The Pro Wrasslin' Thread (WWE, WWF, WCW, TNA, ROH, NWA, NJPW, etc)

[PAOerfulone]

I feel like it’s completely fitting and just right that CM Punk is now in AEW. Because the Pipebomb promo in 2011 was the very first seed that was planted which led to AEW. That was the very first thing that set things in motion.

Everything that has happened which led to AEW:

- The rise of Daniel Bryan.

- WWE signing up every notable indie talent or guys who were stars in other promotions under the sun: Kevin Steen (Kevin Owens), El Generico (Sami Zayn), Prince Devitt (Finn Balor), Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, Kenta, Asuka, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, etc. Which led to the indies and those other companies getting more awareness or attention. Especially Styles and Nakamura for New Japan.

- Cody Rhodes leaving and making a name for himself in NJPW and ROH and befriending the Elite. And creating All In (which was very coincidentally held in Chicago!) and meeting Tony Khan.

- The Okada/Omega match at Wrestle Kingdom 11. Yes, THAT match. The one where Meltzer creams in his pants every time he thinks about it. Omega was in that position and got the push thanks in large part to Styles and Nakamura leaving. 

- And that match caught Chris Jericho’s attention. Because for the longest time up to that point, Jericho would always say he would never work for any other company besides WWE, because it was the only big game in town. Then, here comes Kenny Omega, another Winnipeg boy. And clearly Jericho was impressed enough by him that he ultimately reconsidered and they did the match at Wrestle Kingdom the following year. And THAT’S when things REALLY got interesting.

All the things I just listed, all the factors that led to AEW, it all goes back to CM Punk and that promo in 2011.

That Pipebomb promo will go down as one of the single most important promos in wrestling history. Right up there with “The New World Order of wrestling, brother!” and “Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass!”