PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

TONY KHAN: AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING POST-SHOW MEDIA SCRUM COVERAGE

AEW will soon be streaming the Double or Nothing 2022 post-show media scrum below:

First up is new AEW Champion CM Punk and AEW President Tony Khan. 

Punk said that he's happy to be the champ and to be with AEW.  He said it's a team effort.  If he's the face of AEW, it's going to be his job to not just put money in his pocket but also Tony and everyone else in the locker room.

Punk was asked if he feels he's blended into the locker room.  He said he was be as diplomatic as he can.  If there are people who don't like him backstage, it's a minority and if "nobody wants him here, nobodies don't want him here."

Punk was asked about returning to Vegas for this moment.  He said he didn't feel the time away from wrestling was wasted.  The ten years in WWE was wasted.  He reached the potential there given the limitations put on him.  Here, there are no limitations put on anyone.  He looks back on WWE and wonders, "what are we doing?"  He thinks everyone in AEW can reach their fullest potential.

Punk chipped his teeth during the match.

Punk was asked about Eric Bischoff saying Punk was the '"biggest financial flop in wrestling history."  Khan said "That was f***ing bullsh**."  He said no one person ever had a more positive effect on the company financially.  He broke down Punk's accomplishments in a very animated manner as Punk just smiled and nodded.  Punk said he never said Bischoff's name and said people like that can "die in the dark."  Everyone has a "sh**ty opinion."

Punk was asked if there were any names he's looking forward to wrestling next.  He said Forbidden Door is coming up and focusing on that,Okada, Ospreay, Tanahashi.  He says within AEW is Bryan Danielson.  He's never wrestling Jon Moxley (he pointed out he wrestling Dean Ambrose).  He namechecked Will Hobbs, FTR and Jungle Boy.  He said they have a stacked roster and it's a crime they can't spotlight everyone at once.  Danielson would be the first one that comes to mind.

Punk was asked about potentially going into another Summer of Punk and topping it.  He said the way to top it is to tell great stories and have great wrestling.  He feels like this is the first time in his career he's felt comfortable being the good guy.    He said this could all be gone tomorrow and he wants to just relish it all and create the best product for the fans.

Punk was asked where this match ranks for him.  He said Dax Harwood will probably make him watch it.  It felt near perfect from the crowd response but he will remember what went wrong and that will stick with him.  The first time you wrestle someone and lock up, it can get a little sticky.  For the first time they ever touched, it was pretty damn good.  He's his own worst critic so he doesn't want to rate it.

Tony was asked when he knew Punk would be the fifth champion.  Khan said that this isn't some Hollywood BS comeback.  No one has worked harder for the company or has done more for the company in the last year than Punk.  He said that the pandemic gave them a lot of time to get to know each other on the phone.  They've never been in a better place thanks to Punk.

Punk was asked how he feels going into Chicago as champion.  He said he feels good.  He said certain people lead by example and that's what he thinks leading is.  He'll lead the company into Chicago and learn from past mistakes.  He won't show the one right way to do things but to how to operate and conduct themselves as champion.  He is excited to go back.  He hasn't been home as he's been filming two TV shows plus AEW, so he hasn't been home.  He said shooting TV in COVID is more chaotic than pro wrestling.

Punk said his comeback went as planned.  He said MJF growing up a CM Punk fan was such a huge story in that you got to see it from the perspective of his past through the eyes of someone who lived it.  Now, this is about the future and he's excited to tell the new stories.  He said AEW as it makes him the best he can be and he loves AEW, warts and all, because this is what he dreamt pro wrestling could be since he was 15 and now it is.

Coverage continues Page 2

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet