The designer behind one of CM Punk’s biggest AEW shirts says his artwork has suddenly turned up on WWE merchandise. David Stenken is accusing WWE and Mitchell & Ness of stealing the design he created for Punk’s massive return to wrestling in 2021—and he’s already asking about lawyers.
Stenken took to Instagram after spotting his CM Punk artwork on several hoodies from the latest WWE and Mitchell & Ness collaboration. This wasn’t some forgotten design for him either. Stenken says it became AEW’s highest-selling merchandise design that year and remains one of the company’s biggest sellers ever.
“What a time to be alive lol. This @cmpunk design was one of my career highlights. It was the highest selling piece of AEW merch that year and one of their best selling of all time.”
The artwork goes all the way back to Punk’s AEW debut at the United Center in 2021. Stenken was actually inside the building that night and remembers seeing his work displayed throughout the arena as Punk made his return to wrestling.
“I was there at the Untied Center when he came out. It was all over the building in lights. That seems like a whole lifetime ago in wrestling years – but what’s old is new again lol.”
Four years later, Punk is back in WWE and apparently so is the design. Stenken shared slides showing it on the CM Punk WWE Black Fleece Hoodie, CM Punk WWE White Fleece Hoodie and CM Punk WWE White Lightweight Satin Fleece Hoodie. Stenken certainly doesn’t sound like he gave his blessing for that. He directly accused WWE and Mitchell & Ness of stealing his artwork and finished with a pretty serious question.
“@wwe and @mitchellandness have tag teamed against me and stole my art for their latest collab. Which sucks. Does anyone know a good lawyer?”
Stenken hasn’t announced any legal action yet, and his accusation alone doesn’t establish who owns the rights to the design or whether its current use is unauthorized. Still, seeing artwork created for Punk’s AEW return suddenly appearing on WWE merchandise is one hell of a full-circle moment—and the guy who designed it clearly isn’t laughing.
What do you make of Stenken accusing WWE and Mitchell & Ness of stealing his CM Punk artwork? Let us know in the comments.
