3 AEW dream matches for CM Punk that were teased but did not happen
CM Punk's AEW run ended on a sour note. However, The Best in the World was able to participate in several dream matchups during his two-year-long stint with the Jacksonville-based promotion.
The Second City Saint got the opportunity to revisit his rivalries with old enemies like Samoa Joe and Jon Moxley. Moreover, Punk also had the chance to wrestle some exciting young stars like Darby Allin and MJF.
Unfortunately, CM Punk's departure in September 2023 meant that fans were robbed of several never-seen-before dream matches involving the Chicago native.
Before parting ways with The Best in the World, Tony Khan had planned a few exciting bouts for Punk, which ultimately did not transpire. In this article, let's look at three AEW dream matches for CM Punk that were teased but did not happen.
#3. Jay White battled CM Punk in a few tag team matches
After a ten-month-long hiatus from AEW television, CM Punk returned to the Tony Khan-led company on the debut episode of Collision in June 2023. The Second City Saint engaged in Trios action on the inaugural Collision episode, joining forces with FTR to battle Jay White, Samoa Joe, and Juice Robinson.
It was a night to forget for White's team, as Punk nailed Juice Robinson with a GTS to pick up the victory for his team. It was the start of a mini-feud between Bang Bang Gang and CM Punk's allies, who also recruited Ricky Starks later on.
Before their high-profile tag team match, The Switchblade and The Best in the World took direct shots at each other during a backstage segment. The two sides eventually engaged in an intense contest a few days later, where The Catalyst pinned Ricky Starks to earn a massive win for his team.
The 50-50 booking seemed to be a hint towards an upcoming singles rivalry between CM Punk and Jay White. The two stars had shown great chemistry in their previous tag team encounters, making the audience excited about a potential feud between them. Unfortunately, Tony Khan did not go ahead with the Punk vs. White storyline, leaving fans in a state of disappointment.
#2. CM Punk & FTR vs Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks could have been a blockbuster rivalry
There have been several instances in pro wrestling when real-life enemies put aside their egos to deliver intriguing storylines on television. When CM Punk made his first appearance since his infamous brawl with The Elite at All Out 2022, many fans had expected the two sides to work out their differences and build one of the biggest money feuds in AEW history.
Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks made their return to All Elite Wrestling in November 2022 after serving their respective suspensions. While the company was still dealing with the fallout of the infamous Brawl Out incident, it did not stop The Elite trio from taking subtle digs at The Best in the World.
The three allies took a few indirect shots at CM Punk, with Omega even using The GTS in one of his matches in Chicago. The Second City Saint also did not back down from the verbal back-and-forth and took The Elite on his target during his promo on the debut episode of Collision.
Although both sides laid the seeds for a blockbuster rivalry, there was no conversation between Punk and The Elite behind the scenes. After The Voice of the Voiceless paired himself with FTR, many fans believed that a feud between CMFTR and The Elite was right around the corner.
Unfortunately, Punk was involved in a heated backstage fight with Jack Perry at All In 2023, prompting TK could not get Punk and The Elite on the same page, as their dream feud could have brought a lot of eyeballs to the AEW product.
#1. The Best in the World was supposed to wrestle Hiroshi Tanahashi in 2022
Since leaving ROH in 2005, CM Punk did not get any opportunities to feature in interpromotional matches, as WWE did not collaborate with other companies at the time. However, CM Punk came close to competing against a NJPW legend in 2022 in a rare dream match.
At Forbidden Door 2022, The Voice of the Voiceless was scheduled to put his AEW World Championship on the line against Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Ace of the Universe challenged The Best in the World for the high-profile crossover event, mere days after Punk had captured the prestigious title.
Unfortunately, Punk injured his foot weeks before Forbidden Door, prompting Tony Khan to scrap the plans for his bout against Tanahashi. The 46-year-old star was ultimately replaced by Jon Moxley, who defeated the NJPW legend to become the Interim AEW World Champion at the interpromotional pay-per-view.