CM Punk Says AEW Run So Far Has Exceeded His Expectations

AEW star CM Punk has said that his recent run in the company has exceeded his expectations and that he has 'never been happier' in a wrestling ring.

The Straight-Edge Superstar joined All Elite Wrestling in August of 2021, ending a seven-and-a-half-year hiatus from the business (after he left WWE in acrimony).

Speaking with ComicBook.com, the number-one contender to the AEW World Championship discussed how things have gone for him since becoming All Elite, saying:

"This run has been more than what I expected. I had expectations. They were pretty high. So far, they've pretty much shattered all that, and that's just based on analytics and numbers of how well we're doing. I've long said that I'm there for the fans in the building. Nowadays everybody is still focused on ratings numbers when cable is absolutely — I cancelled DirecTV months ago. I just, I couldn't do it anymore. It's too convoluted. It's too expensive. Streaming services are, I feel like, are the future. So when people look at ratings and say that wrestling is dying, I say, "Well look at our buildings. We're selling out and we're doing our first million-dollar gate". So I don't attribute that just to me. I attribute that to the spirit of AEW and everybody behind the scenes that makes it all work and makes it all click.

"But the run, my run specifically, my stuff as a whole, I've never been happier in a wrestling ring. I've never, to me, been telling more fluid, better, reality-based stories. It's been a real treat".

Punk will meet Hangman Page for the AEW World Title at Double or Nothing on May 29.