5 Ups & 7 Downs For AEW In 2023 (So Far)

2. The Spectre Of CM Punk Drama

CM Punk AEW Return Update
AEW

CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk.

Punk's dramatic exit from AEW in late-2022 and his increasingly-likely comeback has dominated promotional chatter for the first six months of 2023, and rarely in a positive way. In fact, people seemed to be sick of CM by the time Tony Khan gleefully announced he'd be back for Collision's debut on 17 June.

This better end well. If Punk brings even more drama to All Elite's door during the second half of the year, then Khan will look foolish for bringing him back into the mix. It's also vitally important for the wrestler's own relationship with pro wrestling fans that he has critically-acclaimed matches/feuds that help AEW grow.

One thing's for sure: Punk has been more akin to a negative than a positive this year. Time for that to change? Absolutely. Will it? Watch this space.

Advertisement
In this post: 
CM Punk
 
Posted On: 
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.