Why AEW Have NOT Botched CM Punk

CM Punk long bois
AEW

AEW does long-term storytelling. AEW and CM Punk know the long-term destination. If you think Punk and Tony Khan have said to themselves "Let's beat you some young lads and we'll work something out from there," you're out to lunch. Again, consider Hangman Page's arc in parallel. AEW has persisted with it every step of the way, slowly enriching its grand, emotive heft. When is AEW's track record with successful long-term storytelling going to click with people? Is WWE's 21st century track record so traumatic?

You know what doesn't help the nagging feeling that collides with the rational thought that this is all going to turn out just fabulously?

The "longbois".

In the longbois tights - and it would be a reach to state that this is on purpose - CM Punk looks like a wrestler on the comeback as opposed to an actual pro wrestling star. Nobody ever, ever, said that Punk looked bad in his trunks. Well, except Triple H, but he was threatened by Punk's popularity. Everybody else deemed it a great look that presented Punk as a uniquely skilled threat and suited his body type. The controversial longbois aren't anywhere near as flattering. Are they so distracting that people think his AEW run is lacking?

CONT'D...(5 of 6)

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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!