5 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Rampage (Aug 20)
1. CM Punk’s First Target
Of course, AEW is more about the future of the biz than the past. Nostalgia is powerful, but CM Punk wasn't only here to reminisce about the past and tearfully address why he'd walked away from WWE in 2014. No, Punk was also there to do business and hype up a pay-per-view match with Darby Allin.
The skateboarding daredevil is a stunning first opponent for AEW's new comeback king. He's a rebellious soul like Punk, and he's also clearly a young star who will someday take his place atop the mountain as AEW World Champion. This, fellow fans, is what AEW should be about: Darby and other young stars rivalling already-established top names.
Nobody needed a retread of Punk vs. Jericho, or something similar, immediately. Put it that way.
Working with Punk can take Allin to that next level. He's received a nice rub from Sting, and can now look glorious (whether in victory or defeat) alongside the hottest free agent signing in years at All Out. Wednesday's Dynamite promises more build towards their match, and nobody associated with AEW can wait.
What did you think of this week's AEW Rampage? For more like this, check out 4 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Rampage (Aug 13) and WWE SummerSlam 2021: 10 Things That Must Happen!