Wrestling Legend Thinks CM Punk’s AEW Debut Was Mishandled

Even though CM Punk’s return to pro wrestling in 2021 was hailed as one of the biggest and most shocking moments in modern history, its immediate aftermath wasn’t done as well as it could’ve been.

In 2021, Punk was considered the biggest star to sign with AEW. His name carried a considerable amount of weight, and he was the perfect person with which AEW could book dream matches that would lead to wider exposure and bigger paydays for the fledging promotion.

However, according to Konnan, the immediate aftermath of CM Punk’s debut didn’t translate into any major success.

Speaking on his Keepin’ It 100 podcast, Konnan argued that Darby Allin, CM Punk’s first opponent after being gone for seven years, wasn’t a big name going into that match and didn’t leave the match any bigger of a star.

“When he first came back, I was certain that place [Chicago] would melt and he’d pop a rating, which he did. Then, the problem was — and this was not Tony’s decision — he wanted to wrestle with these young talents.

The problem is these talents weren’t over, and to this day, are still not over. In my mind, you [Tony Khan] don’t do what Punk wants, you do what the fans want. That was a mistake. They mishandled him coming back.”

h/t WrestlingInc for the transcription