5 dream matches for CM Punk outside of AEW

#1 CM Punk vs Seth Rollins

Two of the best workers on the planet capable of delivering wrestling clinics on demand, CM Punk and Seth Rollins share a bond owing to the aforementioned Shield connection.

While there was no definitive leader of the faction, Rollins has proclaimed for years that he was the "Architect" of their group. As such, he was responsible for their actions and direction.

What this means, therefore, is that Rollins would have spearheaded the attacks and oppression of CM Punk at the behest of the Authority, further reinforced by his aligning with the villainous regime later down the line.

CM Punk and Rollins both met in a handicap match and in a one-on-one match on Monday Night Raw. Punk emerged victorious in both scenarios. Seth has since changed so much, winning the Royal Rumble and world championships, as well as going through his own war with the Authority, much like Punk.

It can be argued that Rollins was still finding his feet when Punk was in the picture, undergoing a similar direction to the Straight Edge Superstar when he was just starting out.

While it can also be argued that they started in the same place, and in similar ways, their rise to the top was different with Rollins taking shortcuts thanks to his powerful relationships and Punk making a point of going against the grain.

Again, as with Wyatt, Seth Rollins represents a villain to the heroic CM Punk as he has set out to destroy the careers of opponents like Rey Mysterio in the Eye-for-an-Eye Match of Extreme Rules 2020, while Punk has sought young talent to elevate and highlight following his return.

We have also seen during his feud with Edge that Rollins has a sizeable chip on his shoulder when it comes to those who sit at a similar level to him, looking to prove to everyone who watches and listens that he is a superior athlete.

CM Punk has to be on Rollins' radar as someone who has "taken his spotlight," adding to the already standing 2-0 score between them. While the story between them is tantalizing enough, it's the additional fact that both men are capable of producing the goods in the ring that offers their match another dimension, with every aspect of their work having the potential to compliment each other and surpass expectations.