Why AEW Have NOT Botched CM Punk

Deep in the lung-burning throes of the action, the greying beard, sheen of sweat and rapid convulsions of his abdomen depict Punk, naturally, as a man who hasn't wrestled full-time for seven years. The exact same thing happened to Christian Cage, who missed the exact same amount of action; his AEW debut against Kazarian while intelligently worked entered a lull as he sucked wind at the midway point, and he had to really graft in his follow-up match opposite Powerhouse Hobbs. After this teething period, he entered a superb performance against Kenny Omega on the launch of Rampage: a constantly building TV sprint. He was fine. Punk, too, will be fine.

Thrillingly, CM Punk knows this, and is integrating real life into his story. He, per a Sports Illustrated profile, is by his own admission "the f*cking old guy on the team". He is playing an older pro wrestler who has to test himself before claiming once more to be the "Best in the World" in a patient character arc that doubles as a means of spotlighting new talent. He isn't locked in a direct "feud," at least not yet, but that is not the same thing as not being involved in a "story". His arc is the story.

Throughout it, Punk has wrestled very good matches. He has not yet entered a blow-away performance in an overwhelming gut-feeling classic, and that likely isn't helped by Bryan Danielson turning in a weekly banger. But Punk is one of the most intelligent wrestlers of his and any other generation.

He knows himself, and his body, and is using reality to pave his road.

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