The only way guys in AEW would have a real chance is if Triple H was running the show and that ship was nuked a long time ago.

Right, but we're not talking about Goldberg coming back to have thrilling 2 minute sprints with Brock Lesnar.

We're talking about the Goldberg who almost paralyzed Undertaker, put on numerous stinkers, and at that point didnt really do much to move the needle.

And as soon as the crowd got behind him as a badass he’d come out on Raw with glasses and a pocket protector as Wardlow’s intellectual twin brother Peacelow because he likes to have fun.

goldberg could paralyze a mark and it would still be better business.

Did ratings and profits skyrocket last time he showed up? Cause I don't remember people really givving a shit.

They pop for the entrance, cause thats still cool. But I feel like once the match starts everyone is like "Oh. Right."

We’re not talking about a CM Punk who mattered for a month in 2011 either. What needle is Punk moving? Interest in AEW is going down, not up. Goldberg does make an impact on the ratings and is part of their Saudi deal which makes them millions upon millions of dollars. CM Punk sells maybe 20k t-shirts.

The internet fans are not indicative of the wider audience.

Do a Google trends search between the two. Of course CM Punk has the Rampage spike. But…yeah…

Goldberg’s colonoscopy footage is more valuable than CM Punk.

Goldberg “draws” because people remember him drawing when wrestling was much more popular.

Putting his name on the marquee certainly means something (especially when no other stars have been built to compete with him) but its appeal is VASTLY overrated by certain people.

How much do you think his last run as champion ACTUALLY drew eyes to the product?

How much less money would the Saudi deal have ACTUALLY brought WWE if Goldberg weren’t available?

If you’re starting a wrestling promotion and you have a choice between CM Punk and Goldberg to be associated with it, don’t try and convince me you’d take Punk, lol. You wouldn’t build around Goldberg in 2022/2023, but you would absolutely kill for the attention and merchandising options he opens up for you. And the credibility.

Punk has longer dances. Good for him. That’ll appeal to a smaller percentage of people and you can get a bunch of younger people to do it better without the baggage of being a known bitch and malcontent.

Right, but they are the subject of the meme that this whole discussion is about. I don't know how drawing power entered the debate, because its irrelevant to the arguement.

I should have been clearer from the start, but the reasons some fans disliked Goldberg's more recent runs and title wins, are factors that aren't shared with CM Punk. In that sense, the meme, which is intended to label AEW fans as hypocritical, falls flat on its face.

Not saying Punk is a bigger draw than Goldberg or that there aren't hypocritical AEW fans.

Just saying that meme is hot garbage.

I hear what you’re saying, but I don’t think you can separate why a promotion puts the belt on a guy in any situation. It’s to make money. It’s very cute to be like “well, technically Punk’s younger and does more moves,” but I think that is actually missing the point.

You don’t have to like the meme because you can distance the two, but there’s definitely a comparison to be made that is applicable to some. The irony of “Lol, WWE pushes old guys!” wasn’t lost on me when Chris Jericho was champion either.

We’re just going to have to agree to disagree on this, Fignuts lol

I still think the meme is 3 days old, spoiled dumpster chicken.

Would have made more sense to replace Punk with beer belly jericho now that you mention it.

Homeless Punk looks like he would scavenge for 3 day old spoiled dumpster chicken. Chris Jericho definitely did eat the chicken.

Punk’s ability to carry the load separates him from Goldberg.

Goldberg won the title so that he could pass it on to Braun fucking Strowman.

The idea in both cases could have been to make money but that doesn’t make the situations comparable.

If we are talking money and ratings, Goldberg and WWE obliterate Punk and AEW.

Tiny can say whatever coked up thing he wants to pretend say he can say " LETS FUCKING GO", money from daddy is not income earned by AEW. AEW would be a hell of a front to launder money, alas just infusing outside funds to appear profitable does not make it so, even if the money was not from an illegal soirce.

LOL what load is he capable of carrying? The help young guys get over by beating everybody and becoming champ in 9 months because the idiot owner is his biggest fan? The having a champ who would get his ass beat by the local gas station worker in every town they go to? The act tough on Twitter but disable comments because secretly he is a sensitive little bitch?

Carry those loads Phil, you super accomplished athletically skilled fighter, just don't let anybody talk about Mike Jackson, amirite???

Do you have a problem with people who act tough on social media but then shy away when confronted with reality?

Wanna talk about it?

Goldberg and Punk were put into different spots. Goldberg isn’t going to wrestle every week, but if he were a heel “where have all the real men gone?” with the belt or decided to pick up more dates because he wanted a proper “run,” then it does better business than Punk.

You don’t need to be in the ring for 20 minutes a week doing wristlocks to carry the load. You shouldn’t confuse “isn’t” with “can’t.”

I have never said I could beat up anybody, but ill go on the record right now, I could beat CM Phil in a fight. That dude is so bad he got tickled.

Disappointing to hear

I believe he's been dating NXT's Duke Hudson for a few years so I'd assume that's who the battered party was


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jake Atlas was arrested on 5/23 in and charged with misdemeanor battery (domestic assault) on his partner of several years.<br><br>He was released from jail the same day he was arrested and is set to appear before Orange County, Florida court on 6/28,<br><br>- PWInsider <a href="https://t.co/3h5RAqbe7X">pic.twitter.com/3h5RAqbe7X</a></p>&mdash; WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) <a href="https://twitter.com/WrestlePurists/status/1531432189187043328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yep, it was Duke Hudson (Vink)

https://i.postimg.cc/KcgXFc4w/DH.png

How long has it been since he tore his ACL? It does not seem like that was long enough ago for him to be assaulting anybody.

Meanwhile, WORLD Champion...
https://i.imgflip.com/6i1waq.gif

You have entirely too much confidence both physically and mentally.

I'd beat CM Phil in a fight no doubt.

Mainly because I have no honor and I would throw sand in his eyes and kick him in the balls. It's a fight, rules are for idiots and losers.

In fairness this all assuming that Philadelphia Brooks doesn't also fight dirty. He could always counteract my sand toss with a salt throw and then chop me in the Adams apple. I'd be boned then and also have more respect for CM Phil.

He can't even flip into the ring,the fucking Bellas flip in backwards :rofl:

https://i.makeagif.com/media/4-13-2015/_bxCHf.gif

Take note fan because if we ever go one on one in the ring your perfect record will receive a permanent blemish.

You'll put your hands up and wait for the bell and I'll clap and a sandbag will fall from the rafters and knock you out. Boom. 2-1. Just like that.

And they are way hotter than Punk too!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY Hotter!

WORLD Champion...
https://i.imgflip.com/6i1waq.gif

Vs

IC Champion
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2a/e5...3493ed108f.gif

lol @ the fan logo

All I got to say is CM Punk better be dropping the title clean to a Nick Jackson, Rey Fenix, Darby Allin, Jungle Boy, MJF or a Orange Cassidy.

Oof. Some horrible options right there.

I think AEW has kinda booked themselves into a corner with the world title right now. Most of the credible world title contender talents are all older ex wwe guys (Mox, Danielson, Cole, Black, PAC, etc) and Punk has already worked programs with some of them since his return. Omega still out, Page just dropped the belt, so taking them out of the conversation who else is there? Wardlow obviously, but do you pull the trigger on him so soon after he worked a program with MJF vs Punk? Maybe Jay Lethal? It seems real thin at the top over there.

WWE has a similar issue with a lack of true main event talent right now but they have a bunch of midcarders with enough credibility to shove into a main event feud if they need to.

I wonder if they thought they'd get a potential main event run out off Jeff Hardy at some point too when they signed him. Think that ship has probably sailed though.

Having already beaten Xrod in a real fight despite executing 0 flips, I can tell you it’s a cakewalk.

Tony Khan could take him without breaking a sweat. The only bump he’d take is… well…