CM Punk

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from professional wrestling. 

Okada Hopes to Wrestle Punk, Danielson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwu601fR2F8

New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Kazuchika Okada is perhaps the best in-ring worker in the world, and he has aspirations to face two other top-flight performers in the future.

In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Okada discussed his desire to eventually wrestle AEW stars CM Punk and Bryan Danielson:

"Danielson and Punk would make for some incredible matches. A lot of those dream match scenarios are about getting excited for the possibilities. ... So it is important to keep that excitement and anticipation, I think. Still, if we wait too long, they'll both retire eventually, so I want to face them both while they're still active."

Both Punk and Danielson essentially were retired at one point before returning to wrestling in recent years.

Punk left WWE and stepped away from wrestling as a whole in early 2014, and it wasn't until September of last year that he had his first match back after arriving in AEW.

Danielson had to retire in 2015 due to head and neck injuries, but he was able to get cleared a few years later and made his in-ring return in WWE in 2018.

After achieving great success as Daniel Bryan in WWE, including winning five world titles, Danielson made the decision to leave WWE and sign with AEW in September as well.

Both Punk and Danielson have shown that they have plenty left in the tank in AEW based on their in-ring performances. Danielson has been especially impressive, wrestling Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page to time-limit draws.

Okada has wrestled some in the United States, but he has done most of his work in Japan, and it is unclear where he would want matches against Punk and Danielson to occur.

The possibility is present regardless since AEW has a working relationship with NJPW based on the likes of KENTA, Minoru Suzuki and others appearing on AEW programming. Plus, AEW stars like Jon Moxley, Chris Jericho and Lance Archer either currently have or have recently had deals with NJPW.

Okada vs. Punk and Okada vs. Danielson are matches that can become reality, but as The Rainmaker mentioned, it likely wouldn't be wise to wait too long given where Punk and Danielson are in their respective careers.

Andrade Teases Ric Flair Joining AEW

After recently confronting Darby Allin, Andrade El Idolo teased a potentially huge AEW moment on Twitter.

After Allin beat Anthony Bowens on Friday's episode of AEW Rampage, Andrade emerged and set his sights on Allin, allowing The Acclaimed to attack both Darby and Sting.

On Tuesday, Andrade took to Twitter and suggested WWE Hall of Famer Nature Boy Ric Flair could accompany him during a potential rivalry with Allin and Sting:

https://twitter.com/AndradeElIdolo/status/1478310727215636488

Flair is Andrade's future father-in-law, as the Mexican star is engaged to his daughter and WWE Superstar, Charlotte Flair.

The elder Flair requested and was granted his release from WWE in August after he expressed unhappiness with how he was being utilized.

While Flair has yet to sign a contract with another company, he made his presence felt in the wrestling world less than two weeks after his WWE release by accompanying Andrade for his AAA Mega Championship match against Kenny Omega at Triplemania XXIX.

Despite dealing with serious health issues in recent years, the 72-year-old Flair even got involved physically by chopping Omega and putting Konnan in the Figure Four Leglock.

It was widely assumed Flair would join Andrade in AEW after that, but he came under public scrutiny after the release of a Dark Side of the Ring documentary on the Plane Ride from Hell.

A female flight attendant alleged that Flair forced her to touch his genitals during a flight in 2002 while Flair was a member of the WWE roster. It was revealed in the documentary that the flight attendant sued WWE after, leading to an out-of-court settlement.

Flair has remained in the public eye since then despite not signing with a wrestling promotion, and he has expressed a desire to wrestle another match.

If a final match is in the cards for Flair, teaming with Andrade against Allin and Sting would make sense given his longtime on-screen rivalry and personal friendship with Sting.

NJPW Returning to AXS TV in United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx7MzGEVv6A

AXS TV announced Tuesday in conjunction with Wrestle Kingdom 13 that New Japan Pro-Wrestling will return to its airwaves in March.

New weekly episodes will begin airing on March 3, and they will continue to air every Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET, following Impact Wrestling, which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.

NJPW previously aired on AXS TV from 2015-19, but it has not had an American television deal since their initial partnership ended.

Until new episodes begin airing on March 3, classic NJPW episodes will be shown on AXS TV beginning on Jan. 20.

Bringing NJPW back into the fold is a logical move on AXS TV's part since Impact is already on the channel and has a working relationship with New Japan.

The cross-promotion could prove fruitful for both wrestling companies, as well as for AXS TV, which now stands to become one of the main channels synonymous with pro wrestling in the United States.

Airing on AXS TV was a huge part of NJPW's surge in popularity in the United States, and it stands to gain even more viewership and interest now that it is returning to AXS.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).

If you are a pro wrestling fan, it's doubtful you've made it this long without hearing about the future legend known as Hook.

All Elite Wrestling has managed to do something rare with this 22-year-old. Not only is he already one of the most popular stars on the roster, but he has reached that level in one year with only two matches under his belt.

Some of you might be asking "Why is this kid so popular?" It's a fair question, too. He is brand new, has never given a promo, has had less than 10 combined minutes of ring time and rarely changes his facial expression.

However, all of that feeds into his mystique. Whether all of this was by design or a happy accident is unclear, but that doesn't matter when he is selling more merch than CM Punk.

Let's look at Hook's journey in AEW so far and how his booking has helped to create a mysterious and engaging figure.

                             

A Slow Introduction

Before we ever saw Hook on television, his name was mentioned by Cody Rhodes during a segment with Taz on November 25, 2020. He asked the ECW legend why his son was training with him at The Nightmare Factory instead of with his own father.

This line sent Taz into a rage that saw him choke the current TNT champion out in front the world. A few weeks later, several students from the Factory appeared, including Hook. Taz got involved again, but this time he took his son with him.

As soon as he said "Let's go, Hook," fans were curious. We knew he was Taz's son and he was training to be a pro wrestler, but that was it. In every other way, this kid was an enigma.

Over the next few months, Hook would appear with Team Taz in backstage segments and at ringside for matches involving Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs and Brian Cage. He almost developed into the unofficial mascot of the group with his silent presence and cool demeanor.

The way he was used led to fans becoming more curious about him, and with that curiosity came a desire to see if he could live up to his father's legacy. Hook had already captured our attention with a minimalist approach, but it would take more than that to make him a star.

                                  

The Shoutout that Created a Catchphrase

For several months, Hook was the silent member of Team Taz. He never spoke and rarely got physically involved in any of the business involving the other members of the team unless it was absolutely necessary.

Then, CM Punk came along. With two simple words, he began a small social media movement nobody could have predicted. When he was talking about the people he would fight, he told Taz to "Send Hook." 

That was just a few months ago, but it has already become an unofficial catchphrase on his newest shirt. It is so synonymous with Hook that when WWE tweeted out "Send Veer" on Monday, hundreds of fans responded to it by mentioning Hook.

SEND VEER@VeerMahaan
COMING TO #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/TFikfN6x7s

— WWE (@WWE) December 28, 2021

By expressing a desire to face the newcomer, Punk created more intrigue around his character. If somebody like Punk has his eye on him, then there must be something special about this kid, right?

                              

An Effective Debut

On December 10, Hook had his first pro wrestling match ever, and he did it on national television. That kind of pressure can get to seasoned performers, but Hook played it off like it was just another day at the office.

His first victory was over Fuego Del Sol in decisive fashion. In just a couple of minutes, he had the masked superstar tapping out to a version of the Tazmission. 

In that short amount of time, Hook showed off impressive athleticism, technical ability and tempered charisma. In his second bout with Bear Bronson, he displayed surprising power by suplexing the big man with ease.

With these two matches, AEW has quickly established Hook as someone to watch in 2022. Even in a year when we saw the return of CM Punk to the business, Bryan Danielson's AEW debut, Minoru Suzuki's U.S. tour and Hangman Adam Page win the AEW title, Hook still managed to stand out with minimal screen time.

Granted, these are short performances. We have no idea what kind of match he could have against someone like Danielson or Kenny Omega, but there is plenty of time for Hook to grow into whatever AEW needs him to be. 

Even Jim Cornette, who is one of AEW's biggest critics, praised Hook's first two outings. If he can win over a veteran of the business like Cornette this quickly, there is no limit to what Hook can accomplish. 

                                  

AEW Let Everyone Else Do the Work

https://twitter.com/KateOnDeckIC/status/1474978018246471680

HOOK - very powerful, very evil

— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) December 26, 2021

Instead of creating endless video packages to hype his debut or having him deliver a series of scripted promos, AEW just sat back and let wrestling fans market Hook themselves.

What started as a meme quickly became genuine curiosity. Fans wanted to see if Hook could live up to the hype we had built for him through endless jokes and tweets. Was our fandom misplaced, or was he the real deal?

The more people talked about him, the more other people wanted to know what he was all about. It was a pure word-of-mouth campaign that led to Hook's debut becoming one of the most heavily anticipated events of the year.

This Hook thing is wild. Not pandering for the reaction is important work on his part and exponentially helps cultivate a star-like charisma.

— Zack Heydorn (@Zack_Heydorn) December 26, 2021

HOOK is a face and he's no selling. I love life right now. #AEWRampage #HOOKmas

— Jaychele Nicole 🤎𐚁₊⊹ (@jaycheleee) December 26, 2021

When he managed to impress in his first outing, his supporters were empowered to be even louder about their love for the floppy-haired fighter. He's the Popeye's chicken sandwich of the wrestling world. Once somebody likes him, they will tell everybody else about him. 

AEW has certainly fed into this on social media, but Hook stans are the ones who have pushed him from being just another prospective talent to being one of the most talked-about people in the entire company.

                               

What's Next?

Hook going to build up a Goldberg win-streak in #AEW.

— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) December 26, 2021

I just caught up with Rampage and my good HOOK's second match was awesome. Also lol at Cody winning that awesome main event. This must've been fun when it happened.

— Juan Carlos (@ReneusMeister) December 26, 2021

With a strong debut and follow-up match already in the books, Hook now must focus on keeping that momentum going.

The first thing we need from this kid is a promo. Taz has done all of the talking for him, but at some point, Hook needs to prove he can speak for himself. It doesn't have to be too long, it just needs to be effective.

Nobody is expecting him to be the best talker in the business right away, but holding his own against someone with more experience in a verbal exchange is all he needs to do in order to keep things moving in the right direction.

After he has a few more easy wins under his belt, a real rival needs to emerge. Hook needs his Peter Pan, and there are a lot of people on the roster who could fill that role. 

*me, gasping for my final breath of air as I'm about to pass out from over-eating, reaching to the sky to muster out my last words*

".....send HOOK."

— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) December 25, 2021

Aight… Hook won me over. I get it

— ✨Lovely✨ (@ItsLovelyLaveau) December 23, 2021

If he is going to be a heel, having him battle somebody like Jungle Boy, Lee Moriarty or Sammy Guevara would put him on the map. If he works as a babyface or tweener, Daniel Garcia or Kip Sabian would be a good choice.

Another option would be forming a tag team with Ricky Starks. As two of AEW's brightest young stars, they could add something new to the division that has been dominated by FTR, The Lucha Bros and The Young Bucks in 2021.

With Starks having the edge in experience, he could help carry the load in the ring until Hook is more comfortable giving longer performances. Or better yet, if AEW introduces a set of Trios Championships, they could team up with Powerhouse Hobbs.

Whatever he does next, Hook already has the support of AEW fans. If he can remain healthy, keep improving and take the time to listen to the veterans who surround him in the locker room, he will be a very valuable member of the AEW roster moving forward.

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

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Bobby Steveson to Make WWE Debut on 205 Live

Bobby Steveson, the older brother of Olympic gold medalist and fellow WWE signee Gable Steveson, is set to make his WWE in-ring debut against Andre Chase on Friday's Christmas Eve edition of 205 Live. He's performing under the moniker Damon Kemp.

"IT'S TIME!!" he wrote Thursday on Instagram. "Tomorrow only on [Peacock TV] in the U.S. and the [WWE Network] watch me smash my opponent on 205 Live at [10 p.m. ET], you do not want to miss this!"

Steveson won three state championships as a wrestler in high school and went on to spend five years on the wrestling team at the University of Minnesota. His career with the Golden Gophers ended in 2020, and he joined the WWE's Performance Center in August.

Chase, previously known as Harlem Bravado of The Bravado Brothers in Ring of Honor and other promotions, is a veteran with more than a decade of experience. That makes him an ideal opponent for Steveson, who's still developing inside the squared circle.

Gable Steveson, who's following in his brother's footsteps as a wrestler at Minnesota, signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) contract with WWE in September.

It's not far-fetched to think the siblings will one day face off inside a WWE ring.

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Mickie James Seeks Feud with Charlotte Flair

James was released by WWE in April following a six-year stint. She previously worked for the company from 2003 through 2010, emerging as a top Superstar with five Women's Championship reigns.

One goal she didn't accomplish during her latest run was a feud with Charlotte Flair, the current SmackDown women's champion.

James discussed her desire to face off with Charlotte during an appearance Tuesday on the Tru Heel Heat Wrestling podcast (via Jeremy Lambert of Fightful):

I still would want a moment with Charlotte because I never got it. That's No. 1. That will always be...I really wanted to have that moment with her. I don't know why it matters so much, I'm just like 'God, we finally got that little moment in the Rumble,' a little beat, and it was pretty awesome. My whole tenure there, the whole time I was back, we were never in the ring together until that moment, which is so crazy to me. I was pretty much in there...I would have loved to have a run, a real angle with Sasha [Banks], Bayley, Becky [Lynch]. I love all those girls, they are mega-talented and I always think about what I could do with them or what we could do together.

James, who's become Impact Wrestling's Knockouts champion since leaving WWE, will probably have to wait a while for the chance to battle Charlotte.

In October, PWInsider reported (via Danny Wolstanholme of Sportskeeda) Flair still has "years" left on her contract and remains an "important asset" in the company's future plans.

James, 42, is still performing at a high level, and Flair, 35, figures to remain a main event talent for the foreseeable future, so there should be plenty of time for their paths to cross, either in WWE or elsewhere.

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CM Punk Praises Hook, Other AEW Young Talent

CM Punk has worked with several of AEW's rising stars since his return to wrestling in August, giving the 43-year-old fan favorite a chance to see the future of the business up close.

The Chicago native spoke on ESPN's SportsNation on Wednesday (via Eric Mutter of Wrestling Inc) about some of the wrestlers who've impressed him, either during a head-to-head feud or while watching from afar:

There's so many honestly. There's so many guys. I think the future of AEW is in such good hands. Most of the younger guys that we have that we're going to wind up spotlighting in the next five years or so are in their early 20s. Britt Baker, Hook. I mean, everyone seems to love Hook and the guy's had one match. I just think we take our time with our talents.

AEW as a whole is still a baby. Two years old. And we're going to be moving to TBS in the new year. That's a big step. And just taking time and fostering the new talent instead of just kind of throwing them out there and having a sink or swim attitude, I think helps. Daniel Garcia is a guy that I think is phenomenal. Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks. I'll forget so many people if I name them. I just think that the future is very, very bright.

Hook, the son of longtime wrestler Taz, made his wrestling debut in early December and became part of Team Taz alongside his father, Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs.

It's a rare opportunity to shine in one of the biggest promotions for a 22-year-old wrestler, but his initial match, a win over Fuego Del Sol on Rampage, showcased ample potential.

Meanwhile, Punk's run in AEW is giving the company a chance to test its younger talent against one of the best in the business, and it appears the former WWE standout is relishing that role.

An eventual feud with Hook could attract a lot of attention and be extremely beneficial to a potential star in the making.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).