The CM Punk return to AEW is far enough along in the planning stages that the company’s broadcast partner has been informed that he’s on the way back soon.
That’s one of the interesting tidbits in the latest update from Wrestling Observer’s Andrew Zarian, who has tracking the story closely from the start. Zarian said Sunday on Wrestling Observer Radio that “Warner has been told he’s coming back.”
Zarian and others continue to report that Punk’s comeback will coincide with the launch of a new Saturday night prime time show, tentatively titled AEW Collision. The idea is that some talent will be exclusive to that show or brand, similar to the way that WWE does with its Raw and SmackDown rosters (though in practice, WWE’s brand split is mostly for show).
The idea behind a talent split in AEW would be to keep Punk separate from anyone who doesn’t want to work with him, or vice versa. At this point, that seems to apply mostly to The Elite — Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks — who were at the heart of Punk’s now legendary verbal explosion and subsequent physical altercation after All Out last year.
So if not The Elite, which would be the Punk program that would draw the most money and mainstream fan interest, then who would he work with upon his return? According to Zarian, it will likely be Chris Jericho.
I’ve heard this from multiple people and the way it was alluded to me is that the program will probably be Punk and Jericho in some capacity. I don’t know if FTR is involved or Jericho’s society’s involved but you know what? That’s a very smart way to do this. Jericho has presented himself as a locker room leader, Jericho came out and said he’s toxic or whatever he said, and he’s willing to make this work because he realizes that there’s money in this.
It’s worth noting that this could mark a change of heart for Jericho. Fightful Select (subscription required) cited sources last fall that suggested he approached Punk after the All Out incident and called him “a cancer to the locker room, and a detriment to the company.”
One thing that all insiders agree on is that Jericho’s leadership helped AEW tremendously during some turbulent times over the last year. He’s also plenty savvy to see when there is money to be made by all involved, so the idea of him putting aside whatever personal feeling he might have about Punk to work with him isn’t hard to envision.
He also remains one of AEW’s biggest and most recognizable names. The same is true of Punk, and if they end up in a program together on the new Saturday night show, it’s not a bad way for AEW to kick it off with a bang.