AEW’s strong booking creates interesting path through CM Punk’s injury

CM Punk’s injury wasn’t the news that professional wrestling fans expected heading into his first title run with the promotion. Hopefully, his surgery and recovery create the path for a major return in the future. AEW has released news about a series of matches both within its promotion and New Japan that will set the stage for an interim AEW World Championship match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and the eventual unification match with Punk. While the situation isn’t optimal, it creates a major opportunity for the company.

All eyes will be on Wednesday’s battle royale. Jon Moxley awaits the winner in the main event that evening, but who is going to come out as the person to stand across from him. AEW’s roster is exceptionally deep at a time like this with at least seven individuals who would be a great selection for an interim champion. Ricky Starks, Swerve Strickland, Keith Lee, Wardlow, Eddie Kingston, Bryan Danielson, and of course MJF are just a few of the names that jump off the list.

With Moxley already slotted in his role in the main event, expect some shenanigans in that outcome that lifts the other individual into the final match at Forbidden Door.

There are so many different branching paths that AEW could take. If they don’t announce the participants in the battle royale in advance, that opening match will be the focal point of the wrestling industry. Who is in the match? Who isn’t in the match? Those are two talking points worth hours of content themselves. For example, AEW could keep MJF out of the match to further the idea that he’s truly at odds with leadership – setting up another long-term story within the company.

What makes this possible is the fact that AEW has done a great job in building a deep roster. Punk’s injury doesn’t create a massive hole at the top. Imagine if Roman Reigns was out because of injury, WWE would have maybe three viable options to take his place, or just keep the titles warm until his return.

AEW has done so well with the men’s division that any of the aforementioned individuals could win and receive the support of fans. They could even pull a complete surprise and strap up an individual like Jungle Boy or Orange Cassidy.

Think back to Triple H turning on Seth Rollins to help Kevin Owens win the WWE Universal championship. It was the surprise that fans didn’t see coming and one of the top moments in Owens’s career that helped push him to where he is as a top star today. AEW has the chance to create its first similar moment.

No one was hoping that this would be the situation just days after CM Punk’s first title run in AEW. But the company has quickly responded and thanks to well-crafted characters across the division, AEW can go in a variety of directions and create a positive outcome.