This past Saturday night, CM Punk made his triumphant return to All Elite Wrestling in front of a hot Chicago crowd at The United Center. Looking around at his hometown audience, The Second City Savior, carrying a red velvet bag, slowly removed the AEW mic flag as he prepared to speak. It is worth noting that Punk similarly did the same thing before a promo battle with The Rock back in 2013.
Punk kicked off his time on the stick letting everyone know that he is tired of being nice and that this is a business, not a popularity contest. He then rolled into speaking out about his past and the many Chicago venues that he has been able to sell out, something he did not think as a child he would be doing today.
“Tell me when I’m telling lies,” he exclaimed, the first of many times he dropped the line in his address.
Punk went on to thank the fans for supporting him for unapologetically being himself, which is ironically why “some people” hate him. In his eyes, he tells the truth, and that can be painful. He does not care if he is hated, or loved, or if you get his name wrong because that is not the most important thing.
“You want to know what David Zaslav calls me?” Punk posited, referring to the current CEO of Warner Brothers Discovery. “One Bill Phil and that’s because I am the one true, genuine article in a business full of counterfeit bucks.”
The first part of that particular line referred to rumors that AEW could be in line for a new TV rights deal with WBD worth, possibly, more than one billion dollars. The last part of the line was an obvious shot at The Young Bucks and their fans, who he alluded to feeling they are owed an apology.
“I am sorry that the only people softer than you are the wrestlers you like,” he quipped. “TELL ME WHEN I’M TELLING LIES!”
Punk rounded out his promo by setting his sights on the AEW World Title picture, as he appeared to have his AEW Championship in a bag, and feels he is still the rightful title holder. Later in the night, he, along with FTR, would defeat ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Juice Robinson in the main event.
Fightful is reporting that backstage some were relieved that Punk was able to get out of his system what he wanted to in the promo, and was able to come out of his first match unscathed. Others thought that some of his lines, like the one about people being “soft,” were hypocritical based on previous comments he had made. The report noted that based on sources they spoke with The Young Bucks were alright with how things played out and took Punk’s comments in a lighthearted fashion.
At this time, it looks like Punk will be at AEW: Dynamite tomorrow night in Chicago, and The Elite will not.