CM Punk's time with AEW was tumultuous, to say the least, with a myriad of backstage arguments and confrontations eventually leading to him being released by the company. However, while he did bring a lot of negativity to the company, he also did a lot of positive work with his star power bringing plenty of eyes to the product.
RELATED: 10 Things AEW Fans Should Know About CM Punk's Relationship With Tony Khan
Throughout his time in AEW, Punk was involved in a lot of big moments and storylines that more than proved his worth. Whether it was cutting incredible promos or putting together entertaining matches, Punk showcased what he could have offered on a long-term basis had it not been for backstage problems.
10 Promo Battle With Eddie Kingston
CM Punk was one of the best talkers on the AEW roster throughout his time with the company, but putting him against Eddie Kingston truly tested him. The Mad King is equally as gifted on the microphone and seeing them together in a promo battle to build up their match led to a great segment.
They both brought a lot of realism and talked about issues in the past, blurring the lines as to what was real and what was in the storyline. The intensity that Kingston brought only helped to add to the situation as fans could feel the tension.
9 His Final Match
CM Punk's final match in AEW just so happened to be one of his greatest moments during his time on the roster. He got the chance to open one of the biggest events in professional wrestling history against one of his biggest rivals ever in Samoa Joe, and they put on a brilliant match.
RELATED: AEW All In 2023: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best
If Punk never wrestles again that is how his entire career will end, defeating Joe in the middle of the ring at Wembley Stadium. Despite how many years he's been in the business, that was an epic moment that fans will certainly cherish.
8 Bringing Back His ROH Theme
Tony Khan is a big fan of Ring Of Honor, hence why he ended up purchasing the company. While CM Punk never had any matches for ROH, he did bring back his theme song from that period at AEW Revolution when his theme music from that time blared out.
While fans love his classic "Cult Of Personality" theme, seeing this come back was a big moment for old-school Punk fans. It rewarded them for supporting him for such a long time and the huge reaction it received proved it was the right call.
7 First Match Back
The first match that CM Punk had since returning to professional wrestling was against Darby Allin, and while it may not have been his best match in AEW, the moment itself meant a lot to fans. It was a huge deal to see Punk wrestling again, and allowing him to mix it up with a star of the future worked well.
The two men had good chemistry and it led to an engaging encounter, even though there wasn't much storyline behind it overall. Simply seeing Punk back in the ring was an epic situation in its own right that will go down in AEW history.
6 Teaming With Sting
Another great AEW moment for CM Punk that involved Darby Allin also featured Sting. The three of them teamed up for a six-man tag team match that was a lot of fun to see, especially since Punk channeled his inner Stinger by painting up his face.
RELATED:10 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About CM Punk
Simply seeing two iconic wrestlers competing on the same team and working together was brilliant, with Punk actively looking like he was having a great time in this one.
5 Defeating Jon Moxley
The first match that CM Punk and Jon Moxley had was a disappointment due to how short it was, but the second encounter was far more engaging, hard-hitting, and competitive. It is what people expected between two veteran wrestlers like themselves, and it created a fun encounter for fans.
Punk reminded everyone just how good he is at telling stories inside the ring, while Moxley brought the violence like only he knows how to do. It created a match that will stand the test of time, allowing fans to go back and enjoy Punk at his best.
4 Counterfeit Bucks
CM Punk has always been a great talker, which is something he proved on the debut episode of AEW Collision, which he was originally the face of. He took a shot at The Young Bucks by claiming he was "One Buck Phil, in a business full of counterfeit bucks," which was a great line that got people talking.
It showed how good a rivalry between him and The Elite could have been if Tony Khan had tapped into the idea. Either way, his original return promo was a great one that instantly got people behind him once again.
3 Becoming AEW World Champion
CM Punk's original AEW World Championship run didn't quite go to plan overall, but the moment of him winning it against Adam Page was certainly a big one. It was the pinnacle of Punk's time in AEW as he reached the peak of the company which is a spot he deserved to be in.
The match itself was perfectly fine, although not a classic, yet the moment itself is one that fans will remember. People wanted Punk to reach this point, and seeing him achieve that goal was important for him.
2 His Debut
CM Punk's original debut with AEW was a huge moment in professional wrestling history, as he shocked the world and did the unthinkable. Nobody thought Punk would end up back in a wrestling ring, therefore seeing him standing inside the ring with a microphone in his hand was an epic moment.
RELATED: 10 Biggest Booking Errors Of CM Punk's Wrestling Career
The fact he was able to sell out the arena without even being officially confirmed it proved the star power that he still has in the business. Punk's promo was a lot of fun, focusing on the future and it certainly built up the hopes of fans around the world.
1 Dog Collar Match
Out of everything that CM Punk did throughout his time in AEW, the dog collar match he had against MJF was the true highlight. The two of them had a brilliant feud and their chemistry both on the microphone and in the ring was clear, and adding this historic stipulation only helped add to that magic.
They held nothing back in a very hard-hitting match that proved to be a bloody affair. It brought the best out of each man, and that is something that led to them putting on a match that few people will forget.
