Why One More AEW Signing Would Cause A Wrestling Earthquake

If CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are already #AllElite, what huge secret might AEW still be keeping?

Daniel Bryan CM Punk AEW Done Deal
AEW/WWE

The news that both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan were set to sign for All Elite Wrestling at some point in 2021 broke the brains of many that still couldn't fathom one or both things ever being remotely possible.

There are excellent pieces that are very much worth your time about the short and longterm ramifications of these particular arrivals, and as well there should be. Though there's nothing remotely underhanded about picking up two talents that aren't contractually attached to any major organisation, the potential quality both could inject into AEW's product makes all of this feel like some sort of insidious coup. A deal done in the shadows because it's one not permitted to exist in the light.

But it's not. Far from it, and what's more, this might not even be the end of Tony Khan's most recent spending spree. It certainly doesn't have to be, and one more prominent name on the dotted line could reflect the biggest reality yet that WWE aren't just facing competition from Jacksonville, but the prospect of being comfortably overhauled as the most-watched wrestling show in North America.

Is "earthquake" hyperbolic? Perhaps. But digging a little deeper finds a couple of WWE foundations that are less than solid...

CONT'D...

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Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett