CM Punk Referenced On AEW Dynamite

CM Punk can never stay out of the spotlight for long, especially since everyone else keeps talking about him. 

Despite his several absences and subsequent firing from AEW, CM Punk references seem to have popped up here, there, and everywhere. Some of these have perhaps been jumps from fans to try and make some sort of connection, but there was an undeniable reference last night on AEW Dynamite.

AEW World Champion MJF was in the ring for a promo segment alongside his friend and fellow ROH World Tag Team Champion Adam Cole, looking back on a hard-fought win at Full Gear 2023 over “Switchblade” Jay White. Samoa Joe arrived to receive his promised world title match after helping MJF at the show, and although it took some convincing, MJF finally agreed to give Joe the match.

MJF initially offered the match for last night’s Dynamite in Chicago, Illinois, and mentioned that it wouldn’t be the first time he “beat a ROH legend in Chicago, twice”. This, of course, is a reference to the time where he defeated CM Punk in front of Punk’s hometown Chicago crowd “twice” in one night during their feud. 

Joe refused this challenge, saying he doesn’t want any excuses considering MJF isn’t 100%. The match was then set for the first Worlds End PPV in December.