CM Punk made his official return to professional wrestling after a seven-year absence on Friday (August 20) night during All Elite Wrestling's TNT program Rampage and immediately gave a shoutout to the Steel City and its local favorite, AEW Women's Champion Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
After soaking in the adulation of his hometown crowd at the United Center in Chicago, the multi-time former World Champion said, "you guys really know how to make a guy feel like Britt Baker in Pittsburgh," referencing the Punxsutawney native's own recent "hometown pops" during AEW's two stops at the Petersen Events Center last week.
Baker also compared her own hometown reaction to Punk's while sharing a photo with the former World Champion on her verified social media accounts.
"Hey #Chicago, thanks for giving him the #Brittsburgh welcome. #AEWRampage @CMPunk," Baker wrote.
Punk also praised Baker during his post-Rampage media session alongside AEW co-founder Tony Khan, referencing the wrestler/dentist a great example of how the company managed to get a talent over, Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported on Friday.
Baker retained her title by defeating Red Velvet during the debut episode of Rampage (August 13) and was greeted with a hero's welcome by the crowd in attendance at Petersen Events Center during the match and a previous in-ring appearance during Dynamite two nights prior.
In both appearances, Baker wore Pittsburgh inspired jackets, a primary black and secondary gold and white on Dynamite and a primary white and secondary gold and black during her title defense.
Both jackets featured the letters "DMD" -- referencing the real life dentist's medical degree earned at the University of Pittsburgh -- and the Steel City's skyline on the back, as well as Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins logos featured prominently.
During both appearances, fans at the Petersen Events Center showered the hometown favorite with cheers, "D.M.D." chants and -- as requested -- waved Terrible Towels.
"I wasn't afraid to step up when this city needed a champion," Baker said, leading to 'D.M.D.' chants and towel waving from the crowd in attendance during her promo on Dynamite. "And I bleed black and gold just as much as anybody in here, but we can all admit, this has been a difficult year for us. So Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I present to you, hope."
Baker recently returned to Western Pennsylvania during an appearance at Steel City Con in June and returned to the event over the weekend.
The initial Steel City Con appearance came weeks after the real life dentist/professional wrestler defeated Hikaru Shida via submission to win the AEW Women's World Championship during the promotion's Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 30, her first championship in a major wrestling promotion.
After the match, Baker, an avid Pittsburgh sports fan, said she was proud to take on the role of the "face of Pittsburgh" amid a "brutal" year.
"Somebody's gotta be the hero of Pittsburgh so I'm happy to do it," Baker said during a post-Double or Nothing media scrum. "We're repping the 4-1-2."