Just watched Punk’s return. There was nothing he could have done to turn heel on that crowd.

Well.. Adam did say we'd only get a year of Punk..

Sorry, but the actual thing was way better. There's just no way to turn CM Punk heel in Chicago on his return.

Although i love the story telling direction Adam took with his version, I kind of appreciated how simple the actual debut was. Him just coming out there and soaking up the pure hype of the moment made the whole thing feel like a true event, not just another week of wrestling (which again I will say, great work Adam!).

This is why Adam can't be in the fantasy booking tournament, just too good at this.

“Mr. Kahn, Adam’s video is up…” Tony Kahn: “literally just write it down and show me later”

Little did we know we really DID only get one year of Punk. How crazy that Adam mistakenly predicted that lol

Before the video: man, don’t use Colt. You know the story. After the video: man, you’ve gotta use Colt. It makes beautiful sense. Another winner, Adam.

Adam should be the final boss of the Fantasy Booking tournament. He's the Brock Lesnar of Fantasy Booking, no one else comes close.

Imagine them actually trying to make him heel on night one. I don’t think the crowd will want to boo him at all. Maybe later in his run but not tonight

"Do you disagree? Let me know by starting a wrestling promotion, signing talent from all over the world, building 2 years of hype, and debuting CM Punk on Rampage ohmygodit'shappenening"

Sorry Adam but for once, they did it better.

0:12 Adam showing the date of his Wrestletalk debut

We should totally get a sequel to the Embrace the Hate: What if John Cena turned heel on the Rock

the reality was way simpler.. and way way better

AEW did it better. They just let him come out and talk after the biggest pop in wrestling history. And gave everyone ice cream. Adam loses.

Having him lose to QT Marshall on his debut was a weird call, ngl

I'm begging for a CM Punk and MJF feud at some point. MJF heeling it up with Cult of Personality will bring on unimaginable levels of nuclear heat.

This entire thing was based on Adams belief that Punk didn't want to be in wrestling anymore. It appears that he couldn't have been more wrong.

oh god aew has knocked his return out of the park

Almost always love Adam's booking. Especially that he keeps continuity with his previous fantasy booking, which is more than can be said for alot of non-fantasy booking (looking at you WWE). Only issue I see is getting Punk for that many appearances.

Imagine Cult of Personality hits lights go out. Figure walks out backwards. Hoodie up. Turns around and it's MJF gives the crowd the finger.

Codys Catchphrase: "I AM THE CHAIR!!" lol!

I’ll be driving over to Chicago here shortly, and it will be my first AEW show, my first live wrestling show in a few years, and just over ten years since my first wrestling show, which just so happened to be MITB 2011 when CM Punk ran up the stairs past me and my dad and I got to pat him on the shoulder. Even if he doesn’t show, it’ll still be a fun time. I’ll have a four hour drive back to Iowa to decide if it was a disappointment, but I don’t think it will be.

I agree with this booking but to have him not face Darby is criminal

Mate, I've been looking forward to this so much. The decision to have it live the day of for instant comparison is so bold. Billy big bollocks move. I trust that whichever version ends up happening, your version or the AEW original plan, it'll be awesome. Though if it is yours, issue a DMCA takedown to cash in on all that Khancoin! Edit: I loved it. Of course. I hope they make the most of the Year of Punk!

The fact that CM Punk is booked so well without once winning a title shows the excellent depth of AEW’s roster. They have so many great stars the Punk doesn’t need to be a champion

I'm sorry Adam, I love you and your booking, but AEW did it better

The idea of Cody going back on his own self made stipulation, and instantly becoming Champion off Hangman of all people, made me wanna punch a wall. This is the only thing I want now.

Now this does put a smile on my face

I want to see Adam do a “protected move list” like best finishers that don’t get kicked out of….

Damn. This was spot on !!!! It’s also how AEW gets the most for their money and fans get the dream matches we’ve wanted !

i would love more AEW bookings by Adam, even though I guess he doesn't have as much material as WWE, given AEW is only 2 years old

I totally understand the "I don't think he wants to do this" sentiment. I thought that too before last Friday. But Jesus that man seemed pumped to be a pro wrestler again. It was something Adam couldn't have foretold: a CM Punk who wants to take bumps at every Dynamite and Rampage and PPV until it isn't fun any more. Great booking, but I'm so glad we live in a universe where love of the game prevailed.

If anything Adam was on point about the year of Punk thing

Scary how accurate this is, Only got Punk for one year in AEW lol

And a year later, punk is suspended and colt is fired

I like the story, I just don’t get why he should lose most of his matches… its not like he’s retiring straight after returning.

Book: “What if Adam went to Cultaholic”

This was really good. The only change I would make is to have Punk win against Moxley. I think he needs at least one big win before having a title shot. But having him wrestle ex-WWE guys to bring in new fans is the right concept. Nice job!

I wanted Jake Hager vs Punk in an MMA match. Just kidding. Great job Adam. As Always.

The Colt booking is just insane now with hindsight

Lost me at the heel part. If you believe for split second that after 7 years a Chicago crowd would boo Punk under any circumstance you’re tapped. He could piss on a Cubs shirt and they cheer. Punk isn’t heel or face he’s a maverick and you can’t work that

That 1 year thing was pretty spot on lol

Adam genuinely gets me giddy with his story telling and I’m not afraid to admit it! 😊

After the recent fight and stripping Punk of the AEW world title, that "you have me for ONE YEAR" is ringing a bit harder than before.

CM Punk's real AEW debut is perfection. No bollocks. Just pure emotion and excitement

The biggest issue I have with this booking is that Adam is essentially treating Punk like just another wrestler that signed to AEW like Malakai Black or Andrade, instead of one of the most influential wrestlers that disappeared from the ring 7 years ago. Look at the reaction from not only the people in the crowd, but the guys at WrestleTalk when his music hit and he walked out. That is how much Punk and what he brings means to people. You don't just put him in a bunch of "blah blah" matches with thin storylines and call it a day. I'm actually excited about Punk facing off against the younger guys. It would be like Ring of Honor all over again. No doubt that if Bryan Danielson signed with AEW he would be doing that too.

Aw man, Kingston Versus Punk in a promo off is the stuff of legend

Great booking but not having him face Darby as a full blown heel, and have an altercation with Sting in the process, is criminal. Also there are other BEAUTIFUL options that should be unmissable, such as Malakai Black vs Punk, PAC vs Punk, Andrade vs Punk (link it up with Chavo since Chavo and Punk had a rivalry back in WWECW), Will Ospreay vs Punk (since Ospreay announced at Resurgence that he's ready to face anyone in America for the his IWGP World Heavyweight title, declared himself The Best In The World and took a shot at AEW, and Punk always wanted to face him, so it makes perfect sense), Punk vs Archer, Punk vs Christian on a Dynamite since there's already a rich history between the 2, Punk vs Miro sounds interesting..... Hell, I even believe that you could bring other NJPW talent to face him: Okada, Tanahashi, Jay White (the promos would be AMAZING), Kota Ibushi, Shingo.... The possibilities are endless.

It's easy to say that 12 hours after the fact, but I don't think turning Punk heel on night one would've worked. Maybe wait until All Out, or even better, the Dynamite after All Out, let Chicago get their cheers out of their system Maybe turn Punk heel on Danielson or Page

Welp, this vid is sad now 😅

WWE really dropped the ball with punk, should've let him main event vs the rock instead of cena rock 2, wish they didn't ruin the summer of punk 🤦

Adam was right about a few things on Punks run in AEW... but over all this hasn't aged well.

I got goosebumps from this. Adam is on another level.

I think you can't turn him heel for the first night, you just can't. I mean, people were too happy to see him, he could have killed their dog and pissed on its grave they still would have cheered him. But for the rest, I 100% agree and I love it. Can't wait to see what will happen next. :D

IT'S BOOKERING TIME! I fell off my chair, nice one, Adam.

There's two kinds of gambling: Putting it all on the roulette table in Vegas, and making this video. Also, speaking of gambling, rebook Heroes of Wrestling.

AEW did it better

Funny that Adam called a few lines that MJF used . Adam just attributed them to Kingston . The two feuds Adam spends time on are MJF / Kingston which were Punk’s first actual feuds in the company . Adam is really good at this .

Adam: "Have Colt cut a promo then Punk comes in to turn heel" *After watching AEW Rampage* AEW: "We just let him walk out"

You might have been right about the whole 1 year thing damn

How many are coming back to this after everything that has happened between AEW and CM Punk

I give Punk no more than 10 matches in his first year and that still feels like a huge number.

"Even at fantasy booking nobody can touch me!"

Good job Adam. I liked it especially the beginning with Colt. Only thing more I could have asked for is to somehow working AJ into the story but that may be too much.

I usually really like Adam’s fantasy booking but I just really disagreed with this one. After 7 years of fans wanting Punk to come back, he would return and try to get everyone to hate him? And for his first promo to be a “you people” promo? This one just didn’t do it for me, sorry

Fantastic booking Adam!!! It was extravagant, I’m using SAT words to describe how good it was

Well things didn't quite go this route, but CM Punk's actual debut was INCREDIBLE!

I would LOVE to see Punk hold up a Ice cream Bar of himself and says, "I came back for this...not you..."

Well Adam was right about punk only being there a year. Don’t think he thought it would the way it did but I mean he was right

Chicago will burn the United Center down part was hilarious 😂

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaackkkkkkkkkkkkk

CM Punk, CM Punk, CM Punk!

Watching this after a few months and seeing that 2 big fueds he called right. Being MJF and Kingston. Love it

Well Adam got one thing right. CM Punk did last 1 year.

I usually love your booking Adam, but in this one case I gotta say i'm against it entirely.

I love how this booking boils down to "Punk turns heel and puts half the roster over for a year before quitting again" because I can definitely see it happening.

Can I just say how happy I am seeing Adam on my screen, I know he's been back a while but I just love him as a person so much

I love how Adam (jokingly) credits Bischoff for being his dad but hes got the booking mind of Paul Heyman. His booking "what ifs" are the very definition of imagination and storytelling and are way better than Marvel's "what if...".

Always great booking, Adam, but i think AEW will nurture the love between Punk and the fans before turning him heel a la Hogan 1996. The fans will be heartbroken and the heat will be nuclear. Daniel will become the prominent face in the company.

This is interesting. You did a really great job laying it out and you also did a really good job recreating exactly the kinds of things Punk would say in a heel turn. But that debut was incredible in its simplicity and there is 0% chance he could have turned heel in front of that crowd.

This is why if there is another booking tournament Adam needs to Shao Kahn at the end of the tournament..I watch that

Now I know why Adam can't be included in the booking warfare! He's too damn good!

CM PUNK DEBUTS TONIGHT!

This is really smart, really like the way this was imagined and the grabbing of new and lapsed fans, and the Cody HHH comparison was really good, this was awesome, good job

Wow 1 year later and we basically got just 1 year of punk

Would've loved to have seen a Punk VS Darby feud at some point in your plan, but great booking as usual, Adam.

Love you, Adam! Your bookings are legendary!

This was honestly insane. I would love to see this play out in real life. Good work here adam, you're a creative genius.

Punk could have stabbed my Gran in front of me last night and I wouldn’t have Boo’d him.

After watching rampage I have to say cm punk could kill a puppy and the crowd still wouldn't boo him.

I'm here from the future! I'm here to say that there is now one way he can turn heel on the crowd

I'm saying this after only the opening night booking: It's already great!

Adam I’m sorry but I love the actual way they did it

Yes! The one we’ve been waiting for

I would love an one year run in this style. Dont think AEW is gonna go this route but damn it for sure would be a fun one. Great video Adam and maybe in a year we look back at this video and you hit some target points

I didnt notice until now that Adam is back in KZfaq, so good to see this guy again

For the first time Adam's booking was worse than the real deal

Yeah, turning heel on Colt Cabana never would have worked. That crowd was ravenous for Punk right out the gate and anyone would have turned into AEW's Roman Reigns (the bad version) if they set foot out there first. Fun bit of fantasy booking, but AEW absolutely made the right call with his debut. Still curious where they're going to go with his first match against Darby.