It has been seven years since CM Punk stepped into a professional wrestling ring on national television.
For years, WWE fans would chant CM Punk's name every time they had an event in Chicago or when they saw something they didn't like.
WWE and CM Punk had a bitter divorce back in 2014 as he felt frustrated as he was never pushed to the level he should have as WWE favored certain people like John Cena, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. WWE also forced Punk to wrestle injured and his body was battered and bruised.
CM Punk had stints in UFC and WWE Backstage but fans were clamoring for an in-ring return.
Finally, he returned at the perfect time.
The global pandemic has almost been around for two years and crowds just recently returned.
The venue was at the United Center, the home of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Fans were also disenchanted by the WWE as the product is barely watchable and have been clamoring for an alternative.
CM Punk's signing was leaked but never confirmed.
Fans packed the United Center on the premise that Punk might be there but were not disappointed.
CM Punk came home to a heroes welcome and sat in the middle of the ring and spoke to the crowd.
The fans at Chicago welcomed CM Punk back in the same way they welcome Michael Jordan back after a year and a half of playing baseball. It was truly Jordanesque.
He even treated the crowd to ice cream bars.
It was so big that everyone from the casual fan to the big You Tubers to the mainstream media were talking about CM Punk and AEW. They forgot all about Summerslam, Roman Reigns and John Cena.
August 20, 2021 may mark the day that AEW broke the resistance and would be soaring to all time highs.
