"There's going to be CM Punk chants" - Former WWE star recalls backstage worry before big debut
Current AEW star CJ Perry (fka Lana) recollected her WWE debut back in 2014 in Chicago when she was warned about CM Punk chants, as the Best in the World had just left the company.
CJ Perry (fka Lana) made her WWE main roster debut back in 2014 as a manager for Miro (fka Rusev). She appeared with the nickname "The Ravishing Russian" in March in Chicago. Co-incidentally, she made her debut in CM Punk's hometown a few months after Punk left the Stamford-based promotion.
Talking to Chris Van Vliet on Insights, CJ Perry opened up on making her AEW debut in Chicago while also recalling her WWE debut in the same city back in 2014. Interestingly, Perry was warned about "Punk" chants. Here is what she revealed:
"I was really excited. I was so excited to return to wrestling. Especially in Chicago. I love Chicago and I actually debuted in WWE in Chicago. It was the beginning of March [in 2014]. CM Punk had just left so everybody was like 'Are you going to be okay?! There's going to be CM Punk chants!' And I feel like I held my own with Miro." (H/T Sescoops)
CJ Perry (fka Lana) on her AEW debut also happening in CM Punk's hometown
The former WWE star had the task of making her imminent All Elite debut at the All Out PPV in Chicago right after the Second City Saint got terminated from the company with cause. CJ Perry revealed it was not her plan to debut in Punk's hometown, but Tony Khan urged that:
"No, it was definitely not that way. It was definitely, it was all Tony Khan. Tony Khan wanted Chicago and when I heard he wanted Chicago I thought 'Oh my gosh, that's so cool!' Because I love Chicago, it's my favorite American wrestling city." (H/T Sescoops)
Meanwhile, CJ Perry is currently on an interesting run in Tony Khan's promotion, as she is not paired onscreen with her husband, Miro, and has hinted at managing other wrestlers. Henceforth, only time will tell what's next for CJ in the Jacksonville-based promotion.