AEW’s Summer of No Punk should be over in the next few months

A recent report suggests it “not be long” for CM Punk to return from injury, potentially by one of the next two AEW PPV events.

AEW was planning on using CM Punk as the centerpiece of everything they had going on this summer, including a showdown with NJPW ace Hiroshi Tanahashi at Forbidden Door. But Punk breaking his foot shortly after winning the AEW World Championship pumped the brakes on any thoughts of a Summer of Punk II, as it were.

Punk’s absence has also left his title in a bit of limbo since AEW chose not to strip him of his belt and instead created an interim title in its place. Jon Moxley currently has it in his possession and will defend it for now, with the idea being that whoever is interim champion when Punk is back will quickly get a match with him to unify the titles.

AEW has been quiet about a timetable for Punk’s return, but Dave Meltzer provided an update on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer said that it should “not be long” until he’s back in action, and that he expects it would be at one of the promotion’s two remaining 2022 pay-per-views: either All Out on Sept. 4 or Full Gear, which traditionally falls in the first two weeks of November.

Of the two, All Out would be a natural first choice for a big return bout since it’s being held in (or more precisely, a little bit outside of) Chicago, Punk’s hometown. But AEW also won’t rush him back, secure in the knowledge that Punk vs. Moxley — or any number of top contenders he’s yet to face in AEW — is a marketable main event no matter when or where it takes place.

Even though AEW hasn’t lost much if any of its momentum with Punk sidelined, getting him back within the next few months would be a shot in the arm to help close out the year on a strong note. And he’s not the only injured star who would be back in the fold soon, with Fightful Select reporting that Kenny Omega could also return as soon as All Out.