Despite not wrestling since September 2022, CM Punk remains a divisive figure.
While some fans and wrestlers can’t wait to see the star back on their screens, others are less enthusiastic about a potential return for the two-time AEW World Champion.
Punk last wrestled at All Out where he won the AEW World Title suffering a serious triceps in the process. During an appearance at the post-show media scrum, the star went on the attack, taking aim at a number of AEW stars. His comments sparked a brawl backstage and all involved were suspended pending an investigation. While everyone else has returned to work Punk remains absent, and Ace Steel who was also involved has left the company altogether.
While the likes of Dax Harwood have spoken positively of the star it was claimed that after All Out Chris Jericho told Punk he was a “cancer to the locker room, and a detriment to the company.” There have also been reports that Jericho was among a number of top AEW stars who assured the locker room that Punk wouldn’t appear for the company again.
During a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry was asked about Punk and whether the locker room is better off without him in it. The veteran said that Punk, much like himself, was always an outsider simply because of how close the “AEW originals are.”
“I think that AEW is pro-AEW. CM Punk was an outlier. CM Punk was an outsider, just like I am,” Henry stated. “I’m not an original and when the sh** hits the fan, you’re going to go with the people that you locked arms with in the beginning. That’s just the way it is.”
When asked whether he was referring to The Elite, Henry explained that other factions within the locker room are equally close.
“I’m talking about the core as well as everybody that was at AEW at the beginning. All of the people that work their way, you look at the Dark Order and every facet of AEW in the office, they were a tight-knit group. It’s great to be brought in, but ultimately we still are the second cousin,” Henry continued.
“I feel like CM Punk would have to come in and kind of acquiesce to that. Say, ‘you know what, I know who I am. I know what I am, and I’m going to play my lane. But I’m here to make the business better. I’m here to make AEW better and I think I can do that.’ My personal thoughts and complaints, I’m keeping to myself.”
CM Punk Jabs Back At Claims About Reputation
In a new post on social media, CM Punk has now had a little fun with reports that he is disruptive backstage. On his Instagram Stories Punk shared a comic of Danhausen stealing some lemonade. The former AEW Champion added the caption “@danhausenad is cancerous to america and really didn’t pay for lemonade, he is blackballed – WON”
“WON” being a reference to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
H/t to WrestlingNews.Co