Amy Nemmity was on the AEW Rampage media call after CM Punk’s debut, and transcribed these notes.
CM Punk on his AEW contract:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
The biggest appeal of AEW is that everyone looks like they've showed up to have a good time. It's not a part time thing, and I'm here to have fun and to help.
Q Wrestling Inc #AEWRampage
CM Punk on his debut in Chicago:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I teared up a lot, and thought I was going to cry even more! It's very emotional. You wonder if people care, and it felt like a real moment. I didn't want to think too much about what I was going to say.
Q @BR_Doctor #AEWRampage
CM Punk on what changed his mind on wrestling:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I've been talking to Tony for a year and a half about this. People have said since ECW folded "I have money, I'm starting a promotion". But I talked to Tony, got to know him, and waited for post pandemic.
Q Comic Book#AEWRampage
CM Punk on stepping out tonight:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I was extremely nervous all week. Eddie Kingston was like "What are you talkin about? Why are YOU nervous?"
Being nervous is a good thing. I'd rather be nervous than not care. I was emotional, I love this again.
Q Busted Open#AEWRampage
CM Punk on training for All Out
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I haven't really been doing anything different, no dedicated in ring training yet. I've been working out to be in shape to be in my underwear again.
This is like riding a bike, I want it to be authentic.
Q Daily Southtown#AEWRampage
CM Punk on tonight compared to his MITB moment
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
This feltorganic. Everything I ever did felt like a fight & it squeezed the life out of things. This was pure joy, didn't need to be overproduced, a bunch of input, just understanding.
This felt real. #AEWRampage
CM Punk on ice cream bars
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
That's me, it's like Andy Kaufman. It represents an idea of something that is gift wrapped. This is personal to me, and is a way to say thank you to the fans.
Q Sports Illustrated#AEWRampage
CM Punk on this being THE time
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I knew that if I died or got hurt, no one would care. With AEW, it reminded me of placed I used to love, where it's about the spirit of the thing.
AEW doesn't feel like a house, it feels like a home.
Q Sports Illustrated#AEWRampage
CM Punk on working with Dark and Elevation
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
Pretty sure I'm gonna be a television guy, but I won't rule anything out. I haven't seen Dark/Elevation yet, I'm not a techology guy. I don't really know anything about YouTube, I still watch DVDs.#AEWRampage
Q Jim Varsallone
CM Punk on putting new talent over
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
Puts over @RealBrittBaker as someone to keep an eye on, says if he saw @DarbyAllin when I was a kid, he would be his favorite wrestler. He's obsessed with his dive & says he's come so long in wrestling this year.#AEWRampage
Q: WrestleJoy
I JUST GOT TO ASK CM PUNK A QUESTION WHAT EVEN IS LIFE.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
CM Punk says there's a time and place to be deadly serious about this business, and a time to go have fun. I want to do both.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
People in charge here, let people make their own mistakes, and let people fly with creativity.
There's so much joy back here in AEW.#AEWRampage
Tony Khan says he and CM Punk stayed in touch, Punk had clearly watched some Dynamites, and they had a lot of conversations about it. It made no point to come in without fans, so waiting until we could hit Chicago with fans, was perfect.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
Q New York Post#AEWRampage
Tony Khan says that he and CM Punk have been in talks for nearly two years, exchanging ideas, talking about plans, and planning out the First Dance at the United Center in Chicago. #AEWRampage
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
Q New York Post
Tony Khan on future venues
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
There hasn't been wrestling in the United Center in a long time. It was CM Punk's idea, it was brilliant. Arthur Ashe will be really special, CM Punk will be a big part of that (CM Punk quickly looks like WHAT?!) 😂#AEWRampage
Q Big Gold Belt Media
CM Punk says @LivingColour's Cult Of Personality was ALWAYS going to be the song. He ran it by his wife, and there was never any other song he would use.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
Q Stephanie Chase#AEWRampage
CM Punk on "the worst kept secret"
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
Watching what happened with Brodie, and how everyone handled it, showed me how much they could respect people and each other.
I walked in like a human being. Having fun behind and in front of the camera. No one's spoiling stuff. #AEWRampage
CM Punk on wrestling, commentary, or future plans with AEW
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I'm sure I'm going to do absolutely everthing. I don't need to be called a "producer" to give advice or help someone with their match. Everything I do, I want it to be about giving back. #AEWRampage
Q Bill Pritchard
CM Punk on falling in love with wrestling again
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
He's careful with his words, reaffirms that in 2005, he left professional wrestling. In 2021, he returned.
I didn't despise pro wrestling. I'm happy with pro wrestling, that's a beautiful thing.
Q Wrestle Talk#AEWRampage
Tony Khan says that they wanted to have a big surprise moment, but that they also wanted to sell out the building. They wanted a big surprise but one that people could anticipate. The buzz was palpable, and this was the right call. I credit CM Punk for this. #AEWRampage
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
CM Punk says they don't really have any problems in the locker room. He doesn't have any issues with anyone. It's been a very positive night, there's no reason to have anything negative about it. #AEWRampage
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
CM Punk says he doesn't really want to dive into "gossip" type questions on a great night like this. #AEWRampage
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
CM Punk on exciting moments in the ring
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
CM Punk says he's excited about working with @FlyinBrianJr, @TrueWillieHobbs, @starkmanjones, @boy_myth_legend, @JonMoxley, @youngbucks, @KennyOmegamanX.
The possibilities are endless, I'm looking to have FUN
Q Sean Radican#AEWRampage
CM Punk on his legacy and AEW
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I was the kid that Terry Funk, Harley Race, Eddie Guerrero and Dusty Rhodes loved. I'd like my legacy to be someone that helps build younger stars. The guy that helps people, instead of sitting there just being a dick.
Q @JonAlba #AEWRampage
Tony Khan on Daniel Garcia
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
He's been tremendous with us, it's great to have a fresh young heel come in, get thrown into the fire, and succeed in any situation. He's under an agreement, hopefully he'll be with us for a long time.
Q @JonAlba #AEWRampage
CM Punk on Forbidden Door
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) August 21, 2021
I'm an AEW guy (Tony giggles SO happily at this). I have freedom to pursue anything I like. I don't have to be on every show but Tony Khan gets Pole Position, I'm here for AEW, we'll see what the future holds for elsewhere.
Q Give Me Sport#AEWRampage
