12 Signings That Changed The Wrestling World

Now for a signing that didn't ultimately have an entirely positive effect on the wrestling business - or at least on one company in particular.

CM Punk's long-awaited return to the world of pro-wrestling in 2021 will always be remembered as one of the most emotional and borderline unbelievable comebacks ever. However, once that AEW honeymoon period came to an end during 'The Best in the World's feud with Hangman Adam Page in 2022, the era of backstage madness overshadowing the on-screen product began.

Punk's presence on AEW programming may have resulted in record-breaking PPV numbers, strong ratings, and the moving of a ton of merchandise, but it also led to an eventual backstage implosion with The Elite at All Out 2022 that the company struggled to recover from going forward.

Then, just when it looked like perhaps they'd found a way to keep both The Elite and the Punker happy in 2023, Punk's All In altercation with Jack Perry once again spoiled what should have been a legendary night for AEW and one the greatest nights in wrestling history as the company put on "The Biggest Event in Wrestling History" at Wembley Stadium.

For a while there, Punk being All Elite made that brand feel like the most exciting thing on planet earth. 

By the time he was fired two years later, though, many were left wondering whether those early highs were honestly worth the company-hurting lows that forever changed AEW.