CM Punk. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Did CM Punk subliminally send out a recruitment pitch to MJF?

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 4/2/24

CM Punk is the hottest topic in wrestling right now.

His bombshell interview with Ariel Helwani on "The MMA Hour" has ensured he is firmly back in the limelight.

Yet, one segment of the interview appears to have been overlooked, and that was when Punk was discussing MJF's potential within the industry.

"Yeah, the talent there is unbelievable," Punk said. "I just think it’s presentation and environment. I think MJF is great and where he wasn’t great is when he catered to that small niche internet audience. There is levels. If that’s their audience. Go for it."

Punk's comment about catering to a niche audience could be construed as a shot at AEW. Elsewhere in his interview, he spoke about the company being stuck in an indie mindset.

"A lot of people, I think, are still just stuck in that indie mindset," he said. "And again, it’s where I came from. There’s nothing wrong with it. But you’re more happy with some goof saying that you had a five-star match and the building’s a quarter full, we’re not in the same business. I know a lot of people are going to be upset. It’s just not predicated. It’s not a real business. It’s not about selling tickets. It’s not about drawing money. It’s not about making money… I think having good matches, maybe. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

If AEW is stuck in an indie mindset, then perhaps whatever MJF does with the company could be seen as catering to a niche audience. Furthermore, MJF is currently a free agent. He hasn't been seen on AEW programming since losing his title at World's End. He was recently removed from AEW's roster page on their website.

Punk's comments may have been based on a certain time frame or storyline that MJF was involved in. However, given his current contractual status and his very much WWE-style wrestling, there's always the chance that this was a subliminal recruitment pitch.

MJF's future is still a hot topic. Many believe he has already re-signed with AEW and is out with injury. However, until that belief is proven to be fact, speculation will continue. Tony Khan has recently beaten WWE to multiple free agents. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if WWE managed to get a hit of its own by adding MJF to their roster.

Perhaps Punk knows something the rest of us don't.

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