AEW World Champion CM Punk Returns On Dynamite

The All Elite Wrestling World Champion is back because CM Punk made his return to the ring during this week’s AEW Dynamite episode.

Punk won the AEW World Championship from “Hangman” Adam Page at Double or Nothing in May. Five days after that victory, Punk appeared on Rampage to let the world know that he had to undergo surgery to heal an injury he suffered. It was later revealed to be a foot injury.

Instead of having Punk relinquish the AEW World Title, the company chose to have Punk keep his title while also crowning an Interim World Champion. It ultimately led to the main event at the AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view in June that saw Jon Moxley beat Japanese wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanashi. The win by Moxley meant that he was the first-ever two-time AEW World Champion since he held the title for most of 2020.

Since becoming the Interim AEW World Champion, Moxley has taken on all comers including his opponent on the August 10 edition of Dynamite, “Lionheart” Chris Jericho. As is usually the case in a Moxley match, it was a bloody battle with Jericho ripping off Moxley’s earring from his left ear leading to a lot of blood pouring out of Moxley and later in the match, Jericho was bloody as well. After over 20 grueling minutes of action, Moxley applied a choke hold while on the mat and Jericho tapped out to give Moxley the win.

There were still five minutes left on Dynamite when Moxley won, so that led to a big brawl involving members of the Jericho Appreciation Society helping Jericho while Moxley was helped by his friends in the Blackpool Combat Club along with Eddie Kingston and Ortiz.

While all the chaos was going on in the ring, the familiar song “Cult of Personality” hit and the AEW World Champion CM Punk made his return to the company after just over two months away. Punk looked like he was healed from his foot injury as he made his way down to the ring wearing a black shirt and blue jeans while also sporting a beard.

Punk easily beat up members of the Jericho Appreciation Society as he made his way into the ring to clothesline Jericho over the top to the floor. That left Punk and Moxley alone with the crowd buzzing thanks to Punk’s return.

From the John Canton Dynamite review: “Moxley put his AEW World Title on his shoulder as he turned around to stare at Punk. Moxley’s bloody left ear was facing the camera and it looked nasty. They did the Rock/Hogan thing where they each turned to the right to face the crowd, and then they turned to the left to face the crowd that way too. Moxley gave Punk a middle finger and walked past him while using his shoulder to bump Punk. Excalibur said Moxley showed no respect for Punk. Moxley celebrated with Claudio. Punk celebrated in the ring with the fans cheering him. Punk walked around the ring while lifting up his right foot to show he was doing just fine.”

After the staredown, AEW announcers Jim Ross and Excalibur claimed that they didn’t know if Punk was cleared to compete, but they made sure to point out that Punk appeared to be in fantastic shape.

The next AEW pay-per-view is called All Out on September 4 and it’s taking place in Punk’s hometown of Chicago. It certainly could be the night where Punk could face to see who will be the lone AEW World Champion moving forward. Nothing has been officially announced as of yet.