The Self-Destruction Of CM Punk In AEW | Wrestling Timelines
November 14, 2022 - Theoretical
Dave Meltzer writes an interesting post on the Wrestling Observer Board:
“There is so much I can say about this because I know both sides. Maybe I should talk about it on the show tonight. Also, just theoretical, does your opinion change if you find out for sure that Punk was responsible for Cabana being gone but Tony backed up his big star because he had to as outing him would have obviously hurt him in the fans’ eyes. Again, only theoretical, do you view the situation same or different.”
November 23, 2022 - Trollolol
The Elite return for only their second match back. It’s the second battle in their Best of Seven series with Death Triangle. It takes place in Chicago.
CM Punk is in effect baited twice in the same month.
The match is deliriously entertaining, drenched in transgressive snark. Nobody expected the Elite nor AEW to acknowledge CM Punk, at this stage of the game anyway.
Watching the Elite, after months of silence, rip the piss out of CM Punk - in Chicago - is breathtaking. It feels tremendously ill-advised, but it’s too surreal for many fans to worry about.
Matt Jackson pokes fun at Punk by deliberately botching the Buckshot lariat. Omega bites and hits PAC with the GTS.
This is what Punk was getting at, in a way. It’s pure uncut Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, stylistically and in its attitude. In a very real way, it is terrible business: the match, as fun and as outrageous as it is, indicates that the Elite might be begging for a receipt - but there are no such plans. Punk is in exile. He may never come back.
There are no plans for the Elite and CM Punk to work together. Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks Vs. ‘CMFTR’ is now the #1 wrestling dream match, but it’s not going to happen. The Bucks steadfastly refuse to do it. Ironically, there’s actually something punk rock about the Bucks adhering to their values and principles at the expense of commercial gain - but even the punk rock wrestler knows it’s a business. There’s irony all over the place; surely, on one level, Punk must admire that level of spite and conviction.
November 23 is cathartic for many fans; for just as many others, it’s evidence that Punk is right. This town isn’t big enough for both CM Punk and the Elite - but Tony Khan will attempt to accommodate both.