What If... CM Punk NEVER Returned To Wrestling

Getting the obvious out of the way early, for all of the good that undoubtedly came with the Punker's jaw-dropping comeback, his return also gradually had quite the negative impact on AEW's locker room and overall product.

It wasn't a case of the entire place being set on fire from the second he walked through the door, though. Punk appeared to be having a whale of a time initially, sending the crowd home happy after the show was off-air, firing out jolly tweets to Hangmen, and just generally seeming like a man who'd rediscovered his love of wrasslin'.

But in the wake of a legendary program opposite MJF, the cracks began to show as Punk turned his attention to the AEW World Champion - 'Hangman' Adam Page.

Without this bona fide draw and living legend bringing even more eyes to the product and money to the organisation, is there a world where this 'Anxious Millennial Cowboy' held onto the top belt a little while longer before dropping it to a Maxwell or Wardlow later down the road?

You can't really blame Khan for wanting to strap up his top guy at Double or Nothing 2022, but it was that call which also ultimately set in motion a series of events that very nearly undid all of the fantastic work the booker had done to present his world title as the most prestigious prize in the game.

Following Punk and Page's now-infamous feud - one that included a shoot "workers rights" dig that royally ended the All Elite honeymoon period - the AEW World Championship would go through something of a rough patch.

It was taken off TV after Brooks broke his foot during a crowd surf attempt, replaced by an Interim strap throughout the summer, unified in a thrilling squash, and then vacated post-Brawl Out chaos - all in the space of about four months.

An initially well-received but eventually rather underrated 'Salt of the Earth' run with the belt would help restore its prestige from Full Gear 2022 onwards, thankfully. But a carefully booked badge of honour very much became a side attraction in the days of Punk.

Then you have the numerous backstage altercations which frequently overshadowed any and all positive press TK's company were generating.

Punk's issues with the Elite would gift the wrestling world one of the most captivating press conference meltdowns of all time, sure. But his backstage scuffles with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Jack Perry, and the way these blow-ups were handled by management, were all embarrassing chapters that hurt the careers of all involved.

Perry, a young star once celebrated as a Pillar of AEW, has seen his relationship with Khan perhaps - and unfairly - irreparably damaged for his part in the All In 2023 mess. It took the Elite what felt like an age to shake off the real-life drama and remind AEW lovers why there's an E in the middle of that sacred acronym, too.

And Punk's own legacy will now forever include an era which felt like history frustratingly repeating itself, once again going from passionate rebel, to a disenchanted, bitter figure who needed to leave to get healthy.

However, while Phil Brooks, Tony Khan, and many more would likely possess a few less wrinkles, no returning Punker in 2021 would also mean no...