CM Punk returned to the ring against Darby Allin.
CM Punk made his in-ring return at AEW All Out 2021, defeating Darby Allin after two GTS finishers. Punk looked like he never left, physically, as he might have been in better condition than his prime years in WWE. Though many fans marveled at how good Punk looked, physically, many were split on Twitter as to how good his return match was on its own merits.
AEW All Out was filled with high-octane wrestling prior to this return match, particularly an instant classic inside a Steel Cage between The Young Bucks and The Lucha Bros. Many old-school wrestling enthusiasts enjoyed the slower pacing of this match, while others were left somewhat underwhelmed with CM Punk’s first match in seven years.
Punk’s return will very likely lead to AEW All Out becoming the promotion’s biggest pay-per-view ever in terms of PPV buys. Surprisingly, his match against Darby Allin was not the main event. AEW stayed true to its most prestigious title and main-evented All Out with Christian vs. Kenny Omega.
CM Punk returned with an improved physique and new gear, featuring long tights with the stars from the Chicago flag on the side. Fans were very much into CM Punk, chanting “Holy [expletive]” as he sat in the middle of the ring and stared down his first opponent in seven years.
Though this is certainly a new CM Punk in AEW, Punk still played the hits. Punk twice called back to his iconic match against John Cena at WWE Money in the Bank 2011, once where he jokingly asked fans who they were chanting for, and then again when Darby Allin went flying to the outside after Punk hit a GTS. Punk also hit the step-up knee and two GTS’ for the finish.
CM Punk appeared to be working this match as a heel, which seemed like the more natural fit as Punk was far bigger than Allin. Punk spent much of the opening minutes of the match slowing the pace, locking Allin down in submission holds before Darby Allin made a spirited, high-flying comeback.
Punk looked just fine in his return, though the match was not up to the standards of some of its high-caliber predecessors. Mixed reactions aside, CM Punk’s comeback tour projects to live past expectations now that he has his first match out of the way.
