5 matches in AEW CM Punk should have with former WWE stars

#2. Current AEW wrestler Malakai Black

Malakai Black made his All Elite Wrestling debut at AEW Road Rager

Current AEW wrestler Malakai Black has one of the most interesting wrestling stories of 2021.

After months of sitting on the sidelines, Black returned to WWE television in May 2021. However, he was then released by the company the following week due to the ongoing "budget cuts."

Oh you woke up. https://t.co/RVjA2iAU8T

— Malakai Black (@TommyEnd) August 3, 2021

A loophole meant he only had a 30-day non-compete clause, as opposed to WWE's traditional 90-days. Malakai Black then made his AEW debut at the Road Rager edition of Dynamite on July 7, 2021, attacking Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes.

In August, Black made his in-ring debut at AEW Dynamite: Homecoming, defeating Cody Rhodes in dominant fashion.

CM Punk and Malakai Black have similar backgrounds and appear to be two wrestlers cut from the same cloth. Their unique characters could create compelling matches if they work together in AEW.

Both Punk and Black incorporate striking based offense with several devastating kicks and knee shots. Both wrestlers also incorporate a lot of heavy metal and punk music references and inspiration into their respective characters. Considering the similarities between the two wrestlers, a CM Punk vs. Malakai Black feud would certainly create some fascinating segments.

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#1. Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho competed in several matches against CM Punk during their respective WWE careers

Chris Jericho and CM Punk have a lengthy history against each other from their rivalries in WWE.

CM Punk successfully defended the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a major match at WrestleMania 28 in 2012. Since then, Punk and Jericho have had several matches against each other under the WWE umbrella.

While the outcome wasn’t what I wanted, last nights #AEWDynamite was one of the best moments of my career....THANK U HOUSTON! The acapella version of @fozzyrock #Judas was insane! Great story about this to tell some day. As for today, I have some serious soul searching to do. pic.twitter.com/EQBb8tg0XV

— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) August 19, 2021

This included a memorable match at Payback in 2013, when Punk returned after a hiatus to WWE television in Chicago, Illinois.

Some AEW fans will want to see CM Punk face off against names he hasn't competed against previously. However, the AEW version of Chris Jericho is certainly different from the Y2J character Punk fought against in WWE.

CM Punk coming face-to-face with Jericho's 'Painmaker' character would certainly provide a different approach to having the two rivals settle the score once and for all.