Newly-signed All Elite Wrestling star CM Punk made a recent appearance on ESPN 1000 in Chicago to discuss his return to the wrestling business as part of the AEW Rampage: The First Dance episode.

Punk was questioned about the outpouring of emotion from the fans and said that he is a Chicago sports guy and cried when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, as well as when the Cubs won the World Series and that since he is a Chicago sports guy, those moments meant a lot to him and that his return meant a lot because he is so attached to Chicago and sports and that anyone who made fun of the fan that was seen crying in the crowd is effectively making fun of CM Punk as there is nothing wrong with having that outpouring of emotion as he would cry at a Marvel movie himself.

Punk said that the AEW Rampage appearance may have been the greatest night of his career and that the entire night could not have gone any more perfect, including selling out the United Center on a rumor, without him ever being advertised or announced for the show and said that all of that shows the connection that the AEW fans have and that they get it and want to go to the shows, be entertained and have a good time and that they did not have to beat them over the heads to get a TV rating. Punk said that wrestling is about moments and getting people to feel something, and that everyone was super positive backstage, his family was with him and he could go on and on on that front.

Punk talked up the success of his return online and said that for the fans in the arena, he gave them ice cream bars as a thank you for them waiting 7 years for him and said that he is now back, but wanted to show the fans how thankful he was that they waited all that time. Punk said that the way that he has been embraced and how people have reacted has been off the charts and that people made comparisons to Michael Jordan. Punk said that Michael Jordan is the best of all-time, but that CM Punk within wrestling, he just wants to be able to help AEW grow and be able to win some Championships, just like Michael Jordan came back to win some titles.

Punk said that in regards to the AEW roster, it is a youthful roster that is full of exuberance and that it reminds him of the punk rock type of shows from his youth where a lot of people have found their place and fit in and feel at home, noting that that was what impressed him the most. Punk said that it is great that everyone is nice and happy to see him, but that he is optimistic that isn’t just a honeymoon thing, noting that the talents are young and that what they lack in experience, they make up for effort, noting that he feels like he is a major league slugger walking out on a team full of great prospects and that they are eager to please the fans, but that they also want to have fun and that when you are having fun, it makes things so much greater overall.

Punk said that in regards to his upcoming match against Darby Allin at the AEW All Out pay-per-view on September 5th, there is a lot of questions as to whether he can still go, but that fortunately for him, he was never a guy who did crazy flips and does not have to try and do all these insane athletic feats as he tells stories. Punk said that he is currently watching tape of Darby and is starting to get creative about what they can do in the ring together. Punk said that he had been in the ring for the Heels series, but not extensively, as it beats the body up, but that he has been watching and he is impressed by what he sees in Darby Allin overall.

The interview is available in full at this link.