CM Punk was passionate about two WWE stars in 2009, but only one lived up to his expectations.
The Best in the World was breaking into the main event scene in 2009, having already won two World Championships.
The star is back in WWE after a decade-long hiatus, with Punk set to challenge Gunther at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Punk is vocal about his opinions in WWE, and he predicted two stars were set for huge things back in 2009.
CM Punk was a huge fan of Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne in 2009
Punk broke through from the mid-card to the main event during his first run with WWE, and he predicted the same of Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston in 2009.
Asked by Sky Sports about which WWE star to keep an eye on, Punk immediately named the former tag team dubbed ‘Air Boom’.
“I would keep an eye on Kofi Kingston because he is kind of following in my footsteps,” revealed the Best in the World.
“He has got his foot in the door, is constantly doing the right things, and wowing everybody every time he is in the ring,” added Punk.
The star continued with his major prediction for success. “Evan Bourne I’ve already mentioned,” said the WWE star. “Those are probably the two big ones.”
Both men had differing careers in WWE. Kingston became a legendary tag team star with The New Day and eventually broke out as a singles star by winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35.
Bourne, however, was released by WWE just five years later and only ever won one solitary title, the Tag Team Championships with Kingston.
CM Punk continued to support Evan Bourne after WWE release
Punk’s passion for Bourne never subsided, however, and he elevated the star once again when he made his debut in AEW.
The Best in the World debuted on the debut AEW Rampage in 2021 and he wrestled Bourne, then wrestling as Matt Sydal, in his fourth match in the company.
Punk defeated Sydal on the tenth episode of AEW Rampage in a 15-minute match, which received rave reviews from fans.
Sydal is still signed with AEW and his last match came against Konosuke Takeshita on Dynamite in May, 2024.