Eric Bischoff Hopes AEW Signing CM Punk Gives WWE A "Kick In The Ass"

Eric Bischoff is excited about the buzz around professional wrestling following CM Punk's return to the industry at AEW Rampage: The First Dance.

The Second City Saviour debuted in All Elite Wrestling during Rampage after seven years away from the squared circle and he is set to face Darby Allin at All Out in his in-ring return. 

Speaking about Punk's return on the 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff noted his excitement about the industry and that he hopes Punk's re-debut gives WWE "a kick in the ass."

"I'm excited as hell for AEW and again I don't know CM Punk, I've never really met him or talked to him but clearly a great talent and I'm just excited that there's this much buzz about wrestling again. It's been a long time since there's been across-the-board buzz about the industry in general. I'm really really happy for AEW in particular, Tony Khan, and wrestling fans all over the country," Bischoff said.

"And I'm actually kind of happy for WWE because I think they need a kick in the ass, something has to change there. Sometimes pressure is the kind of motivation that works best. Let's hope this is the beginning of a reemergence if you will of what we experienced in the Monday Night Wars. AEW isn't going head-to-head, it's not quite the same thing, but at this point with the kind of buzz that you had on Friday and what I did see over the weekend on social media, it may be well on our way. I hope that's the case."

Punk's return to wrestling resulted in strong ratings for Rampage: The First Dance and the episode drew 1.129 million viewers and a 0.53 rating in the 18-49 demographic. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc.