Yes, CM Punk Was A BIG Draw For AEW
Divisive he may be, but CM Punk's positive impact on AEW's business is undeniable.
Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics has handily compiled key data showing, conclusively, that CM Punk was a draw for All Elite Wrestling.
Tweeted over the weekend, the information accompanied the latest episode of Wrestlenomics Radio, which, amongst other things, dived into Punk's impact on AEW business. Featured is a table showing healthy ratings increases for quarter-hours featuring the seemingly outbound star, pay-per-view buys (highlighting events on which Punk was a featured star), and a chart of AEW's top merch-sellers for the year, with Punk occupying four of the top 10 slots.
Was CM Punk a draw for AEW?
Advertisement-His appearances often increased quarter-hours-5 PPVs he was on are AEW's 5 highest-selling-Main evented two $1M gates, arguably drew a 3rd he wasn't on-4 of 10 top selling items for the yr on ShopAEW & PWTees are his?https://t.co/EuEYIkTog0 pic.twitter.com/hi9lkG9QsF
— Wrestlenomics (@wrestlenomics) October 23, 2022
The data reads positively for Punk, who came back to wrestling following a seven-year hiatus in August 2021, making AEW his home. The intrigue around his first match back (vs. Darby Allin) was the primary driver for All Out 2021's company-record 215,000 buys. Days after Punk's 'Last Dance' comeback, AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan called the comeback "one of the best deals I've ever done in my life" - claiming that he believed it had already paid for itself.
Punk is currently off AEW television for his role in All Out 2022's incendiary post-show brawl last month. Suspended indefinitely, he is not expected to return to the company, with the latest reporting suggesting AEW is in talks to buy his contract out.
But for all the controversy that has engulfed him these past few months, Punk can nonetheless point towards an objectively positive business record.