Jim Ross: CM Punk’s Return Has Brought Emotion To AEW

CM Punk has been back in the wrestling business for less than a month, but in a short timeframe Punk’s presence has brought emotion and increased optimism to AEW.

Even pro-wrestling veterans like Jim Ross have felt the positive change, with the hall of famer gushing about Punk’s signing - as well as those of Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole - on the Grilling JR podcast:

“It’s been exciting times for us in AEW,” Ross said. “One thing about this crew, they’re seeing what hard work can result in for the fans, and them eventually. Can you imagine how many of those kids that we’ve been nurturing for two years, how they feel when they’re able to display their skills to a big crowd that gives a damn? Not 300 people at an indie show or whatever, but there’s not enough numbers there. These kids are living their dreams. I don’t know how many talents I’ve had come to me and say ‘I never knew it was going to be like this.’ That started with Punk coming back to Chicago. It’s an interesting time to be a fan for sure. I just hope these guys continue to work their ass off. We have all these great potential matchups coming up that are going to be wonderful.”

Punk is truly a box office attraction, and Ross thinks he should be used sparingly by AEW:

“I sat down the other day on the airplane and just made some mental notes of potential CM Punk opponents," continued JR "There’s a year’s worth, at least, not counting returns. [CM Punk] is not going to wrestle every week obviously, nor should he, nor should anybody quite frankly. I love that aspect.”

JR also mentioned that Punk’s return has him fired up, and that reports of his ‘stepping down’ from commentary are inaccurate:

“I told him [Punk] that night in Chicago, not that I was phoning anything in, I wasn’t. But the emotional side that you can’t taste, feel, or touch returned in a big, big time way. I got the best job in the world. I’m in the business that I love. I want to do this as long as I can. I don’t know how long that is, but until I or somebody including me decides I’ve had enough, then I’m going to keep doing it. I couldn’t have that feeling with half a house, or three, or four hundred people, or an empty audience in Daily’s Place. Life is good. I don’t know how it could be much better.”

H/T: Wrestling Inc.