Former WCW Star Says AEW Mishandled CM Punk When He Returned To Wrestling

After CM Punk walked out of WWE in 2014 he spent seven long years away from the professional wrestling business, but he finally made his return when he debuted with AEW in August of 2021. Punk debuted during the second episode of Rampage in Chicago and the fans at the United Center made it clear that they were happy to see him.

From there CM Punk started working mostly with up and coming talent when he got back in the ring, and Konnan explained on his Keepin’ It 100 podcast why he thinks that was a mistake.

“When he first came back, I was certain that place [Chicago] would melt and he’d pop a rating, which he did,” Konnan said on his “K100” podcast. “Then, the problem was — and this was not Tony’s decision — he wanted to wrestle with these young talents. The problem is these talents weren’t over, and to this day, are still not over. In my mind, you [Tony Khan] don’t do what Punk wants, you do what the fans want. That was a mistake. They mishandled him coming back.”

CM Punk last appeared on AEW programming when he wrestled in the main event at the All Out pay-per-view in September of 2022. AEW has yet to make any official announcements, but it’s expected that Punk will be returning to be the star of AEW’s third show Collision which is rumored to be premiering on Saturdays next month.

H/T Wrestling Inc.