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COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT: CM PUNK'S RETURN SPEECH ON AEW RAMPAGE

A few readers asked if there was a transcript of CM Punk's return promo on this past Friday's AEW Rampage broadcast from Chicago.  Well, there is now.  Enjoy 

"You guys really know how to make a kid feel like Britt Baker in Pittsburgh.   

I'm winging this deal, we're winging this. We, that's a very important distinction, we'll get back to it. But, I didn't plan on what I was going to say, because I didn't know what to say, because I didn't know how I was going to feel, but I knew that I needed to feel it, and I feel you Chicago and I hear you Chicago.

That's [CM Punk chants] what I've heard for seven years, I heard you, I heard you. Now, we've got a lot to cover. There's good news and bad news. The bad news is we're not going to get to it all right here right now. But, the good news is I got the time, Wednesday, Friday, four Sundays or Saturdays a year. I got the time and I ain't going anywhere.

Just wait, just one second. Possibly for me the most important thing I'm going to say right now and this is for everybody at home, this is for everybody who bought a ticket, this is for everybody in the back. If at all through my journey any of my personal choices or decisions related to my life made you feel disappointed or let down.  Let me just say, I understand if you all try to understand that I was never going to get healthy physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally staying in the same place that got me sick in the first place.

Can I tell you guys a story?

It's hot in here. Hang on one second. [Removes Hoodie]

Can I tell you a story?

You see, I felt before like I had to leave. I didn't want to, but I knew I couldn't stay and that was when I used to work for a place called Ring of Honor. August 13th 2005 was my last match in Ring of Honor and I famously came out with tears in my eyes. And walking out here today, I now know why I was crying and it was a lot of reasons, but what it boiled down to was, I had made a place where people could come work, get paid, learn their craft and love professional wrestling. And, I cried because I knew I was leaving a place that I love and it was a home. And I knew where I was going, it wasn't going to be easy for a guy like me, because I'm one of you.

So, I look at it like this, August 13th 2005 I left professional wrestling.

August 20th 2021.  I'm back.

And I'm back for you. I'm not going to lie, I'm back for me too, but I'm back because there's a hell of a lot of young talent that I wished I was surrounded by 10 years ago. So, in saying that I sit back and I say, well hell, they're there now, so why aren't you? Here I am.

I'm back because I want to work with that young talent that had the same passion that I had stamped out. I'm back because there's a couple of scores to settle in that locker room. I'm back for the young guys.

Darby Allin!   I see you. You're good. I've seen you jump out of airplanes. I've seen you wrapped up in a body bag and chucked over the top rope. I've seen you kicked down a flight of stairs and you always come back, just like each and every person here in Chicago, you're tough. But, I'm here to help and you're the first on the list. I'm going to help you because you're a daredevil and you like danger.

Well Darby Allen, there is nothing you could do that is more dangerous than wrestling CM Punk. Except, wrestling CM Punk in Chicago. I will see you and I'll see Sting and I'll see all of you September 5th at All Out, live on Pay-per-view.

I'm back."
 

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