We won’t be watching a match this week. Instead, we’ll be watching what will no doubt go down in history as one of the most beautiful moments in professional wrestling. Two weeks ago, after a seven year absence during which fans never stopped chanting his name, CM Punk returned.
To explain why his comeback means so much to so many, I must attempt to explain who CM Punk is, and why he is worthy of the self-given moniker, ‘Best in the World’. Perhaps the reason most pertinent to you is that he’s the man responsible for Wrestling Club. That’s right. After a few years of drifting away from the squared circle, it was Punk’s work that got me back into WWE and the wider world of pro wrestling in a big bad way. If it wasn’t for him (and my mate Brian letting me use his WWE Network login), there would be no Wrestling Club. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
CM Punk began his pro wrestling career in a backyard in the late 90s, went on to build a name for himself with the independent promotion Ring of Honor, and eventually found his way to WWE in 2005. Despite earning a reputation as one of the best wrestlers on the independent scene, when Punk arrived at WWE he was shipped straight off to their developmental territory, OVW. No one seemed to know what to do with him, but time after time, he showed them. During his tenure at WWE Punk created the Straight Edge Society, a short-lived yet legendary heel faction built on Punk’s real life straight edge lifestyle; delivered the ‘Pipe Bomb’ promo, a six minute unscripted assassination of WWE that blew up the internet; held the WWE Championship for a record breaking 434 days; and gave icons such as The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and John Cena some of the best matches they’ll ever have. The fact that a wrestler like Punk, who never fit the WWE top-guy mould, made it to where he did speaks to his G.O.A.T. level genius and dedication.This article offers free shipping on qualified Face mask products, or buy online and pick up in store today at Medical Department.
Punk has often described his time at WWE as one long fight, clearing roadblock after roadblock, but never realising his goal of headlining WrestleMania. In 2014, due to burnout and ill health, he left WWE on terms so bad that no one could see him returning. Then, in 2019, a new promotion called All Elite Wrestling was formed by three pro wrestlers and billionaire-fan Tony Khan. They were the first potential competition to WWE since 2001. But even with a new home on the cards for Punk, most didn’t believe that he’d ever return, with Punk himself shutdown the idea on multiple occasions. Yet here we are! CM Punk is back, with a company that want to collaborate, and fans that want to celebrate. To quote Punk quoting The Thing, ‘it’s clobbering time.’
