Three AEW and WWE stories to watch for the week of August 22

Professional wrestling is on an up-swing with a lot to look forward to across the major promotions. Kazuchika Okada picked up another victory in the G1 Climax, CM Punk and Jon Moxley have a major match scheduled for AEW Dynamite, and WWE continues to improve its weekly content, much too the enjoyment of fans. With that in mind, here are three points to look for across professional wrestling.

CM Punk versus Jon Moxley

The CM Punk and Jon Moxley angle seems to have taken on more of a realistic standpoint than just what happens on the scripted show. Multiple reports have come out around disagreements involving CM Punk and their impact on the AEW locker room. Punk versus Moxley was a huge match that many expected to see at All Out in September, but now it’s coming in just a few days. What does that mean for the outcome? Should fans be concerned about stories involving such a high level of disdain in the locker room so close to the one-year anniversary of Punk’s return to wrestling?

These are both tough questions, but what is even more intriguing is how this match will play out. AEW doesn’t do many non-finishes, and nearly everything fans see on television matters. If Moxley wins, does that mean there’s more to the issues with Punk and AEW? If Punk wins, who steps into the title picture for All Out? This is perhaps the biggest story in North American wrestling this week.

Dexter Lumis’ return to WWE

The last two weeks have seen some cliffhanger situations to WWE content. The major of which has involved Dexter Lumis. The former NXT competitor continues to show interest in AJ Styles, getting closer to the multiple-time champion with each attempt. His name even popped up on WWE NXT when Indi Hartwell received a letter from him, hinting at the reuniting of InDex. That’s a simple show of synergy across WWE shows, while minor, is an important arc in creative improvement in recent weeks.

Still, no one is sure what this angle truly means and how it will impact the main roster product. Expect to see Lumis pop up again on television and perhaps this is the week where some answers come to light.

Featuring the women’s division at All Out

Only two weeks remain before All Out comes to fans during Labor Day weekend. The card is taking shape as matches are announced during Dynamite and Rampage. One question is how the women will be featured in this showcase event. Toni Storm gets a second shot at Thunder Rosa’s AEW Women’s World Championship in a match that wasn’t met with much excitement. Jade Cargill is still locked into an angle with Athena, one that hasn’t had the heat that many fans expected when she was brought into the company months ago.

All Out will feature a Casino Ladder match and surprises are always welcome. But this should be an opportunity for the women to take part in a Casino Ladder Match of their own. Both singles titles do not seem to have a lot of direction going for them at this time and putting on a big match like this for the first time in AEW would help build excitement for all involved.