AEW's Creative Shift Following CM Punk Departure

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AEW fans were in for a shock following a backstage incident at AEW's All In event. This altercation, involving luminaries such as Jack Perry and the company's CEO, Tony Khan, led to the abrupt termination of CM Punk's contract.

The exit concluded Punk's tumultuous tenure with the company, which had only begun in August 2021, and brought an unexpected twist to the AEW universe. This surprise departure unfolded mere days ahead of the All Out pay-per-view, compelling the promotion to adapt quickly.

The fallout of this last-minute change saw Bryan Danielson, who was recovering from an injury, stepping in to face Ricky Starks, thereby tweaking the original match card.

AEW's Unplanned Routes

Fightful Select recently delved into the repercussions of Punk’s unforeseen exit, shedding light on the roadmap AEW had envisioned for the following months.

Intriguingly, despite the hype around CM Punk being the "Real World Champion," there weren't any underlying plans for him to clash with the reigning AEW World Champion, MJF. Meanwhile, the narrative arcs for Samoa Joe had already been charted out and, regardless of the seismic shifts backstage, are proceeding as initially conceived on AEW broadcasts.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the pro-wrestling community, CM Punk made waves during his first public appearance after parting ways with AEW. While providing commentary at the CFFC 125 event, the enigmatic wrestler dropped subtle hints that caught fans' attention.

With a wry smile, Punk alluded to a potential return to WWE, mentioning his sudden abundance of free time over the next two months, leaving everyone speculating about his next move. Given the turn of these events and the significant changes it has prompted within AEW's creative realm, fans and pundits are keenly observing the developments.

Will Punk make a sensational return to WWE? And how will AEW's storylines evolve in the wake of this unexpected reshuffling? Only time will divulge the answers.