CM Punk, Becky, Brock make big return to ring
When John Cena made a surprising return at WWE鈥檚 Money in the Bank PPV in July, it created a buzz in the pro wrestling world.
However, that buzz was a whimper compared to what happened last Friday as CM Punk made his AEW debut on Rampage and as both Becky Lynch and Brock Lesnar made their WWE returns on Saturday.
Punk return special
Fans knew for well over a month that CM Punk would return on Rampage last week, but everything about his AEW debut was darn near perfect.
As stated in this column a few weeks ago, there was a reason AEW booked the United Center in Chicago for the show, because the Windy City is Punk鈥檚 hometown.
As soon as Cult of Personality hit to start off Rampage, the roof of the United Center almost blew off.
The ovation Punk received 鈥� there were grown men shown in the crowd crying 鈥� was nothing short of amazing and something that will not be forgotten in the annals of pro wrestling history.
On that night, in that location, with the right person, magic was made.
Pro wrestling has felt stale, and forced to a point, by certain promotions for years, but AEW knew what fans wanted and the promotion gave the fans what they wanted and more.
Next week, we will look at AEW鈥檚 brilliant move of booking several shows in Chicago over a couple of weeks.
If fans would have looked at AEW鈥檚 web page and saw all of the upcoming shows there, Punk鈥檚 return would have been even more obvious than it had already been.
Before moving from Punk, his line Wednesday on Dynamite while fans were chanting 鈥淵es, Yes, Yes,鈥� was priceless.
For this who don鈥檛 now, that phrase has been used in WWE by Daniel Bryan, who real name is Bryan Danielson. Danielson is expected to make his AEW debut under his real name when the company makes its New York City debut.
鈥淭hat is someone else鈥檚 schtick,鈥� Punk said about the yes chant. 鈥淵ou will just have to be a little more patient.鈥�
With that quick line, Punk made the NYC show even more of a big deal as he practically said that Danielson is debuting.
It will be another major coup for AEW as the promotion is listening to its fans and giving them what they want. It had been a long time since there was a special feeling from something in the world of pro wrestling.
And apparently, another is on the way in a few weeks.
Becky Lynch鈥檚 confusing return
Heading into SummerSlam last Saturday, WWE officials knew that Sasha Banks would not be able to face Smackdown champion Bianca Belair.
Carmella was introduced as Belair鈥檚 challenger, but then Lynch鈥檚 music hit, which sent the crowd into a massive frenzy. It was the second massive return in less than 24 hours, but then the air was sucked out of Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Lynch challenged Belair for her Smackdown title and then sucker-punched Belair, hit her with one move and pinned her to win the title in less than 30 seconds.
Just like that, Belair鈥檚 impressive run that began with a win over Banks for the title at WrestleMania, was over.
The crowd was shocked and while Lynch鈥檚 fans cheered, there was a 鈥渄id that really just happen鈥� feel to everything.
First off, when Lynch left after finding out she was pregnant after last year鈥檚 WrestleMania, she gave up the Raw title. Storyline-wise, what gave her the right to challenge for the Smackdown title?
Had Banks been cleared to wrestle, Lynch wasn鈥檛 going to return until October.
If that was the case, why bring her back?
This column was turned in before Smackdown aired live Friday, but the word I received from inside the company said Lynch would be positioned as a 鈥渧illain鈥� moving forward.
WWE dropped the ball with Lynch鈥檚 return.
Sure, have her come back at SummerSlam, but she was WWE鈥檚 most popular performer when she took time off last year. Now WWE is going in a different direction?
For everything AEW did right with Punk, WWE did wrong with Lynch, if she is indeed turning.
Lesnar lays out Reigns
After Roman Reigns retained the Universal championship against John Cena, Brock Lesnar made a surprising return to WWE for the first time since WrestleMania 36 as he laid Reigns out.
The dynamic moving forward, and again, this was written before Smackdown Friday night, the dynamic will be Paul Heyman in the middle of his current client (Reigns) and his money maker (Lesnar).
How long will WWE play out until the pair have their first match? Will they face off at the Saudi Arabia show in October?
Cole done with WWE?
Adam Cole鈥檚 WWE contract is up and his appearance at TakeOver last Sunday may be his last show for the company.
Will he head to AEW where his girlfriend Dr. Britt Baker is one of its major stars?
AEW All Out in theaters
WWE aired SummerSlam last weekend in movie theaters. Now AEW is doing the same as next Sunday鈥檚 All Out will air in some theaters.
For more information, go to www.joehandpromotions.com.
This Day in History
In 1990, NWA world champion Sting defeated The Black Scorpion at Clash of the Champions XII. After the match, another Scorpion came out on stage to set up a feud that would last until Starrcade that December when the Scorpion would be unmasked and revealed as Ric Flair.
In 1991 at Clash of the Champion XVI, Steve Austin retained the WCW TV title against Tom Zenk and the team of Arn Anderson and Larry Zbysko won the vacant tag titles.
This week鈥檚 question
Will Brock Lesnar now be a good guy? Tim from Charleroi.
Without seeing Smackdown Friday, Lesnar is supposed to be a good guy moving forward.
If so, it will be the first time since the early 2000s that Lesnar will be a good guy.