Jim Ross Hopes AEW Sign CM Punk

All Elite Wrestling Commentator Jim Ross hopes CM Punk signs with the promotion.

The former WWE Champion has reportedly been in talks with AEW about an in-ring return and he is "100 percent" going to be at one of the company's upcoming Chicago shows. Him joining AEW is also said to be a matter of "when" not "if."

AEW has yet to confirm if Punk has signed with the promotion, but Jim Ross is hoping The Voice Of The Voiceless is AEW bound regardless.

"I hope we sign him, I hope he's one of our guys," JR said on Grilling JR. "CM Punk is a treasure and he can contribute a lot to a lot of guys if he's willing to share his knowledge, his expertise to other talents. He pays it forward and has no problem doing so, that's my take on him."

"Anybody that signs CM Punk for limited engagements, God almighty in our company we're only working one day a week. It's becoming elementary, why do people want to come to AEW? So they can have a life. They can create their own storylines, they can create their own promo material, it's a way to express yourself creatively that they didn't have here before in other companies by and large," he continued.

"But if we can sign CM Punk to our team and our roster, it's a great get. I hope that we do at some point in time sooner or later. But he's a huge player in the big picture. Am I worried that his layoff's gonna affect his work? We know it's gonna affect his work to start with to some degree because he's eight years older, he's in his forties. That doesn't seem to matter in today's wrestling business, especially when you have a schedule like ours.

"So I'm not worried about if he does sign, and I hope that he does, how effective he's gonna be, there's no doubt in my mind he's gonna be effective as hell and he can help us in so many other ways. A lot of people are gonna rely on him, ask questions for advice, coach him up, things of that nature if he does come and he's the kinda guy that's willing to take his time, help a younger talent improve their game. If CM Punk signs with us he'll be used and valued in multiple areas and I don't think that anybody that's concerned about his in-ring game has anything to worry about."

H/T to Inside The Ropes