Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors on CM Punk, Sami Zayn and More

CM Punk defeated Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Monday night on Raw, and since then, both Superstars have been making headlines for a variety of reasons.

This collection of insider reports is no different.

Dive deeper into the latest on each with updates from the pro wrestling rumor mill.

CM Punk's SmackDown Roster

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Ibou of Self Made Pro reported that WWE has built the SmackDown roster around CM Punk, with the recent moves of Finn Balor, Gunther, and Ricky Saints all being Superstars he is either a fan of or enjoys working with.

If the goal really is to make SmackDown Punk's show, it is a wise move to shape it in his vision. The best work for all involved will come from those who enjoy working together, have proven track records of delivering great in-ring content, and have established histories to build on.

Punk has history with all three men and could immediately pick up where they left off, all while delivering between the ropes. If the creative effort and storytelling can support it, there is ample reason to want to build the roster around a top star, and to his strengths and desires.

Sami Zayn Isn't A Money Player

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Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE does not see Sami Zayn as a big-money player.

He said, "They really are in the hands of the people who the perception is are the money players, and Sami is not in their mind one of those people."

He continued, "He could have been. There was a time where he was, but even then in their minds he still wasn't because it's like one of those things of, they're still all brainwashed by the cosmetics in a lot of ways, and that certain people are good hands but they can't be the guy," (h/t Cageside Seats for the transcription).

That is not particularly surprising, especially to Zayn's biggest fans, who have repeatedly banged their head against the wall, asking why WWE does not capitalize on his ability to get over and push him to the moon as a result.

At his best, Zayn creates unbreakable bonds with the audience, not unlike Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels before him. He is one of those rare Superstars who may not look the part of a megastar, but he makes the audience feel in a way that cannot be workshopped in a creative meeting or manufactured by a marketing department.

We saw it with his role in The Bloodline and how important his Undisputed WWE Championship win on June 27 was. To discount him because of his cosmetics, or to have some preconceived notion of who a star can and cannot be, conflicts with the idea that the audience dictates who the top performers in the company are.

That has long been an issue facing the company, regardless of who is at the forefront or in charge.

Update on AEW Contract Negotiations

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AEW announced Wednesday on Dynamite that Jack Perry has re-signed with the company.

While Perry was not specifically mentioned, Ibou also reported on Self Made Pro that "there is less of an incentive for Tony Khan to overpay people to stay in his company, especially if they're not significant impact players," (h/t Cageside Seats for the transcription).

He added that former AEW stars' struggles in WWE are partly to blame for the philosophy shift.

How that ends up affecting free agents from across the pro wrestling landscape remains to be seen but it appears as though the days of throwing blank checks at stars to keep them under contract, or to acquire their services, may be over.