19 Things WRESTLING Wants You To Forget About CM Punk
9. Why He Didn't Work All In 2018 Or Join AEW In The Beginning
Crossed wires and trepidation stood in the way of CM Punk and The Elite working together in 2018 and, evidently, during the formation of AEW.
Speaking about Punk working the Chicago event and why it didn't happen, Cody said;
"Matt [Jackson] actually made a full offer or full pitch for his services and I think Punk is focused on the Mixed Martial Arts element of his career. One of the reasons we didn't first come out and say, 'here's who we want you to wrestle,' because I think we just wanted him to be a part of the event for a lot of fans, he's captured their imagination even with the amount of time he's been gone. He has a mythical presence to them. I thought it would be good for him to connect with them, but that's me, you know?"
Punk didn't really see it that way, adding after the fact in an interview that...
"I would always listen. I would listen to them, because just like Dave, I like the Young Bucks. I text with Matt on and off. But business is business. I know Cody was out there in the media saying that an offer was made [for the All In event Sept. 1]. An offer was not made. Calling me up or texting me saying, 'Hey, if you want to come to the show and do something, we would love that' is not an offer. That's not an offer."
Ultimately the deal was done by 2021, but it's clear that the two sides saw things a little differently, even if it couldn't have foreshadowed the working relationship's eventual demise.