Why AEW Have NOT Botched CM Punk

It's not quite clobberin' time for CM Punk - YET.

by Michael Sidgwick
CM Punk Daniel Garcia
AEW

It's a potentially bad faith argument to begin with, but the argument has surfaced in the online wrestling sphere.

Of course there is a section of the pro wrestling "community" that holds the belief that AEW has botched the CM Punk run. And as loathsome as this construct of a take is, the same people who unleash it were probably all too giddily prepared to bury AEW for pushing Punk at the expense of Hangman Page. The arrival of wrestling's lost superstar was apparently going to relegate Page, who was defeated in a 10-man tag to accommodate him. This didn't happen. Page is set to challenge for Kenny Omega's AEW World Championship at Full Gear this month, and is more likely than not going to win it.

You're not allowed to complain about both events, but Punk's slow-burn of a run is worthy of balanced, good faith debate.

Consider the landscape. Page is champion elect. Bryan Danielson meanwhile has joined him in the title picture, having drawn with Omega at Grand Slam in the fastest 30 minute treat of all time and battered his way into the Eliminator Title tournament final. There is no space for Punk in the main event scene, nor is there any worthwhile story in some random three-way dance desperation. There is however time. Time is AEW's most valuable, sacredly-held commodity.

There is something to the idea that CM Punk isn't the same CM Punk.

CONT'D...(1 of 6)

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Contributor
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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!