One man alone - not CM Punk then, not Daniel Bryan now, not even Triple H from inside the walls of his developmental promotion - can transform WWE, at least not until Vince McMahon is dragged kicking, screaming and gulping into the afterlife. This was Punk's biggest misunderstanding about what was ever achievable. He couldn't even get a WrestleMania main event for himself, let alone a sustained push for Tyson Kidd et al.
Cody and co have no such chains to break. Though nothing has yet been announced as ALL IN's follow-up, they've created more than just anticipation for future shows. They've created a renewed sense of hope far beyond the excitement around CM Punk's eight days off television in 2011. They've created a new-and-improved way to make a living from professional wrestling outside of WWE. Ironically, they've created a stage big enough for CM Punk to perform upon, should he wish.
It's this stage that will define his legacy as an "agent for change" beyond WWE. Was the change Punk chased really all about the industry at large, or did the elusive 'Show Of Shows' top spot mean more all along?
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 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 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, 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
