There’s 1 CM Punk opponent no one is talking about

Colt Cabana is the CM Punk opponent no one is talking about.

In the modern landscape of wrestling, some of the most memorable content is when the lines of reality and sports entertainment are blurred. After 7 years, CM Punk famously returned to the ring on the August 20 edition of AEW Rampage and had plenty to say. Punk has a history with many wrestlers backstage, but the opponent most intriguing is the man no one is talking about, Colt Cabana.

The story of Punk and Cabana goes back to the Steel Dominion Wrestling School in St. Paul, MN in 1999. Within the first month of classes, their trainer, Ace Steel, decided to put Punk and Cabana together as a tag team. For the next three years, the duo would compete on the independent circuit as teammates and would eventually lead to a high-profile rivalry between the two.

The success of the duo garnered the attention of Ring of Honor, and quickly, both men were offered contracts. Initially booked as opponents, Punk and Cabana would form the stable, the “Second City Saints” with Ace Steel. As Punk’s stock rose, the team would split up, and Punk would eventually leave ROH for a developmental contract with WWE.

Punk and Cabana would go their separate ways but remained great friends.

Punk would go on to be one the most successful and influential wrestlers of the era, however, he would become frustrated with the company and abruptly quit in 2014. Following his exit, Punk and Cabana would reconnect on Cabana’s podcast, The Art of Wrestling and Punk went into detail about why he left. During the podcast, Punk accused senior ringside physician, Dr. Chris Amann and WWE officials of colluding to conceal injuries of wrestlers to keep them active, citing a nearly fatal MRSA infection he had suffered in his final months with WWE.

Following the broadcast, Dr. Amann sued Punk and Cabana for defamation but was unsuccessful. After the lawsuit, Cabana would sue Punk alleging breach of contract and fraud, claiming Punk agreed to pay his legal fees and was seeking compensation and punitive damages. Punk shortly after would countersue his now-former friend and would take to Twitter to air his grievances.

In September 2019, both parties would drop their suits with no financial compensation.

Both Punk and Cabana have been quiet about their relationship following the suit and have said to prefer to keep their personal lives private, however, it begs the question of Punk’s return to AEW, if this extremely personal conflict will make it to television?

We would bet sooner rather than later.