CM Punk

It’s hard to pull off a convincing comeback story. On Sunday night, CM Punk did just that when he returned to Las Vegas, the city where he once made his claim to fame on the June 27, 2011 episode of WWE Raw.

At Double or Nothing, the 43-year-old shocked the world again when he defeated Adam Page to become the new AEW world champion during the first year of his return to professional wrestling.

The seemingly improbable win officially sets off the third Summer of Punk. This iconic term for two of the most formative stints of his career will evoke different memories for two very different sets of fans. Nevertheless, they’re both just as important to the tale of the unconventional megastar from Chicago.

The original Summer of Punk started following his upset victory over Austin Aries on June 18, 2005. At Death Before Dishonor III, The Second City Saint controversially became the new Ring of Honor world champion even though he had just signed a developmental deal with WWE. This infamous moment kicked off his last great stretch as an indie wrestler and molded the undeniable mystique that followed him for the rest of his career.

Six years later, The Voice of the Voiceless crossed his legs, sat at the top of the ramp and delivered the promo that transformed him into a household name. The pipe bomb led to the biggest win of his career at Money in the Bank 2011 and primed him for a year-long reign as WWE champion in November.

Now, the anti-hero has the chance to achieve a trifecta in the latest chapter of his storied career. One could argue the law of diminishing returns will set in, but it’s truly exciting to imagine what Punk can do on this third run with a renewed love for wrestling and more creative control.

Striking the Right Balance

Punk has this impeccable ability to tell a story in the ring and on the microphone; it’s his greatest strength as a performer. His convincing promos and match psychology separate him from other greats of the ring.

It’s what made the Summer of Punk with ROH and WWE so special. On both occasions, he made us believe he could do the impossible. He threatened to take the most prestigious indie title to WWE and we were invested.

In 2011, the self-proclaimed "Paul Heyman guy" told us he was The Best in the World and he bested John Cena in front of his hometown crowd. Then, he hopped the barricade and took off into the crowd with the WWE Championship in tow. It’s the kind of stuff that an average performer could only dream of, and he did it on the biggest stage in the industry.

Nevertheless, the biggest difference between those two runs is consistency. The initial Summer of Punk crafted a concise but memorable storyline from June to August 2005. Meanwhile, WWE started hot in June 2011 but Punk returned a little too soon in July, leading to a convoluted story in which he lost the title to Alberto Del Rio and feuded with Kevin Nash.

Did we mention that he ended up wrestling and losing to Triple H instead of either of them at Night of Champions? Then, it got even more confusing until his match with Del Rio at Survivor Series, where he reclaimed the WWE title.

If All Elite Wrestling wants to make the latest iteration of the Summer of Punk memorable, it will be important to properly plot out the story for the next few months and stick the landing. That’s what ROH got right the first time around. Sure, WWE created some unforgettable moments but it didn’t strike the right balance between meaningful wins and coherent storytelling.

It would also be easy to just put the new champion in a series of dream matches, but there must be an engrossing underlying story to tie it all together. Otherwise, it won’t be nearly as effective as what he accomplished the first two times.

Old Man Punk

In 2008, Marvel Comics published an eight-issue mini-series entitled Wolverine: Old Man Logan. The popular story, which eventually inspired the 2017 movie Logan, chronicled the protagonist’s return to action after he retired his codename and refused to use his claws to kill again.

For most of the story, Logan gets by using his wits and tenacity to get back home to his family, but he inevitably reaches his breaking point and unsheathes his claw again. This may seem like a random reference, but AEW has laid the groundwork for a similar story with Punk.

At the moment, the straight edge star is in uncharted territory as an earnest and vulnerable babyface. Fans appreciate him for what he did for the sport and have welcomed him back with open arms. In return, he has said all the right things and soaked up the adulation in an awe-inspiring comeback run.

Punk has even taken part in some exceptional matches, but he isn’t quite the same guy in the ring. To be honest, he was never a technical savant like Bryan Danielson, but he made up for that as a consummate storyteller. To that end, there has been this subtle thread throughout his first year with AEW.

The Second City Saint has worked well with a slew of new opponents. However, he has narrowly escaped some of his matches, forcing him to dig deeper into his array of moves to eke out a win in many of his early showings. This is an older and wiser Punk who has used his experience and guile to beat some of his younger opponents.

When that hasn’t worked, he capitalized on their shortcoming to come out on top. For example, MJF’s narcissism and tension with Wardlow cost him a win at Revolution. Similarly, Adam Page's self-doubt made him second-guess himself long enough for Punk to nail him with a GTS and secure the AEW World Championship.

There is a tremendous story in place for the opponent who forces him to delve back into the persona that made his other runs legendary. It’s only a matter of time before he reaches the end of his rope and turns heel again.

There are so many ways AEW can get back to that point, but it’s not time yet. There is still so much the company can do with him as a legitimate draw with mainstream appeal. Nevertheless, there’s a fascinating dynamic there as he continues to show his age and the target on his back is growing larger now he is at the forefront.

It was a grueling task to get back to the top, and the question remains: What will Punk do to stay there? In a company with some of the best in-ring workers in the world, it will get harder and harder. Consider the fact that he hasn’t been in the ring with Danielson since he returned and The American Dragon has only lost to one man on the roster in singles competition.

That’s the story and it will be exciting to see if championship gold changes The Best in the World. After all, we just saw the lengths Page thought he needed to go at Double or Nothing, which seemed like foreshadowing.

That’s how you complete the trilogy. The original Summer of Punk was about a younger and opportunistic man who became one of the most prolific stars in the industry the second time around on a bigger stage.

The third installment depicts a legend who is trying to learn from his mistakes but the temptation to go back to his old ways is looming over him.

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Banks, Naomi Reportedly Suspended Without Pay by WWE

Former WWE women's tag team champions Sasha Banks and Naomi reportedly aren't being paid during their indefinite suspension from WWE.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc's Eric Mutter), it is possible Banks and Naomi could go "months or longer" without pay due to WWE's right to freeze their contracts.

Meltzer is unsure if WWE intends to do that, but if the company freezes their contracts, they might not be paid unless or until they return to WWE programming.

Two weeks ago, it was announced on SmackDown that WWE had suspended Banks and Naomi indefinitely for walking out during an episode of Raw. They were also stripped of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

Sasha and Naomi had been scheduled to compete in a six-pack challenge on Raw against Asuka, Becky Lynch, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H., with the winner challenging Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell.

Since Banks and Naomi walked out, it was changed to a singles match between Asuka and Lynch, which Asuka won. Lynch was added to the title match last week, making it a Triple Threat at HIAC.

After Banks and Naomi decided to leave during Raw, WWE released a statement on the matter, scolding them for their actions:

It was subsequently reported by Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News) that WWE's plan was for Naomi to win the six-pack challenge and face Belair at Hell in a Cell.

Sasha and Naomi reportedly questioned what that meant for the future of their tag team and expressed frustration, leading to them walking out when the booking wasn't changed.

Meltzer (h/t WrestlingInc's Matthew Wilkinson) subsequently reported that Naomi's WWE contract is set to expire "soon," and that she had been negotiating a new deal with WWE before walking out.

It was then reported by former WWE writer Kazeem Famuyide on The Ringer's Masked Man Show (h/t Mutter) that both Naomi and Banks will see their WWE contracts expire in two months, although Meltzer was unable to confirm Banks' contractual status.

Now, the suspension complicates things since it is unclear if WWE will opt to freeze their deals until they return to television.

MJF Reportedly Taken Off the Road by AEW

MJF reportedly won't be on AEW programming for the foreseeable future after a controversial weekend in Las Vegas for Double or Nothing.

According to PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson, MJF will be absent "at least for the next several TV tapings," but it could be even longer.

MJF made headlines on Saturday when he did not show up for a meet and greet during AEW Fan Fest, which forced AEW to offer refunds. Per Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc's Kellie Haulotte), nobody from AEW could get in contact with MJF at the time and a source said they were "very unhappy about how it all played out."

Fightful also reported that a flight had been booked for MJF out of Las Vegas prior to Sunday's Double or Nothing pay-per-view, but MJF never got on the flight, as he showed up at the event.

MJF competed in the opening match, getting squashed by former associate Wardlow, who beat him with 10 powerbombs.

After the match, MJF was stretchered away as an apparent means of writing him off television for the time being.

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported after the pay-per-view that MJF told him he "showed up shortly before his match, left right after, and has a lot to think about."

MJF has expressed frustration with his pay in multiple interviews, specifically mentioning that he doesn't like former WWE wrestlers coming to AEW and making more money than him.

The 25-year-old phenom has been open about becoming a free agent in January 2024 and isn't ruling out the possibility of leaving AEW for WWE if the money is right.

While some aspects of what happened over Double or Nothing weekend could have been MJF playing up to his heel character, there do seem to be legitimate issues between him and AEW that could lead to him leaving when he gets the opportunity.

Punk Responds to AEW Backstage Heat Speculation

Following his AEW World Championship win over "Hangman" Adam Page in the main event of Double or Nothing on Sunday, CM Punk shot down the notion that he isn't well-liked backstage in AEW.

During the post-show media scrum, Punk was asked about how he has meshed with the AEW locker room, and he responded:

"I've grown so wise in my old age that I'll do my best to be as diplomatic as I possibly can with this answer. If there are people backstage that don't like me, it's a minority. If anybody says that nobody wants me here, or nobody likes me, I'd like to say that nobodies don't like me, and nobodies don't want me here."

The question may have been in reference to something Page said in a promo leading up to Double or Nothing. Page claimed he was "defending All Elite Wrestling" from Punk, which caused speculation about Punk having some detractors in the locker room.

Ultimately, it may have just been part of the storyline, with Page as a Day 1 AEW star and Punk joining the company later as a former WWE star.

Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Andrew Ravens of WrestlingNews.com) furthered the speculation by suggesting there may have been some truth to what Page was saying, however.

Whatever the case, there is no denying Punk's star power and importance to AEW, which is why he was rewarded with a title win at Double or Nothing.

Now, the focus will shift toward whether AEW continues to book him as the company's top babyface or leans into the speculation about Punk's personality and potentially turns him heel at some point.

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Less than a year ago, the thought of CM Punk standing as a pro wrestling promotion's top champion was baffling—now he's the AEW world champion and fans are headed for the next Summer of Punk. 

Sunday night at All Elite Wrestling's Double or Nothing, Punk got the best of champion "Hangman" Adam Page to close the show in an instant classic that featured not only some brilliant storytelling that avoided heel turns, but also some of the most important historical landmarks in modern wrestling history. 

After all, Punk was going on a near-decade hiatus from pro wrestling after his ugly split with WWE. That ended during his big return last August, and though he started slow while working with up-and-coming Superstars, it was only a matter of time before he contended for the promotion's top title. 

By the end of the night on Sunday, the 43-year-old was overcome with emotion after being announced as the winner, capping off a stunning resume: 

And it sure feels like we're just getting started. 

In a major way, thank the booking. This hardly has to mean the end of the Punk vs. Page saga. Perhaps if fans are lucky, it's only just getting started. 

But even if the Superstars go their own separate ways, AEW's call to not roll out a major heel turn for shock value is actually the best decision possible. The match sure hinted at chances for both. Punk avoided resorting to dastardly means to get a win on one of the biggest stages of his storied career, so there's no asterisk on it in the history books. He now gets to be the brand ambassador while welcoming babyface and heel challengers alike. 

And Page, frankly, is perhaps the best long-term booked Superstar of his generation, if not longer. What started as a journey as an underdog home-grown talent hoping to make it big, only to be cut down and take a windy course to the top over the course of multiple years, has hit another stunning development. 

Page's conscience got the best of him.

With the referee down, he could have ended a slugfest where no one man truly had an advantage by using his title as a weapon. He chose not to, threw it aside, got countered and lost said title. Nobody could complain if this was his "Joker" moment and breaks bad again, or if he doubles down and perseveres. 

A disclaimer—both of these get a for now designation, of course. Page going heel would be understandable. Punk is one of the best of the modern era at doing it and it only feels like a matter of time. 

Either way, another summer of Punk, once thought an impossibility reserved for the fantasy-bookers only, is here. And he'll be the center of every broadcast in the way Jon Moxley or Chris Jericho was, as opposed to Page's more reserved run where the rest of the roster seemed to shine brighter often. 

Given the lack of a heel turn, there's no expectation that Punk will ultimately lose to a Superstar who must be the next guy, either. He can have new, fun feuds, sure, but some of the old matchups he's already had against the likes of Darby Allin, MJF, Eddie Kingston and especially Wardlow can now unfold in a fresh light. 

Interestingly, speaking of the match quality itself, even Punk's botches on Buckshot Lariats told a captivating story of a modern, albeit aging legend trying to show he can run with the next generation. An unintentional thing (during a main event taking place well after midnight on the east coast, no less), but something Punk and his future opponents can surely weave expertly into storylines. Who doesn't want to root for the grizzled, graying veteran who really earns those "You still got it" chants?

Not that the horse needs hit much more, but this main event was another good example of where AEW just blows most other competitors out of the water. Yes, there were "steal the opponent's finisher" spots that often feel cliche. But the above meant they had more meaning than usual. And the good guy being conflicted about brutalizing an opponent with a weapon to get a win has quite a bit more weight behind it when the Superstar doing it has years and years of complex character development that gets tested in that single moment. 

In short, there's a reason the crowd at the very end of a very long pay-per-view was as red hot as viewers will see—and seemingly split right down the middle during a match with no true villain. 

It's also worth noting this is a critical juncture for AEW, which makes the Punk win and hitting the brakes on a heel turn noteworthy. The company just lost Cody Rhodes. There's the MJF drama. The main event scene needs to stabilize a bit. If there's a guy to head all this up—never mind clash with a certain three-lettered competitor a bit over the summer—it's undoubtedly Punk. 

Most fans familiar with The Best in the World know another Summer of Punk is near-guaranteed to be a banger. But with this sort of careful passion for the craft flanking him, highlighted by Page, it has a real shot to be the best rendition yet. 

Given Punk's historical resume and fan expectations surrounding his return to pro wrestling, that's saying something. 

CM Punk defeated "Hangman" Adam Page at Double or Nothing on Sunday night to win the AEW World Championship for the first time.

Page didn't land the full Buckshot Lariat but connected with a thunderous lariat on Punk that might have won him the match had the referee not been inadvertently taken out.

The champion picked up the title belt and briefly grappled with whether to embrace his dark side and take out the challenger for good. Page ultimately put the belt aside and lined up another Buckshot Lariat.

However, Punk caught him and hit the GTS for the victory.

Punk has progressively worked his way up the ladder in All Elite Wrestling and established himself as a world title contender since ending his seven-year hiatus from pro wrestling in August.

Darby Allin, Eddie Kingston and Wardlow were just a few of the opponents The Best in the World defeated en route to a title opportunity. He also got retribution for his first AEW loss to MJF by beating him in a dog collar match at Revolution in March.

After beating MJF, Punk made it clear that he was interested in pursuing the AEW World Championship and was eventually given that chance.

In the wake of the former WWE Superstar winning a match against Dustin Rhodes on the April 20 episode of Dynamite, he and Page crossed paths on the ramp, leading to a staredown.

Given his status as the No. 1-ranked male singles wrestler in AEW, Punk was granted his title shot shortly thereafter.

While the 43-year-old was a sentimental favorite to reach the top of the mountain in AEW, he was far from guaranteed to do so given everything Page went through to win the title and keep it.

Hangman wanted the AEW World Championship from the time the promotion started, but it wasn't until he beat Kenny Omega at Full Gear in November that he finally got it.

Since then, Page has faced and beaten all comers, including Bryan Danielson, Lance Archer and Adam Cole.

Leading up to Double or Nothing, Punk and Page both cut passionate promos about why they had to win at the pay-per-view.

Punk noted that he respected Page, but he wanted to prove he could still compete at the highest level. Meanwhile, Hangman expressed his desire to "destroy" and "embarrass" his opponent.

Ultimately, it was Punk who prevailed at Double or Nothing, making him the fifth different AEW world champion in the company's history and marking the start of his first world title reign since dropping the WWE Championship in 2013.

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