CM Punk’s big return to pro wrestling on AEW Rampage was widely praised by wrestlers and wrestling fans and the viewership and social media numbers proved that Punk is indeed a needle mover.
However, WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T feels that Punk’s promo fell short because he mentioned WWE.
Booker said, “CM Punk is back man and I got a chance to witness the return of CM Punk, I really did. I don’t know, you guys out there that are big AEW fans, you guys agree to disagree with me. But me, I’m always telling it like it is, y’all know that…and I’m gonna tell it like it is on this one right there as well. I want all of the listeners, I need you guys to challenge me on this one. I’m begging you to challenge me on what I’m talking about…”
Booker continued, “CM Punk came back and he had 10 full television minutes to go out there and make his point as far as CM Punk being back. He had the perfect crowd to be able to go out there and really, I’m talking about have a party up in that United Center. But CM Punk came back and took his moment and chose to talk about WWE. That right there was just a total miss as far as I’m concerned [he] struck out. I can only imagine if The Rock had that same 21,000 in Miami, Florida. The Rock would have talked about every landmark in Miami and that everybody in Miami frequented…he would have had those fans going crazy with excitement but CM Punk chose to talk about the WWE and that 9 minutes went back so slow when it could have been a party going on in the United Center.”
Booker’s co-host Brad Gilmore said he agreed that Punk’s promo was lackluster but the moment was big.
Booker continued, “I’m saying from a perspective to where I’m making my comeback and I’m thinking about the other side, that’s totally a place that I wouldn’t even be going. As well as you talk about how the moment started out on a rise and after the music stopped playing, the rise just started going down. It never came back up. That’s a moment for you? I get it, I understand that but my point is the moment, once the bell rings and the bell rings after the music stops as far as I’m concerned and I just don’t think CM Punk delivered the way he could have as far as a promo goes because I didn’t feel the promo. I felt like a guy talking about WWE and when you’re talking about the other side, only thing you’re doing is giving those guys airtime. Of course, I know the AEW crowd will eat that up but for me as a professional, that’s the last thing that I’m gonna be thinking about is the other side. I’m gonna be thinking about the here and the now. Like I said, I could be wrong but I just think he missed a moment there in front of his hometown [with] over 20,000 people…”
In response to someone in the chat room on YouTube, Booker said that he is not biased because of his affiliation with WWE.
Booker continued, “For me, it was the same promo that was given in WWE. It was about WWE. It had nothing meaningful to it as far as what I’m gonna create, who I’m gonna blow up, how I’m gonna take AEW by – coming in being a nice guy and throwing out freaking ice cream bars, who gives a damn about that?”
After a commercial break, Booker acknowledged the listeners in the chat were not happy with what he said about Punk. Booker added that he likes CM Punk and he’s not saying that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. Booker also said that he wants Punk to do well in life but he feels that Punk could have made a bigger impact if he didn’t talk about WWE and ice cream bars. Booker also said that Darby Allin is a babyface and he would have picked a heel for Punk’s first match in AEW.
Booker’s latest show has been removed from the Reality of Wrestling YouTube account but you can hear what he said at this link at the 14:00 mark.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Hall Of Fame with Booker T & Brad Gilmore with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription
