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CM Punk being a world champion is something that not many fans would have expected in 2022, almost a decade after he lost the WWE Championship to The Rock. Yet, that is the reality of today, as Punk beat Adam Page to win the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing.
While many might question the timing of it, there is no question about the fact that he is the top babyface in the company. Yet, is that the best role for Punk as a world champion? Or should he be turning towards the dark side soon and breathing fresh life into his character?
A Lot Of Fans Have Not Been Impressed With Babyface CM Punk
CM Punk made his triumphant return to professional wrestling after more than seven years, on the second episode of Rampage in August 2021. While he had not been out of the public eye during that period of time, fighting in the UFC, doing movies and tv shows, and even appearing on WWE Backstage, most fans had given up hope of ever seeing him in a wrestling ring again.
Punk's hometown Chicago crowd blew the roof off of the building and since that very moment, he was the top babyface in AEW. It was truly one of the greatest segments in wrestling history and many would consider it the peak of AEW as well. They have not managed to recapture the magic of that night till now.
There was more buzz and mainstream attention on the company on that night than there had ever been before or has been since. Punk has remained a babyface as well but his run as the 'good guy' has not impressed a lot of fans.
The term 'PG Punk' has become popular and while some of his work has been excellent, such as the feud with MJF, it also does feel like we are yet to see the best of the Second City Saint in AEW. Could it take a heel turn for that to happen?
Being A Heel Suits The Character Of CM Punk Better
While Punk might have had notable success in wrestling as a babyface, his best work has always been done as a heel. Whether that be his time on the independent circuits or in the WWE.
Also, there are various aspects of Punk in AEW, which should see him being the bad guy. He is the ex-WWE talent, who has come on a big contract, taken a top spot on the card, and won the AEW World Championship at the age of 43. Just for comparison, The Rock was 40 when he beat Punk for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble in 2013.
How CM Punk Should Turn Heel In AEW
As the AEW World Champion, there is the perfect opportunity for Punk to turn heel. He just has to make use of unfair means to hold on to his belt against a beloved babyface. Incredibly, MJF might be someone suited for that role after his incredible promo on Dynamite might have turned him into the biggest babyface in the business.
The logic behind Punk turning heel is clearly there and has been there since the very beginning. Punk can tell the story of how he returned to wrestling because Tony Khan was willing to pay him an incredible amount of money. If it was for the love of wrestling, he would have gone to a company like ROH or NJPW years ago.
With the mic skills that Punk has, he could truly turn the AEW fans against him and become the biggest heel that the company has ever had.
CM Punk Turning Heel Would Be Best For AEW
One has to admit that over the last few years, the buzz around AEW had died down quite a bit. Some of it might be back now though as it looks like the company might be onto something special with the angle involving MJF and the company, which has done a brilliant job of blurring the lines between reality and kayfabe.
Turning Punk heel would be another shot in the arm of the company and could possibly turn them as hot as they were in the second half of last year, when Punk himself, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole had debuted within the space of a month.
A heel Punk is something that we have not seen for almost a decade now and never in AEW, and it would open up a lot of new possibilities moving forward.
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