10 Biggest Mysteries In The Secret War Between AEW And CM Punk

4. What The HELL Is Up With That Instagram Post?

CM Punk
AEW

Mystery:

The wrestling world watched on with a combination of excitement and bemusement as CM Punk Vs. Jon Moxley was promoted for the August 24, 2022 Dynamite.

Wasn't this all too soon? What was the All Out main event?

Moxley squashed Punk, Punk doubted himself, indicating that his injury might be psychological, Ace Steel fire him up with a rah-rah speech, and Punk went on to get his belt back at the PPV. It was a very, very well-performed rushed story, is probably the best way of putting it.

It was all a bit weird, and nobody could put their finger on why - until that CM Punk Instagram post.

Deleted but screen-shotted for posterity, Punk alleged that Jon Moxley, who did the job for CM Punk at All Out, refused to do a job for CM Punk. It was subsequently reported/ascertained that Punk has heat with Mox, which didn't help Punk's public image. Who has heat with Mox?!

Well, Mox is more savvy a political operator than his laidback, "I just want to tell cool stories" reputation suggests - but he was right, as the man who somehow elevated AEW during a pandemic, to protect his character. You know who else believes this?

CM Punk, who, in the mood of his life, put over Mox during the All Out presser as a "hell of a talent". He also said that both men had worked to elevate the other during the programme, which collides spectacularly with the sentiment expressed on Instagram last week.

Punk was either lying or being diplomatic back in September.

Here's another thing: if AEW had asked Punk to work through an injury, looking at the other most infamous chapter of his career, wouldn't Punk have been infuriated? And wouldn't he have expressed this fury, when at his most candid, during that presser?

And, if Punk is lying about that, wouldn't AEW be furious? Or is the naive pipe dream of keeping him in the promotion more important than moving to suggest that he is lying?

Theory:

CM Punk just really hates the 'Rocky' franchise.

Any other speculation is dangerous territory.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!