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The AEW rumor mill is currently in overdrive with speculation that former WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is set to become "All Elite."
This would mark an end to CM Punk's exile from professional wrestling for over seven years. Punk last appeared inside a wrestling ring at the 2014 Royal Rumble.
CM Punk's signing is considered a "game-changer" for All Elite Wrestling, with him being one of the most sought-after and elusive free agents currently on the market.
Let's take a closer look at five AEW stars who could interrupt CM Punk's rumored debut.
#5 Current AEW World Champion Kenny Omega
Current AEW World Champion Kenny Omega has been one of several names to hint at CM Punk's impending arrival in AEW in recent weeks on Dynamite.
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Last week, he wore a "Cookie Monster" shirt during the broadcast. Some may wonder what the Sesame Street character has to do with the former WWE Champion? Well, in the past, Punk has claimed that the 'CM' in his name actually stands for 'Cookie Monster.'
CM Punk has made a career out of proclaiming himself as the "Best in the World." However, in 2021 many professional wrestling fans, pundits and critics have suggested that Kenny Omega deserves the title.
Omega could take great offense to Punk returning and proclaiming himself once again as "The Best in the World." So you certainly wouldn't put it past him and The Elite to interrupt CM Punk's professional wrestling return.
#4 AEW wrestler Colt Cabana
Current AEW star Colt Cabana and CM Punk have a lengthy and controversial history.
The two Chicago natives were previously long-time best friends on the independent scene and in WWE. Cabana and Punk even trained together to become professional wrestlers in the Steel Dominion wrestling school in Chicago under the tutelage of Ace Steel.
When CM Punk controversially departed WWE in 2014, he eventually conducted his first post-WWE interview on Colt Cabana's podcast 'The Art of Wrestling.' Whilst explaining the reasons behind his WWE departure, Punk criticized WWE's medical doctors and the handling of his injuries and MRSA infection towards the end of his WWE run.
This led to a defamation lawsuit from WWE doctor Chris Amann in 2015 against CM Punk and Colt Cabana due to Punk's allegations of medical malpractice during the podcast episode.
After going to trial in 2018, a jury ruled in favor of both Punk and Cabana. However, the fallout from the trial led to Colt Cabana filing a further lawsuit against CM Punk. Cabana alleged that Punk had breached the contract and refused to pay Cabana's legal fees for the lawsuit. Punk would later file a counterclaim against Cabana in 2019 before both lawsuits were settled and dismissed later that year.
Colt Cabana interrupting CM Punk during his AEW debut would certainly get a lot of people talking. It would be a great example of AEW taking real life controversial situations and turning them into storylines.
#3 Current AEW wrestler MJF
Current AEW star MJF is considered by many to be one of the brightest stars currently on the All Elite Wrestling roster.
Despite his tender age, MJF has quickly established himself as one of the best promo-cutters in AEW today. He has further backed this up with excellent rivalries against Cody Rhodes, Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho.
MJF is still engaged in his feud with Chris Jericho, forcing Le Champion to complete the "Five Labors of Jericho" weekly on Dynamite, leading to a match between the two at "All Out' in September.
Should CM Punk become "All Elite," MJF's ego won't allow the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion to take the spotlight away from himself. Therefore it's completely plausible that MJF and The Pinnacle could interrupt CM Punk's debut.
This would then possibly lead to inevitable matches between MJF and CM Punk inside an AEW ring in the future.
#2 Rumoured AEW signing Daniel Bryan
AEW possibly signing CM Punk to an All Elite Wrestling contract isn't the promotion's only reported major signing in recent weeks.
Speculation is rampant that former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan has also signed with AEW in recent weeks.
Daniel Bryan was part of the WWE WrestleMania 37 Night Two main event earlier this year against Edge and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. He subsequently departed the company soon after, once his WWE contract expired.
CM Punk and Daniel Bryan have a significant amount of history with each other from their days in WWE and competing in various independent promotions around the globe.
CM Punk's AEW debut being interrupted by an also debuting Daniel Bryan would certainly be a historic moment for the young company. Furthermore, it would certainly be a moment that generates a ton of mainstream media attention in the wrestling, sporting and entertainment world.
#1 Former AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin
Former AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin is considered by many to be one of the brightest stars currently performing on the AEW roster.
Allin has always displayed huge amounts of potential since debuting in AEW. However, since being paired and mentored by WWE Hall of Famer Sting, Darby Allin's career has gone from strength to strength.
The skateboarding professional wrestler also teased a possible rivalry with CM Punk during a recent episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT. During a backstage interview with Alex Marvez, Darby Allin stated that AEW was the place to be in professional wrestling to prove you have what it takes, "even if you think you're the best in the world."
Many took this line from Darby Allin as a direct reference to CM Punk, who used the "Best in the World" moniker throughout his professional wrestling career.
Considering that the former AEW TNT Champion has seemingly already begun planting seeds for a future feud with the former WWE Champion, it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if he interrupted CM Punk's AEW debut.
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