Every now and again a moment occurs in wrestling that transcends sports entertainment – and more and more this is happening in AEW and not WWE – and the latest of these went down last Friday night when CM Punk returned to the squared circle in his hometown of Chicago on AEW Rampage.

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CM Punk walked out on the business seven years ago after complaining about his bad treatment from the hands of the WWE and Vince McMahon, but even though he failed in his UFC career he’s still absolutely adored by many wrestling fans and none more so than in Chicago. Tickets for the show sold out in 4 minutes and AEW cleared $200,000 worth of merch on Friday night, but the most iconic part of the show was definitely the cameras cutting to some guy in literal tears at witnessing the return of his hero in the flesh.

Get a load of this:

It’s clobberin’ time @CMPunk #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/QMaDo1mAJr

— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) August 21, 2021

CM Punk is literally wrestling jesus in Chicago, no other wrestler could get grown men to cry in that city 😭😭
pic.twitter.com/22OdGKeY9S

— Jake (@JetsandWrasslin) August 21, 2021

Most people who understand wrestling – or even sports entertainment or whatever you want to call it – recognised that this was a moment of great happiness for the guy and respected it as such, but obviously he came into a bit of flak for being so invested in CM Punk’s return on Twitter because you know, the internet:

And that guy crying for cm punk pic.twitter.com/VWAXiz3PTK

— Ets (@Etsmusic__) August 21, 2021

I totally get people being happy for this.

But why are people crying lol? It’s not like CM Punk overcame an injury like Edge. He left WWE and spent years trolling and taking shots and then went back to wrestling after failing in MMA.

Be happy but the tears are cringe 😂

— Smackethdown Layer #MoreMorrison (@SmackdownLayer) August 21, 2021

Nah grown men crying witnessing CM Punk, what the hell is going on

— Ahmed🇸🇴 (@big_business_) August 21, 2021

Anyway, it looks like the dude is gonna head out on top because not only did CM Punk give him a shout out, but Tommy Dreamer also tweeted about him and looks set to offer him an all expenses paid trip to IMPACT Wrestling’s Bound For Glory and also sort out a meet and greet with the CM Punk himself and AEW owner Tony Khan. How do you like them apples?

I’m a Chicago sports guy.

I cried when the Cubs won the World Series, I cried when the Blackhawks won the (Stanley) Cup, the times I was alive when they won the Cup, not back in the 60s.

It means a lot and it means a lot because I’m so attached to Chicago and sports, especially. I understand.

Anyone making fun of that dude, you’re making fun of me too.

There is nothing wrong with being emotional at sporting events or anything you like.

I’ll cry at a Marvel movie.

Thank you for listening @BustedOpenRadio
Great show & crying CM Punk fan
Get a hold of me or @BustedOpenRadio
I’m gonna fly you to @IMPACTWRESTLING BFG
I❤your passion
I will also hit up @CMPunk & @TonyKhan for tix or a meet & greet
F*CK the Haters online
We appreciate you pic.twitter.com/Qdl05w8BNi

— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) August 21, 2021

Sometimes wrestling really is great isn’t it? Need more people crying in the crowd and more comments like this.

For more of the same, check out CM Punk’s inspirational speech after he got battered in UFC. Guy could even pull it out of the bag then.