"Tell me when I'm tellin' lies"

[CM Punk makes his entrance with his wrestling boots tied around his neck, he carries a red bag to the ring. Punk takes off the AEW branded logo on the microphone before speaking. The Chicago crowd chants for Punk as he stands in the ring.]

CM Punk: "I don't know if you guys heard, but I'm tired of being nice. [Crowd pops.] Gone 10 months with a ruptured triceps tendon, tore straight off the bone. But I'm still here, and as long as I am, this is the professional wrestling... business. It's a business of grown ups. This has never been a popularity contest! We all know that I probably would have lost that a long time ago. So tonight we're gonna have a little conversation about the future, but first, I would like to have a little conversation about my past. Which, I don't think is checkered.

If you would've told 15-year-old me that you're gonna sell out the Budokan, that you're gonna sell out Madison Square Garden, that you're gonna sell out -- multiple times over -- every single building in Chicago with a roof... well, I'm not sure little Punker would've believed you. It's because he didn't experience what present me, standing here in front of all you crazy bastards, has experienced. I'm tired of being nice! Tell me when I'm tellin' lies. I did all these things and I got here to this place, riding a wave, riding the backs of smart, passionate professional wrestling fans like you! And oh gosh, I never fit in somewhere more in my entire life than I have here in professional wrestling. I love you for it, I love you because you love me! And you love me because I have never compromised... I have been unapologetic my entire career. I am me! And I couldn't have done all of this without all of you. But it seems there's some people that hate me for the same reasons you all love me. And listen, I understand that the sheer magnitude of me makes people uncomfortable. I very much understand that my mere presence makes people uncomfortable. That's because I'm the truth, and the truth is painful. [The fans chant 'Fuck the Elite!']

[Punk looks out into the crowd] This sign right here says 'CM Punk is my hero!' You can call me that. This sign here says 'Pepsi Phil,' [Note 2] you can call me that. This sign here says 'CM Junk.' You can call me that. Boo me, cheer me, love me, hate me, you all do it! Because you know I'm right. You can call me whatever you want. You know what David Zaslav calls me? One Bill Phil [Note 3]. That's because I am the one true, genuine article in a business full of counterfeit bucks. [Crowd chants for Punk.] The king is back, baby. And I do have a lot of things to get off my chest. I got a question, Chicago, and then I'll get out of your hair. Why would I change? This is what Joe Strummer [Note 4] trained me for! I will always speak truth to power. I will always be myself. I will never compromise! And there's the people that think that they're owed an apology. [Fans boo.] I've grown older and wiser in my years, sometimes it's better to be the bigger man. If you feel you're here today and I owe you an apology, here it is: I am sorry that the only people softer than you are the wrestlers you like. Tell me when I'm tellin' lies!

[Punk picks up the bag.] The last time you saw me with my triceps meat hangin' down. I held what's in this bag above my head. And it's not because I deserve it. It's mine because I earned it. And it's not mine because I had [in a mocking tone of MJF] the best dog collar match. It's mine because I WON the dog collar match. Tell me when I'm tellin' lies. This belongs to me until somebody can pin me or submit me for it. And there are those of you are sure were praying to whatever god you believe in that I'm gonna put these down here in this ring and walk into the sunset to never be seen again. But until there is somebody in this company that can fill these boots, they belong on my feet! Tell me when I'm tellin' lies!"

- Credit: Thanks to inmates texasyosh for the primary transcription and notes, and to inmates Rocky7, Puro113 and Dancer for their contributions.

- Note 1: This is CM Punk's first in-person showing on AEW programming since the culmination of All Out 2022, where following the show, Punk went on a rant about The Elite and Colt Cabana during a media scrum. This led to a real-life fight between Punk, Ace Steel, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks. There are several references to the Elite, specifically the Young Bucks, in this return promo.

- Note 2: 'Pepsi Phil' references CM Punk's Pepsi logo tattoo on his shoulder. Apparently, he has the tattoo because he simply likes Pepsi.

- Note 3: David Zaslav is the Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Discovery and was largely responsible for the merger of the two companies. 'One Bill Phil' references the alleged one-billion-dollar deal for AEW TV rights on Turner broadcasting stations.

- Note 4: Joe Strummer was a musician and political activist who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the influential punk rock band, The Clash.