There were likely collective groans when Taz stood up from the commentary table with a microphone to interrupt CM Punk’s promo on the post All Out, AEW Dynamite. This has nothing to do with the quality of CM Punk or any of the Team Taz members, but fans are at risk of seeing the same feud they’ve seen many times already, just in a different skin.

Team Taz Lose, Lose, And Lose Again

Since Team Taz made their collective debut, they have targeted babyface after babyface, coming up short every time. First it was Darby Allin and Sting, where audiences were greeted with a Sting interview being interrupted most weeks, with the same repetitive segments, becoming tiring to watch after a while. Team Taz members would win here and there, but when it came to big match, they would ultimately lose.

Team Taz

The same thing happened when they targeted big name babyfaces like Christian and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. Both Cage and Hangman cycled through different members of Team Taz, defeating them one by one. The matches were entertaining, but the group lost credibility after each new feud, looking stupid as they targeted new babyfaces, only to come up short. The reason why targeting CM Punk is an issue for them, is that it’ll be the same thing again.

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CM Punk's Momentum Could Be Damaged

With Punk’s likely more limited in-ring schedule, Dynamite could be set for weeks of Punk being interrupted by Team Taz, and vice versa. Of course, AEW could go down different creative routes with this feud. However, the current track record with Team Taz isn’t positive in this regard.

CM Punk came into AEW with huge headlines and a wave of momentum. His debut was electric, and his first match against Darby Allin was hotly anticipated and it delivered.

Feuding with Team Taz as a next step feels a little flat compared to the fire surrounding Punk’s first few weeks in AEW. As has been the case for the likes of Christian and Page, they act as a placeholder before the face goes onto something new. And because this has been seen time and time again, the steam has been taken away from the group, and subsequently for this feud.

punk-rampage-ring

Punk has previously said that Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks are two of the young, up-and-coming stars that he’d like to share the ring with in AEW, and if Punk does end up going through the Team Taz gauntlet, it will give Starks and Hobbs a big rub from working with a legend of the business. However, with the two of them looking to break out in AEW, being trapped in these repetitive feuds, doing the same thing over and over, could be detrimental to their progression and futures in the wrestling business.

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The Feud Is Too Predictable

A better route would be having Team Taz feud with perhaps a lesser face or collection of faces, gaining a few wins, and then facing off with Punk with some of their own momentum behind them. Coming off high profile losses only to enter another feud against one man that they will surely lose against will only derail them further, and those groans will be louder the next time Taz brandishes a microphone and interrupts someone else.

CM Punk Team Taz AEW Dynamite

The predictability is something that hurts this feud too. Whilst many stories have natural and predictable progressions in AEW, while remaining full of life, this feud could be one of those that makes the audience sigh, with arms folded, as they know who the winner will be. Punk, despite his probable willingness to put others over, won’t be losing any time soon, and not to the members of Team Taz. There’s undoubtedly immense quality in the team, with both Hobbs and Starks having exciting futures, but they simply do not have the star power currently to believably defeat CM Punk.

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Do AEW Deserve A Free Pass?

AEW have earned a lot of trust from fans in the last two years, carrying out long-term stories and protecting most of their talent from feeling weak or underused. For that reason alone, the audience could be willing to just let certain things slide, enjoy the action, and ignore the predictable outcome. However, after the awkward opening interaction to this feud, where Punk and Taz were talking over each other with little cohesion, it feels the sting has been taken out of the rivalry before it's been able to get into gear.

CM Punk Taz AEW

Despite the lack of buzz and veubg perhaps an underwhelming second feud for Punk at this point in his AEW career, if it means seeing The Best in the World lock up with some promising talent, it will likely give the fans some good matches. The feud will be okay if it isn’t carried on for months like the previous Team Taz feuds, and if AEW can think up something more creative than interviews being interrupted.