agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,915
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Post by agent817 on Jun 22, 2022 15:24:58 GMT -5
With Punk being in AEW and having read that he still wouldn't return to WWE, I started to remember that he had appeared on WWE Backstage when it was on. I had read that his deal was with Fox, as Fox Sports aired WWE Backstage, so he wasn't under contract with WWE. But given his issue with WWE, how did he agree to appear on this show?
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Legion
Fry's dog Seymour
Amy Pond's #1 fan
Hail Hydra!
Posts: 23,494
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Post by Legion on Jun 22, 2022 15:27:27 GMT -5
Money.
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Post by The Heartbreak TWERK on Jun 22, 2022 15:27:36 GMT -5
Supposedly it was a contract through Fox and not WWE, so no WWE figure had anything to do with it.
You'll notice WWE only hyped up the first appearance on main TV and then never again.
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Jun 22, 2022 15:27:59 GMT -5
Well, the key thing is, Fox wanted him and WWE likely let Fox sign him because they would hope they could somehow get him back in a wrestling capacity which, as we all know, happened for the competition after his Fox contract ran out.
And one of the reasons, allegedly, Fox was annoyed at WWE was because they were offering to extend his contract and pay for his wages if WWE were willing to come up with some kind of deal to have him on TV since, well, their executives had ears and could hear the CM Punk chants on a monthly basis.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 15:28:39 GMT -5
Backstage was a weird show. It was a decent watch, but it was like they didn't know if they wanted it to be a kayfabe show or not.
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Post by Natural Born Farmer on Jun 22, 2022 15:30:32 GMT -5
Money, I reckon. And the relative easiness of the job. Six figures to publicly comment on your old employer without being beholden to them is a hell of a deal.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 15:31:37 GMT -5
I was convinced at the time that it would lead to his return...Covid may have been a factor as well...Didn't he intentionally wait until the bans lifted before he debuted so he wouldn't do so in an empty arena?
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Jun 22, 2022 15:33:20 GMT -5
I was convinced at the time that it would lead to his return...Obviously covid and AEW played a part in it as well Also, and this is only a theory I have I can't actually prove it, the moment NXT went to USA instead of FS1, Fox just didn't see Backstage as a priority. Like, you wouldn't shove something on a Tuesday after midnight if the original plan wasn't to have a block of that and NXT on primetime. In turn, it wasn't a priority for WWE because, like, if Fox wasn't going to care, why should they (besides the Punk return as mentioned)? |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 15:33:40 GMT -5
I was convinced at the time that it would lead to his return...Covid may have been a factor as well...Didn't he intentionally wait until the bans lifted before he debuted so he wouldn't do so in an empty arena? I remember a part of me thinking he was going to be the leader of Retribution. Boy, when I'm wrong I'm really wrong. 🤣 |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 15:34:20 GMT -5
I was convinced at the time that it would lead to his return...Obviously covid and AEW played a part in it as well Also, and this is only a theory I have I can't actually prove it, the moment NXT went to USA instead of FS1, Fox just didn't see Backstage as a priority. Like, you wouldn't shove something on a Tuesday after midnight if the original plan wasn't to have a block of that and NXT on primetime. In turn, it wasn't a priority for WWE because, like, if Fox wasn't going to care, why should they (besides the Punk return as mentioned)? Great call...I edited my original post and this played a part as well correct? Atleast it certainly appeared to do so to me "Didn't he intentionally wait until the bans lifted before he debuted so he wouldn't do so in an empty arena?" |
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Jun 22, 2022 15:38:53 GMT -5
Also, and this is only a theory I have I can't actually prove it, the moment NXT went to USA instead of FS1, Fox just didn't see Backstage as a priority. Like, you wouldn't shove something on a Tuesday after midnight if the original plan wasn't to have a block of that and NXT on primetime. In turn, it wasn't a priority for WWE because, like, if Fox wasn't going to care, why should they (besides the Punk return as mentioned)? Great call...I edited my original post and this played a part as well correct? Atleast it certainly appeared to do so to me "Didn't he intentionally wait until the bans lifted before he debuted so he wouldn't do so in an empty arena?" Yeah, that was known, he did enough interviews to say he wasn't sure about it but knew it wasn't going to be in front of no or few fans. |
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Post by polarbearpete on Jun 22, 2022 16:14:55 GMT -5
He hinted enough in interviews both then and after signing with AEW that indicated he would’ve been open to a return with WWE if the money was right but they seemed to be kind of not all in on negotiating with Punk.
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Post by GodzillaIsMyMonster on Jun 22, 2022 16:33:42 GMT -5
He hinted enough in interviews both then and after signing with AEW that indicated he would’ve been open to a return with WWE if the money was right but they seemed to be kind of not all in on negotiating with Punk. And rightfully so. Punk wasn't a draw. |
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Post by Final Countdown Jones on Jun 22, 2022 16:50:01 GMT -5
He hinted enough in interviews both then and after signing with AEW that indicated he would’ve been open to a return with WWE if the money was right but they seemed to be kind of not all in on negotiating with Punk. And rightfully so. Punk wasn't a draw. Putting aside whether is or isn't; does it matter if he's not the megastar draw who will bring a new boom period? They'll have a definite star who is very over, will move merch, and will be a credible guy on the roster. Very few people on the roster right now would be more over than a returned CM Punk. Hell, put him in the role Edge is in right now. Edge probably isn't any more of a draw than CM Punk is but he's around and kicking. |
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Post by Natural Born Farmer on Jun 22, 2022 17:01:49 GMT -5
He hinted enough in interviews both then and after signing with AEW that indicated he would’ve been open to a return with WWE if the money was right but they seemed to be kind of not all in on negotiating with Punk. And rightfully so. Punk wasn't a draw. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOOOL |
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Post by GodzillaIsMyMonster on Jun 22, 2022 17:13:10 GMT -5
And rightfully so. Punk wasn't a draw. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOOOL Dude. It's facts. Look up the ratings. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2022 17:16:07 GMT -5
Dude. It's facts. Look up the ratings.   |
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Post by Feargus McReddit on Jun 22, 2022 17:16:34 GMT -5
Dude. It's facts. Look up the ratings. I mean, if you look up just the ratings, sure. You could argue that. But you’ve never really responded to anyone’s counterpoints on this topic anyway so I really don’t expect any different here. |
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Hypnosis
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Post by Hypnosis on Jun 22, 2022 17:17:28 GMT -5
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Post by Natural Born Farmer on Jun 22, 2022 17:21:32 GMT -5
Dude. It's facts. Look up the ratings. All In 2020 buyrate (no CM Punk): 110k All In 2021 buyrate (CM Punk AEW PPV debut v. Darby Allin): 200k ETA: And the main event of AI 2021 was Kenny v. Christian. You seriously going to argue that increase was because people were so hyped for that match? |
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