AEW's Eddie Kingston: CM Punk Is One Of The Rare Guys Who Can Bring People In

Eddie Kingston has praised AEW's signing of CM Punk and The Mad King claimed Punk is "one of the rare guys" in the industry who can attract viewers. 

Punk had spent the last seven years away from professional wrestling but he returned with AEW on the August 20 episode of Rampage. The 42-year-old kicked off a respectful feud with Darby Allin on the show and Punk defeated the former TNT Champion at All Out on Sunday. 

Speaking about Punk's signing ahead of All Out, Kingston was full of praise for The Second City Saviour and he noted Punk looked to be in a better place than when he left the industry. 

"I found out because you hear whispers. Certain people who have certain stroke and control were also into the whispers and it's like, 'Oh, it's happening.' Without them telling me it was happening, it was, 'Oh, it's happening.' I got super excited. I first met Punk when I was 21 when he came to CHIKARA for a special seminar. He's one of the rare guys that has a name that the name brings people in. Nowadays, it's AEW, that name or WWE, that name or NWA, that name. When you put CM Punk, you're coming for CM Punk. He's become an old-school name. I love that he's here," Kingston told Inside The Ropes.

"When I look in his eyes, I see old Punk. I see someone who is hungrier and happier. Mentally, in his eyes, I can see he's in a better place than he was when I saw him while he was with WWE in the end. I ran into him and he didn't seem like himself. Now, he seems better than himself. That's good for the locker room because a lot of people can learn from him. That's good for AEW because a lot of people are going to come and tune in now and they're going to see everybody and not just him. People coming to see Punk is good for the company. Also, it's fun. Why do something when it's not fun? This is fun. I'm living a dream and having him here to help with that dream, selfishly, is amazing."

H/T to Fightful