I didn’t have any preexisting narrative of him in my head. I didn’t know the guy. I quit watching wrestling after the Chris Benoit shit, and didn’t start watching again until well after CM Punk was gone. I had no opinion of the guy until he started wrestling in AEW. I learned about the pipebomb, thought it was awesome. Watched some of his higher rated matches, and while his style wasn’t my favorite, he had really good chemistry with his opponents. So I was interested in seeing him join. I didn’t care for the storylines he was in but whatever the matches were good. Then the dumb shit started and my opinion of him dropped with each thing he said, until All Out when I really didn’t like him. When he came back I lost interest in the show. And now shits just staying the same apparently. So my desire to watch is pretty low.
Had he stayed, Punk would have driven out so much talent and Tony Khan would never be trusted as someone who can put his personal feelings for the benefit of his employees.