'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Now, hold your horses. You're probably looking at that title and thinking you must have entered an alternate universe. No, the sky is still blue, the grass is green but professional wrestling is its biggest boom phase since the late 1990s. It's true! It's damn true! This is not a prediction. I truly believe that this is a spoiler that CM Punk will make his long-awaited return to the ring at the AEW All Out PPV.
Now, you're probably wondering that he's already been announced for Starrcast 3 for an interview and AEW would have kept it secret until he was revealed at the end of the show. But I have another take on this. Keyser Soze once said in The Usual Suspects, "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." What does that mean?
It means that everything could be right in front of us and we probably don't know that it would happen. Sometimes, by presenting something upfront, you could mislead the audience into believing that the impossible won't happen. It throws the wrestling fans off balance.
So, here are 5 signs that CM Punk could shock the world and debut at AEW All Out.
#5 His UFC Career is at a standstill
CM Punk's UFC fight career has been pretty ordinary. His debut ended within the first round when he was defeated soundly by Mickey Gall and his second fight didn't go as well. With a win-loss record of 0-2-0, his UFC status seems to be up in the air. Dana White said he believed that CM Punk's UFC career is done after his second loss to Mike Jackson.
No, it should be a wrap. The guy’s 39 years old. We gave him two shots, and he had a lot of heart tonight, and I think he should call it a wrap.
While this was over a year ago, CM Punk has moved onto commentating for Cage Fury Fighting Championship as well as acting in horror films. It's not an understatement to say that he may yearn for something more. And he may find it in AEW.
#4 It's CM Punk's hometown of Chicago
CM Punk. The Best Wrestler in the World. The Voice of the Voiceless. When CM Punk made his entrance in his hometown back in 2011, the roof almost came off. It was deafening as the wrestling fanbase was well behind him. This was the Summer of Punk and the crowd made it clear to John Cena that this was Punk Country.
Imagine what would happen at AEW All Out. It could be argued that in terms of a pop from the audience, CM Punk would get the biggest one of the night. Much like Jon Moxley's debut was stunning and shocking, this could be one for the ages. AEW wants to be in the news and the hometown boy taking the fight to one of the established AEW stars would be a great way to make an impact in All Elite Wrestling.
#3 The CM Punk question keeps coming up
Chris Van Vliet recently interviewed The Young Bucks and of course, asked the very same question of CM Punk in AEW. They responded by saying that CM Punk would be welcomed in their company with open arms but that CM Punk is not interested. They did say that he will come back when he is ready and it's his decision. Moreover, they said that pro wrestling is demanding and it's hard to jump right back in.
But something was hinted at in the interview which caught my attention. Chris Van Vliet then said The Young Bucks could help create a situation where his schedule could be limited. Matt responded and said 'we'll see' and just smiled at Chris. And it's now announced that CM Punk will be at Starrcast 3. Coincidence? I don't think so.
You can watch the comments at 32:14 in the video below.
#2 CM Punk's repeated putdowns of AEW on social media
CM Punk responded to a post by ROH star Marty Skrull when he tried to recruit Joey Janela into Villain Enterprises. Janela said that he's with AEW and Marty Skrull said, "What the f**k is AEW?" CM Punk responded by saying, "I ask myself this same question, like, every time someone tweets me." He also said that he will disappoint his fans by not showing up in AEW.
CM Punk has been very careful at not mentioning AEW or other wrestling promotions for a very long time. But ever since AEW has started, the tweets have become more prevalent. Even Chris Jericho responded to the CM Punk question by saying that they don't need him.
The devil is in the details and the timing of all of this seems suspicious and just too good to be true. Maybe I'm one of those conspiracy theorists connecting dots where there are none but something has got to give.
#1 AEW on TNT
With it being most likely that AEW will be premiering on Oct 02 on TNT, it will come on the heels on AEW ALL Out which will happen on Aug 31, 2019. Now, a month is a long time in the wrestling business and AEW will need something to keep them in the news till they debut on TNT. And that could be that CM Punk shows up at AEW All Out.
The reverse could be true and CM Punk may show up on the premiere episode of TNT. Being that the TV debut has to be insane, expect the unexpected. As Paul Heyman loves to say, this isn't a prediction, it's a spoiler.
Maybe, the whole thing is just a coincidence and the wrestling fans are looking at this like the JFK Conspiracy but its wrestling. Sometimes, reality and entertainment tend to blur the lines and that's when pro wrestling is at its best.
