CM Punk: WWE Is 100% Competition For AEW

CM Punk says that All Elite Wrestling 'absolutely' consider WWE competition, even if the belief is not reciprocated by his former employer. 

WWE have maintained, since AEW's inception two years ago, that Tony Khan's promotion is not competition to their sports entertainment machine. However, Punk believes 'everyone' sees through the lie that WWE are telling themselves. 

The Second City Saviour is focusing on growing AEW, having joined the company last month, and believes anyone who says it isn't competition is 'fooling' themselves.

Speaking to WFAN, Punk said: "If you ask them, they’ll say AEW is not their competition, which is great because I think everyone sees through that. If you ask us, I’ll say yeah, absolutely they’re our competition. However, we’re focused on what we’re doing. We’re focused on the people in the building that have paid to see AEW. And we’re not so much worried on anything else.

"I know that TNT executives love ratings. That’s what their business is driven by. I’m focused on the fans, and I think that’s how you grow the business. I think that’s how we’ll eventually grow AEW. 

"If you’re talking about head to head competition with WWE, they have about a 30 year head start. AEW has been around for 2 years. I like what we’ve been doing and it’s fun again for me. So I’m not trying to bankrupt anybody, put anybody out of business. But it’s 100% competition.

"If you say it’s not, you’re fooling yourself, or you’re pretending somebody doesn’t exist or whatever. And I think you’re shooting yourself in the foot."

H/T Wrestling Inc.