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Pro-wrestling fans cannot wait to see AEW's newest signing CM Punk in action again.
The Best in the World made his internet-breaking AEW debut last Friday night at AEW Rampage. The 42-year-old has joined Tony Khan's company on a full-time deal, meaning he will be a regular competitor on AEW TV.
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Punk did not waste any time choosing his first opponent as he challenged Darby Allin to a match at AEW All Out next month. The 42-year-old is also clear that he has joined AEW to work with passionate young stars like Kenny Omega, Jungle Boy, and The Young Bucks.
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Fans, too, would like to see Punk compete against AEW's rising stars. Meanwhile, there are a few stars we don't want to see him face. Here are five CM Punk matches we don't want to see in AEW.
#5. CM Punk versus Chris Jericho
CM Punk desires to have new competition and work with young talents. Hence, facing Chris Jericho would be the complete opposite.
Punk and Jericho have fought each other more than 40 times in WWE. They fought in No Disqualification matches, Steel Cage matches, and even faced each other in a Chicago Street Fight. The two WWE Legends battled for the WWE Championship, the World Heavyweight Title, and even the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Judging by all that, it does not seem like the right move to have them square off again. Booking-wise, AEW should not want to repeat what WWE has done many times between 2008 and 2013.
CM Punk also said he wants to work with young talents, and Jericho is not young. The former AEW World Champion is already approaching his 51st birthday. Hence, having the nearly 51-year-old Jericho, who is a little past his prime, face the 42-year-old Punk, who has just returned from a seven-year absence, might not make for good TV.
#4. CM Punk versus Christian Cage
A match between CM Punk and Christian Cage in AEW might not be a good idea for a few reasons. Since his AEW debut last March, Cage has been on a roll. Aside from getting eliminated from the Casino Battle Royale at AEW Double or Nothing last May, the 47-year-old remains undefeated.
Because of his winning streak, Cage became the number one contender for Kenny Omega's AEW World Championship. Instead, Cage challenged Omega for the Impact World Championship, which the latter also held. The former WWE Superstar defeated Omega on the premiere episode of Rampage to capture the title.
Cage is arguably living the best time of his career, and having him lose to Punk would kill his push. Also, having Punk lose to Captain Charisma would be meaningless. That is why neither should cross paths anytime soon.
What also makes a match between CM Punk and Christian Cage even less interesting is that they have already squared off a few times in WWE. Just like with Jericho, Cage does not represent new competition for Punk. Being 47 years old, the current Impact World Champion is also not a young talent.
#3. CM Punk versus Billy Gunn
Billy Gunn is another AEW star that CM Punk should not compete against. Gunn and Punk had squared off once before in WWE a few days before the Best in the World's departure from the company. It was not a pleasant sight.
The two wrestlers went head-to-head on Monday Night RAW in January 2014. Despite trying, it was obvious that Gunn was not able to keep up with Punk physically. The match turned out to be slow and a little boring. It barely got any reaction from the fans in attendance.
Imagine having the same match that failed over seven years ago today. Gunn, who was then 50 years old, is now about to celebrate his 58th birthday. CM Punk has grown older too, which means that the match would probably be even slower and less entertaining.
Gunn joined AEW in 2019 as a coach and in-ring competitor. The 57-year-old teamed up with his two sons, Austin and Colten, to form The Gunn Club. Billy and Colten Gunn have been on a roll lately, winning nine consecutive matches.
In their last match on the August 3 episode of AEW Dark, Billy and Colten Gunn defeated Aaron Solo and Nick Comoroto.
#2. CM Punk versus Sting
Although it might seem like a dream match, a square-off between CM Punk and Sting could become a nightmare for wrestling fans.
It is almost a given that booking a match between these two legends will sell arenas and get fans over-excited. However, it will be risky considering their age. Sting is already 62 years old, and Punk is 20 years younger.
Their ability to deliver a match that lives up to fans' expectations is highly doubtful. The bout could turn into a huge disappointment for AEW fans.
CM Punk and Sting have never faced each other throughout their wrestling careers, although they have both worked for TNA and WWE before sharing the AEW locker room. Sting made a few appearances on TNA between June 2003 and March 2004. At the same time, CM Punk was also wrestling in TNA.
By the time Sting returned to TNA in late 2005, Punk had already left to join WWE. The Best in the World spent several years working for Vince McMahon before leaving in January 2014. Later that same year, Sting made his historic WWE debut. The two wrestlers never met under the WWE's roof.
Following his historic AEW debut, Punk met Sting. The 42-year-old revealed what the WWE Hall of Famer told him backstage.
"I had Sting come up to me today and tell me that he's excited to work with me. He wished that he got to work with me, you know, back in his day. That's my legacy, man," CM Punk said.
Sting has competed in only three matches since his AEW last December. His last match came a few days ago when he teamed up with Darby Allin to beat Jeff Parker and Matt Lee.
#1. CM Punk versus Matt Hardy
Like with all previous entries, there are a few reasons CM Punk should not face Matt Hardy in AEW.
Punk and Hardy have a long history. They squared off against each other several times in WWE. Hence, there is nothing new for the fans to see if they fight each other again.
Also, like the four previously mentioned AEW Stars, Hardy does not fall into the young talent category. The former WWE Superstar is 46 years old, four years older than Punk. Facing him would drift Punk away from his main goal in AEW, which is to work with passionate young stars, as he stated.
The third reason why putting Hardy in CM Punk's way is not the best booking AEW could make is that the 46-year-old is doing very well since his debut in March 2020.
The Broken One rarely loses a match in AEW. It would be smart to continue pushing Hardy instead of killing his momentum by making him lose to the returning megastar.
Do you think any of these five matches should not be on this list? Sound off in the comments below!
