Booker T Doesn’t Sugarcoat His Feelings For CM Punk
The wrestling community has been buzzing ever since the shock termination of CM Punk from AEW. The incident that reportedly left AEW’s Tony Khan “fearing for his life” has become a hot topic, with many speculating about Punk’s next steps. Some are hoping he might make a return to WWE, especially with Survivor Series approaching in Chicago. However, current rumors suggest this might not be the case.
Recently, Booker T, the five-time WCW Champion and now a commentator on “WWE NXT”, weighed in on the situation during his appearance on “The Hall of Fame”. He shared his insights about what might motivate Punk to head back to WWE. In Booker’s opinion, if Punk decides to sign with WWE, the predominant reason would be to “throw it in the face of AEW and Tony Khan”. While this might be a genuine motivation, Booker also felt that Punk might be looking to reshape his wrestling legacy.
It’s evident that no one wants to exit their career under a cloud, and the way things ended for Punk in AEW was far from ideal. Booker commented, “I don’t think anyone wants to leave this business on bitter terms or anything like that. You don’t want to have your last match and it ended like it did in AEW. That’s not what you want.” He suggested that Punk might be contemplating a return to WWE to address some of the perceptions about him. “So him wanting to come back over here to … redefine his career … That might be a reason why, to come and say, ‘Maybe I did need to look in the mirror. Maybe it was me. Maybe I want to change,'” he said.
However, Booker expressed skepticism about this narrative, given Punk’s track record. He continued, “Then again, I don’t see that personality. I don’t see that personality [who would say] ‘I was wrong. Let me go fix this.’ I just don’t see that. Just because of the way things went in AEW.”
Reflecting on Punk’s entry into AEW, Booker pointed out what he saw as a missed chance. He thought Punk had the golden ticket to display humility when he first joined the company. Instead, the wrestling veteran believed that Punk chose to make a dominant impression, making it clear to all that he was the reigning superstar.
Booker also highlighted what he saw as a lost opportunity for Punk in AEW. Drawing parallels with his own time in TNA, he reminisced about how he took a leadership role when he joined. When Booker entered TNA, which would later become Impact, he made it a point to connect with the roster backstage. He clarified, “I let those guys know that I was down to help them. I wasn’t there to take anything away from them. I was there to elevate everyone’s games to the next level.” He sincerely felt that Punk could have embraced a similar ambassadorial role for the budding talents in AEW, given the prominent stature he enjoyed.
Booker emphasized this point by stating, “The reason why I think CM Punk could have done a whole lot better than I could have is because he was getting paid a whole lot more money. And that right there for me, if I’m getting paid, I’m going to come over here and try to help this thing last as long as I can because I want to get this check for the next 10 years.”
All said and done, while fans are eager to see where CM Punk will land next, it’s clear that seasoned professionals like Booker T are hoping for growth and maturity from him, irrespective of his next move. As the wrestling world waits with bated breath for Punk’s next steps, it’s evident that his choices and actions will be under a magnifying glass, more than ever before.
