L_W_P

Punk had 7 years to show up for work. Impact, ROH, NJPW... Are you trying to say that he happened to get the itch to wrestle for AEW because they were running shows in Chicago or something? I might be a mile off the mark but it can be coincidence that his return to wrestling led to him going over everyone he faced and becoming world champion.

That they used the Evo 37 moment is even better.

It's more towards the treatment. Punk railed against Rock being able to walk in and be treated like a main eventer, get title shots etc That's what Punk did. He took 7 years off and only came back when a booker promised to give him everything he wanted.

What pisses me off the most is all the missed opportunities Punk could have taken advantage of if he was willing to play ball. When they ran Punk v Eddie and Kingston hit the back first to open the match my brain instantly booked Kingston winning in 5 seconds and then Punk having to work for a rematch. Give Punk a hurdle in AEW in the form of the "skinny fat line cook" looking guy. When Punk was cutting promos sitting cross legged, I was imagining the lights going out and Malakai Black appearing in the ring, sitting cross legged, in front of him. Punk v HOB would have been great. Punk v Hangman. Punk v Omega Punk v Danielson So many possibilities, and instead they feed his ego, steamroll him to the title, and then give him his own show with the roster of his choice. He became everything he hated about the part timers like Rock and Goldberg. In hindsight he didn't hate them, he was just jealous. Punk in name. Punk in nature. Fuck that guy.

I was stoked when Punk came back. It was a huge moment and a boost to get AEW noticed more. About 6 months in I expressed my concerns: Punk was steamrolling the roster. He beat everyone. When compared to Danielson it was staggering. When they made him World Champion I protested. He didn't need it. You don't put the belt on Andre. Then they gave him his own show with some authority over who was on that roster. Insane. The Hangman & Kingston "promos" look prophetic now.

Ewww I just wish we got Cena v Taker at a time that mattered. Crazy that Vince never put that together when the Streak and Cena were both molten hot.