AEW Rampage: The First Dance - United Center

CM Punk Wrestling Return 

AEW Rampage 20th August 2021 - the day that CM Punk returned to professional wrestling.

The debut episode of AEW Rampage from The United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Appropriately named “The First Dance”, similar to the name of the Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls documentary series on Netflix.

The opening shots show multiple angles of the arena and audience in the arena. Deafening chants of “CM PUNK! CM PUNK! CM PUNK!” fill the atmosphere inside the United Center. 

Those in attendance go quiet for a split second as the music hits. “Cult of Personality” begins to play to the eruption of the crowd as they realise that their dream is becoming a reality. With the camera going around the arena and to one man shouting what everyone is thinking “ OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!”

Punk emerges from Gorilla and through the tunnel on the right hand side of the stage, with an electric reaction from the crowd. The crowd raises the noise levels so high that it drowns out the entrance music for the “Best In The World!. 

An atmosphere unlike any other in recent memory, continues as CM Punk falls to his knees after the reception that he receives from his home crowd of Chicago. The former WWE Champion can be seen as visibly emotional at the top of the ramp, trying to take in the moment as well as most of the wrestling fans watching this on TV and those in the arena.

Excalibur on commentary says “CM Punk has arrived in All Elite Wrestling '' as Punk walks down the ramp. Along with the great Jim Ross saying “this building hasn’t shook like this since Jordan was here, this is Jordan-esque” showing the reaction of the local fans and what it feels like to be in the arena for this moment. 

Followed by almost stage diving into the fans on both sides of the ramp to the elation of those in the front row seats. Diving into both sides of fans and hugging fans on both sides with JR then saying “the hometown hero has come home after 7 years”

The “best in the world” can be seen looking around the arena multiple times to take in the moment himself. Sharing moments and embracing multiple fans around the ring, which those fans will never forget. Before ascending to the top rope and shouting in the crowd to the elation of the crowd who respond with equal energy in response. 

The Best In The World has returned to pro wrestling with AEW after 7 long years.