Cody Rhodes won't put CM Punk before the current roster.
With All Elite Wrestling heading to Chicago for All Out on Aug. 31, speculation has already run rampant over whether or not hometown hero CM Punk will appear at the show. Last year at All In, also held in Chicago, many fans believed Punk was going to make a surprise appearance as he was confirmed as being in Chicago during the weekend of show. However, the show came and went without an appearance by Punk.
Speaking to Connor Casey of ComicBook.com, AEW Co-Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes reiterated that the door is always open for Punk, but he will not spend his hours chasing the Voice of the Voiceless.
"I have 25 to 35 brand new stars. Guys like Jungle Boy. Guys like MJF. Ladies like Kylie Rae, Britt Baker. If I was to spend all my time in trying to recruit just one CM Punk I would be doing a disservice to them," said Rhodes. "I felt, in the past, with my own career that a disservice that has happened to me on occasion about putting someone ahead of me. You always hear the discussion of part-time, this and that. I don't want to go too far there but I want to make AEW about performers we have. That door will forever remain open to CM Punk. He was very good to me in OVW. He was a great person to learn from in the ring. I had a good relationship with him. That door will remain open, but for All Out the main focus for me is Hangman Page and Chris Jericho to determine the very first AEW World Champion."
Punk has denied his involvement with AEW on multiple occasions, but that hasn't stopped fans from asking or being disappointed when he doesn't show up.
— CM Puck-- (@CMPunk) June 13, 2019
As of now, Punk is not scheduled to appear at AEW All Out, and it is unknown if he will be in or around the Chicago area at the time of the event.
