10 Challengers Who Should Face CM Punk For The AEW World Championship
There's a long list of challengers awaiting the return of the AEW Champion.
More than nine years after he dropped the WWE Championship to The Rock, CM Punk is once again a world champion, winning the AEW World Championship from Hangman Adam Page in the main event of Double or Nothing 2022.
However, Punk suffered an injury to his foot on the Dynamite after Double or Nothing, and will reportedly be out for most of the remainder of the year. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Jon Moxley will face off for the interim AEW World Championship, and the winner will have a date with Punk when the Second City Saint returns. Though plans can always change, working on the assumption that Punk beats the interim champion upon his return, who should be in line for a title shot?
Since his return, Punk has balanced old rivalries and dream matches with a desire to work with young talent. With AEW's roster flush with talent and the growing partnership with NJPW, the list of potential opponents is extensive. New top stars can be made in feuds with Punk, and the man who dethrones him will become a legend.
11. Honourable Mentions
Before this list kicks into gear, there are a few more wrestlers that deserve to be mentioned.
First, Wardlow. On the 8 June episode of Dynamite, Wardlow said he didn't want to challenge for the interim title because Punk is the true champion. While Wardlow is undoubtedly a future world champion, he has his sights set on the TNT Championship for now. A long reign with that belt will help restore some prestige to the title, and there's a better opponent for Wardlow's world title win later in this list...
There are plenty of challengers in New Japan who could take a shot at Punk. A clash with Zack Sabre Jr would be a match of the year contender, as would an encounter with Shingo Takagi. There's Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Hirooki Goto, KENTA, Minoru Suzuki, Will Ospreay - there is no shortage of challengers from the other side of the Forbidden Door.
How about an old rival in Chris Jericho? The two have always done excellent work together, and Punk's new alliance with FTR would help combat the numbers advantage of the Jericho Appreciation Society. All three members of Death Triangle would be great opponents for Punk, as Penta showed back in April, while Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee are also strong candidates. But there are ten who stand out.