CM Punk and WWE and AEW Stars Trending in the Wrong Direction

Wrestling is strong right now. WWE has built incredible momentum with WrestleMania and Backlash, while AEW has shaken off much of the negativity with a stellar inaugural edition of the Dynasty pay-per-view.

While the sport is thriving, several marquee names are trending in the wrong direction.

Between often-injured performers like CM Punk and Rey Fenix and Superstars like Bayley, whose current run as champion has been lackluster at best, several sure-fire situations are falling apart.

Here are the Superstars trending in the wrong direction for 2024.

CM Punk

CM Punk still gets positive crowd reactions, and the WWE Universe has seemingly forgiven the man who belittled them as he quit on them a decade ago, but the writing is on the wall for a series of lackluster performances and injuries.

Punk is a shell of the man who dominated wrestling as a top star for years.

First, the injury bug has impacted Punk more than most other performers, whether in AEW or now WWE. The former world champion is almost 46 years old, with an extensive history of injuries that forced his most recent employers to completely change the booking of their marquee events.

Second, while Punk is satisfied with his place in the company right now, the first time WWE changes a booking decision or storyline direction that the veteran disagrees with, his disgruntled nature will begin to show its ugly head again.

With Drew McIntyre outshining Punk on the mic and in the ring, the Second City Savior will be offended that he is being outshined. When he does come back, the possibility of another injury or temper tantrum will be a dark cloud that follows him for the rest of 2024.

Bayley

There is little doubt that WWE has given Bayley the resume-filling accomplishments she deserves this year—she won the Royal Rumble and the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania—but her stories have been lackluster, resulting in mediocre reactions from the fans.

Bayley has been a cornerstone of the women's division for a decade and deserves so much better.

Since her victory at the 2024 Royal Rumble, Bayley has wrestled in four televised matches, not including her victory over Iyo Sky in Philadelphia. Add in the fact that all the bouts were thrown together with little storyline purpose or direction, and it's clear why the WWE Universe is not excited about the champion's run with the belt.

Odds are that by the time WWE Creative gets around to booking Bayley strong, the fans will be over her reign. As a result, Triple H and company will have no choice but to take the title eventually and put it on someone with more momentum.

It's not Bayley's fault her character is moving in the wrong direction.

Rey Fenix

One of the best in-ring performers in all wrestling is former AEW International Champion Rey Fenix, who had the wrestling world buzzing when he returned to action on Collision, his first match six months after being on the shelf with an injury.

While the crowd went wild for Fenix at the moment, there are now concerns that the veteran could be injured again, as his brother, Penta El Zero Miedo, announced during an independent booking on May 5 that the former champion was not medically cleared to compete.

Fenix may be an in-ring genius, but his inability to stay healthy is concerning.

Most wrestling fans who have seen Fenix wrestle for years—with many people only learning about the luchador through his time in Lucha Underground—but a string of injuries has kept him from attaining the level of stardom he and his brother deserve.

Tony Khan and AEW understand the value they see in the talented Mexican performer, but another possible injury will hurt the creative team's confidence in booking Fenix for marquee matches and storylines.

Injuries may not be Fenix's fault, but he will not reach his potential if he cannot stay healthy.

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