CM Punk's debut during Friday night's episode of AEW Rampage was one of the best moments in modern pro wrestling history, and the pop the former WWE Champion received from the crowd...well, it's hard to imagine it ever being replicated. Now a full-time member of the All Elite Wrestling roster, all eyes are on what the Best in the World does next.
An appearance on Wednesday's AEW Dynamite has been confirmed, of course, while Punk will square off with Darby Allin at All Out next month. Beyond that, though, it feels like he can do anything.
Talking on the Kap & J. Hood show on ESPN 1000 Chicago, Punk opened up on his big return. "I was discussing this with a couple of my friends and that might have been the greatest moment, the greatest night of my career," he admitted. "So, just the entire night couldn’t have gone more perfect. The way we set it up as the worst kept secret, selling out the United Center on a rumour that I was going to be there, never announced, never advertised, shows the connection to the fanbase that AEW has."
Selling out a building on a rumour is one hell of an achievement, and while he doesn't keep too close an eye on social media stats and YouTube viewing numbers, he admitted that he's all too aware that his return on Rampage was a hit (we're still waiting for official numbers, but rumour has it the show's second episode had a huge night in terms of ratings).
"It was a perfect storm...a perfect night," Punk said. "It was the perfect night and the perfect moment for so many reasons, and I’m just talking personally. You know publicly, I think it’s a smashing success."
Needless to say, it's going to be very interesting seeing what sort of number Dynamite does on Wednesday, especially as that's AEW's flagship show. Either way, Punk is back, and the world of pro wrestling is all the better for it.