WRESTLING NEWS
Backstage Speculation On CM
Punk’s AEW Availability
By Danny Wolstanholme
CM Punk hasn’t been seen on AEW programming since he verbally attacked his co-workers in the post-show media scrum of the All Out PPV in September 2022, which reportedly led to a skirmish in the locker room. Punk was stripped of the AEW title and taken off television by AEW CEO Tony Khan, but details regarding a potential return have emerged.
According to “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Punk will be available if AEW wants to use him in a couple of months, once he recovers from surgery to repair a torn left tricep. Punk could fill the babyface void that AEW is currently facing, but the report suggested Punk would not be “the guy” or the favorite to take up that position if he returned.
AEW had the opportunity to establish Punk’s former rival Maxwell Jacob Friedman as a key babyface, but instead opted for a “double-cross” involving William Regal to maintain him as a heel. It was speculated in October 2022 that Punk was in discussions with the promotion to buy out the remainder of his contract, but his status remains unknown.