speaking from the heart, what he wants to say and yes, there's an element of working in it because he's selling a match but you can't tell the difference between what his real feelings are and what he's saying on television. Which is the f**king point. Some of it he means both, some of it he means one way."
"Played it perfectly, then he plugged the pay-per-view and said hello to his wife. This could've been on RAW back when RAW was good. This could've been on any wrestling program anywhere it would've worked," said Jim Cornette.

CM Punk is set to return to the ring after seven years at AEW All Out this Sunday.

#2 Eric Bischoff says Ric Flair debuting in AEW will be a big deal

Ric Flair could sign with AEW soon
Ric Flair could sign with AEW soon

Eric Bischoff recently gave his take on rumors that Ric Flair could sign with AEW soon.

Flair recently appeared at TripleMania XXIX accompanying Andrade El Idolo to the ring. Bischoff felt The Nature Boy would be a major signing for All Elite Wrestling. He added that once Ric Flair stepped into the ring and hit someone with his patented chop, it would be all about fans having a good time and reliving the magic of Flair over the years:

"Watch what happens when Ric Flair steps in the ring in AEW. Just watch what happens. We saw what happened in Mexico in AAA when Ric Flair and Andrade got together. When Ric Flair steps back in the ring and starts chopping somebody, nobody is going to say to themselves ‘Oh man, that was a weak chop, he doesn’t chop as well as he did 20 years ago.’"
"Nobody could give two sh**s, they’re going to have a blast. They’ll rejoice, it’s going to trigger their memory and they’re going to go back in time and remember some of those magic Ric Flair moments and that’s what they’re paying their money for," said Eric Bischoff.

There hasn't really been an update on when The Nature Boy could be cleared for a debut on AEW television.

#1 How Darby Allin was selected as CM Punk's first AEW opponent

CM Punk is set to step into the squared circle for the first time in over seven years at AEW All Out this weekend, as he takes on Darby Allin.

During a recent interview, Tony Khan opened up about how Allin was picked as Punk's first opponent in the company. According to him, The Best in the World had come up with a list of possible opponents and Allin was one of the prominent names on that list.

"We started to talk and then we had to come up with wrestling ideas. He had that great list he put out of people he thought would be great opponents for him and of course, a very prominent name on that list was Darby Allin and Darby Allin in the past year has gotten as hot as any wrestler we have and I just thought it would be really cool and it made a lot of sense and I suggested it and he thought it was great," said Tony Khan. H/T: Sportskeeda

CM Punk has heaped praise on Darby Allin repeatedly in the run-up to their match at AEW All Out, both on Rampage and Dynamite. It will be interesting to see if Punk vs. Allin is the main event of the upcoming pay-per-view.

Meet the man who called CM Punk the softest man alive HERE

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Edited by Kaushik Das