Jim Ross continues to call the action of Dynamite each week, and looks set to remain a key part of the company's future plans. While he's not as heavily involved in what happens backstage as he once was in WWE, you'd best believe that the WWE Hall of Famer has some thoughts on those big rumours about CM Punk heading to AEW.
During a recent Q&A edition of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross was asked for his thoughts on the possibility of AEW signing Punk after an eight-year absence from the squared circle.
"I hope we sign him. I hope he’s one of our guys. CM Punk is a treasure, and he can contribute a lot to a lot of guys. He’s willing to share his knowledge and his expertise with other talents. He pays it forward, and has no problem doing so. That’s my take on him," Ross said. "Why do people want to come to AEW? Because they can have a life, and they can create to their own creative. They can create their own storylines. They can create their own promo material. It’s a way to express yourself creatively that they didn’t have in other companies."
"Am I worried that his layoff will affect his work? Well, we know it’s going to affect his work to some degree because he’s eight years older. He’s in his 40’s, but that doesn’t seem to matter in today’s wrestling business, especially when you have a schedule like ours," JR added. "I’m not worried about if he does sign, and I hope he does, how effective he’s going to be. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to be effective, and he can help us in so many other ways."
It's true what Ross is saying here, and he'd go on to say Punk is also someone who can help younger talent by offering his advice and insights into the world of pro wrestling. Laying the groundwork for the future is clearly a key part of AEW's Modus Operandi, something WWE could learn from.
Again, nothing has been confirmed right now, but seeing as everyone in AEW is talking so positively about Punk, it's impossible to escape the feeling that a deal has been done.
August 20 can't get here soon enough...
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