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

2. The Spectre Of CM Punk Drama

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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.