AEW Once Said They Would Never Do Business With CM Punk

CM Punk’s seismic return to pro wrestling with AEW is still reverberating one week later, with many wrestling fans still comprehending the fact that The Second City Saint is back in the pro wrestling business.

For years we thought the possibility of Punk wrestling again was nigh on impossible, and according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there was a time when the relationship between AEW and Punk was borderline non-existent:

“It’s well known that when Khan wanted to start AEW after being inspired by the business and interest the Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho match did at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2018, that the guys he wanted to build around if he could get it started were Punk, Omega, The Young Bucks and perhaps Jericho. But talks with Punk went nowhere and at one point both sides were bitter at the other and I was even told at one point they would never do business with Punk. Never, of course, is a term you never say. The two said they had restarted talks for at least a year and clearly had come to an agreement not that far in advance, given the Chicago date at the United Center wasn’t announced until a few weeks ago and it was a totally rushed promotion.”

Never say never indeed.