10 Fascinating Backstage Facts From CM Punk's AEW Run
4. Outspoken Advocate
Fact: CM Punk used his platform to advocate on
television for several marginalized groups, including transgender and LGBTQ+ youth,
and for reproductive rights.
In a world where a former president reviled by many and a rock musician who shot up a case of beer to protest a transgender influencer are both WWE Hall-of-Famers, it’s rare to see wrestlers use their platform to very publicly stand up for marginalized groups and take bold political stances – especially on national television.
But for all the negativity surrounding him, CM Punk used his two years in AEW to repeatedly do just that. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision restricting reproductive rights, he twice walked out on AEW programming donning a T-shirt defending a woman’s right to choose.
Perhaps most notably, Punk would stop to pose with fans along the barricade who were holding signs advocating to protect transgender kids. He brought a kid into the ring so his “Support LGBTQ+ Youth” sign could be seen by everyone. And one of his last AEW T-shirts incorporated the transgender Pride flag colors.
You’ll never see a superstar doing that on WWE programming,
and chances are you might not see an AEW wrestler doing the same. Hopefully,
this is one Punk trait other wrestlers will pick up and continue.