How Long Will Punk Last?

[The Ichi]

The lighter schedule should help. I can see this being similar to HBKs second run.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

About three shows before he puts over CP Munk, which is actually Vickie Guerrero in disguise.

[Dub H]

Aug 17, 2021 23:10:33 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Aug 17, 2021 20:38:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Others things to consider are how much the WWE backstage environment and Punk's health during the last portion of his run there played into his disillusionment. By all accounts, Punk is in a lot better health, both physical and mental, these days and AEW's backstage environment is not nearly as toxic as WWE's. So that could get him to stay longer than people are expecting.

Not to mention this idea that Punk is this impossible guy to work with is, and has always been, overblown.



So long as their are no more Z-Paks and "dumb as f***" lunkheads who don't known how to properly toss someone, he should be fine.

Punk has been notoriously willing and offering to put people over
He had issues with playing second fiddle as champion and not gettimg a WM main event.

He is a man of strong beliefs that will call out stupidity but hardly hard to work with

[The Dark Order Inferno]

One two year deal, then off to the WWE for a Mania main event as between this and his misjudged UFC run, he's proven he's a draw and they need those more than they'll ever admit.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aug 18, 2021 5:34:31 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

One two year deal, then off to the WWE for a Mania main event as between this and his misjudged UFC run, he's proven he's a draw and they need those more than they'll ever admit.

Have a strong feeling Punk's just not going back there. He has said it over and over. Nothing appeals to him there. And with how the new regime is? I have no doubt he feels the same if not worse. 

If they needed him they could have thrown money at him at any time or tried to patch things up. They didn't. So they can suffer for it. Punk seems well set in doing AEW, UFC Commentary and Acting. 

He just simply doesn't need WWE and in WWE's own words they didn't see them as a draw or a big loss so... yeah I never see this happening. Anything can happen in wrestling but he has 100 thousand reasons to never set foot back there again.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Aug 18, 2021 5:49:26 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Aug 18, 2021 5:34:31 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

One two year deal, then off to the WWE for a Mania main event as between this and his misjudged UFC run, he's proven he's a draw and they need those more than they'll ever admit.

Have a strong feeling Punk's just not going back there. He has said it over and over. Nothing appeals to him there. And with how the new regime is? I have no doubt he feels the same if not worse. 

If they needed him they could have thrown money at him at any time or tried to patch things up. They didn't. So they can suffer for it. Punk seems well set in doing AEW, UFC Commentary and Acting. 

He just simply doesn't need WWE and in WWE's own words they didn't see them as a draw or a big loss so... yeah I never see this happening. Anything can happen in wrestling but he has 100 thousand reasons to never set foot back there again.

He really, really wanted that Mania main event and that is a pretty big carrot they could dangle, the chance to go out with a feud of his choosing, without any involvement from Hunter.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aug 18, 2021 5:58:56 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

Aug 18, 2021 5:49:26 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Have a strong feeling Punk's just not going back there. He has said it over and over. Nothing appeals to him there. And with how the new regime is? I have no doubt he feels the same if not worse. 

If they needed him they could have thrown money at him at any time or tried to patch things up. They didn't. So they can suffer for it. Punk seems well set in doing AEW, UFC Commentary and Acting. 

He just simply doesn't need WWE and in WWE's own words they didn't see them as a draw or a big loss so... yeah I never see this happening. Anything can happen in wrestling but he has 100 thousand reasons to never set foot back there again.

He really, really wanted that Mania main event and that is a pretty big carrot they could dangle, the chance to go out with a feud of his choosing, without any involvement from Hunter.

Just don't see it happening. Feel like he's gonna ride out AEW for the rest of his wrestling career before anything else. Unless something really appeals to him in WWE later. I don't know maybe it will? But the way he sounded? Nothing really did because the show is still the same. Even without Hunter it's just a mess and you can see it. The reason he went to AEW is despite what some trolls wanna try and paint the narrative of... it's not a mess which provides Punk with a refreshed look at wrestling and dozens of new potential feuds and opponents.

Really if he enjoys the booking and direction of AEW... that might seal his opinion more than anything.  

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

As an active wrestler, I’d say more than two years, but less than five years. I assume he just wants to go out on his own terms without any sort of bitterness about it.

[moxfan1]

Aug 18, 2021 6:03:42 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Aug 18, 2021 5:58:56 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

He really, really wanted that Mania main event and that is a pretty big carrot they could dangle, the chance to go out with a feud of his choosing, without any involvement from Hunter.

Just don't see it happening. Feel like he's gonna ride out AEW for the rest of his wrestling career before anything else. Unless something really appeals to him in WWE later. I don't know maybe it will? But the way he sounded? Nothing really did because the show is still the same. Even without Hunter it's just a mess and you can see it. The reason he went to AEW is despite what some trolls wanna try and paint the narrative of... it's not a mess which provides Punk with a refreshed look at wrestling and dozens of new potential feuds and opponents.

Really if he enjoys the booking and direction of AEW... that might seal his opinion more than anything.  

Yeah Punk like Moxley just don't like how they do business. The difference is Punk had a lot more bad blood with everyone. The only way I could see either guy come back. Is short term deals for few big matches near end of their career. With having a lot of control on who they face and story line etc. I think it's zero chance either guy would ever come back on regular basis. Especially with money and creative freedom they are making else.

[4TheGlory]

Once he retires he will become the main color commentator for sure.

[Deleted]

I think working in AEW is going to rejuvenate him, so I can see him being around a while. 3-5 years.

[salz4life]

I feel like, if things go well for him and AEW continues their good fortunes, Punk will be there for awhile.... maybe not in the ring for awhile, but I'm sure there are other things he could do. Plus, he can do other ventures with the freedom AEW provides.

[Hypnosis]

I hope I am wrong about my earlier one-year prediction, because a three-year Punk AEW run would allow him far more time to work with most of the roster before settling into a commentary/trainer role.

[Heartbreaker]

Trying my absolute hardest not to make a sex joke.

For real though... I can see him sticking around a few years, maybe 5 max? But the industry seems to get weirder and weirder every year so who the hell knows? Nobody thought there would even be a serious number two wrestling promotion back in 2017. Two months ago I would have laughed if somebody told me CM Punk was returning.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Aug 18, 2021 6:03:42 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Aug 18, 2021 5:58:56 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

He really, really wanted that Mania main event and that is a pretty big carrot they could dangle, the chance to go out with a feud of his choosing, without any involvement from Hunter.

Just don't see it happening. Feel like he's gonna ride out AEW for the rest of his wrestling career before anything else. Unless something really appeals to him in WWE later. I don't know maybe it will? But the way he sounded? Nothing really did because the show is still the same. Even without Hunter it's just a mess and you can see it. The reason he went to AEW is despite what some trolls wanna try and paint the narrative of... it's not a mess which provides Punk with a refreshed look at wrestling and dozens of new potential feuds and opponents.

Really if he enjoys the booking and direction of AEW... that might seal his opinion more than anything.  

When he did his Starrcast interview he basically inferred that he's gotten older and realized that Mania was kind of an imaginary carrot that he doesn't care about anymore. If he really cared about the Mania main event, we would be talking about how COVID ruined Punk's return last year. I think he's comfortable with helping a new company that is disrupting how the industry works and calling it a day.

[Cyno]

Aug 17, 2021 23:10:33 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Aug 17, 2021 20:38:38 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Others things to consider are how much the WWE backstage environment and Punk's health during the last portion of his run there played into his disillusionment. By all accounts, Punk is in a lot better health, both physical and mental, these days and AEW's backstage environment is not nearly as toxic as WWE's. So that could get him to stay longer than people are expecting.

Not to mention this idea that Punk is this impossible guy to work with is, and has always been, overblown.



So long as their are no more Z-Paks and "dumb as f***" lunkheads who don't known how to properly toss someone, he should be fine.

Yeah the only time you hear the "Punk is an impossible person to work with narrative" is from WWE-backed or inspired spin. Or Teddy Hart. And no one should take any of the above at face value.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Aug 18, 2021 9:43:00 GMT -5 Heartbreaker said:

Trying my absolute hardest not to make a sex joke.

For real though... I can see him sticking around a few years, maybe 5 max? But the industry seems to get weirder and weirder every year so who the hell knows? Nobody thought there would even be a serious number two wrestling promotion back in 2017. Two months ago I would have laughed if somebody told me CM Punk was returning.

Doing my best to not post a provocative AJ Lee gif.

Aug 18, 2021 12:40:47 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Aug 17, 2021 23:10:33 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Not to mention this idea that Punk is this impossible guy to work with is, and has always been, overblown.



So long as their are no more Z-Paks and "dumb as f***" lunkheads who don't known how to properly toss someone, he should be fine.

Yeah the only time you hear the "Punk is an impossible person to work with narrative" is from WWE-backed or inspired spin. Or Teddy Hart. And no one should take any of the above at face value.

Ehhh..even dudes from his Indy days have said he was a lil moody and emotionally turbulent.

Punk’s a particular type of cat. No doubt WWE has been (and arguably still can be) toxic, and we all know the effect and toll it took on him. Which is why his time in AEW will be so interesting because by all accounts, it’s a super positive, progressive and “chill” place.

[dgenerationmc]

I'll say 3 years, tops.

[Deleted]

Punk doesn't exactly have an intense in-ring style like Bryan Danielson does (in fact, doesn't Punk claim that he and Colt were among the last to be trained in the "True Memphis" style? Am I imagining that?), and I think his injuries were more road-grind than anything else.

If he's happy and making money, I think he'll work as long as he and the office are in agreement he should be working. Even when his in-ring is done, I could see him managing or being a commentator.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Aug 18, 2021 16:55:54 GMT -5 @hedm2005 said:

Punk doesn't exactly have an intense in-ring style like Bryan Danielson does (in fact, doesn't Punk claim that he and Colt were among the last to be trained in the "True Memphis" style? Am I imagining that?), and I think his injuries were more road-grind than anything else.

If he's happy and making money, I think he'll work as long as he and the office are in agreement he should be working. Even when his in-ring is done, I could see him managing or being a commentator.

I don't recall him saying that and wasn't able to quickly verify it, but I remember that he does specifically love working Memphis style. Dude would write glowingly about wrestling at FIP (back when that meant working in front of like twelve people) and how fun it was to leave all of the cool moves behind and play a cowardly heel.

He also snarkily joked about the overuse of "strong style" to describe Japanese-influenced wrestling, smugly declaring that he wrestled King's Road (both a clapback to those who conflate the two, and an accurate description of his ROH style - I'd say also his WWE style, but WWE style is "King's Road without the continuity, focus on selling, or headdrops on concrete," so Punk isn't unusual there).

The core thing I agree with you on is: Punk has always gravitated toward styles that are all about storytelling. Whatever cool moves he picked up along the way were necessities to stand out in different promotions; he has never been a move guy. There's a reason he's the guy who revived the one-hour draw in US wrestling with a match that's 30% stalling.