With AEW Collision seemingly on the horizon, it appears to be clobbering time once again. CM Punk returning to AEW television seems all but confirmed at this point, with a wide swath of reporting indicating that is the case. Recently, word got out that The Second City Saint was able to sit down with Chris Jericho to clear the air, and many have speculated that the two will be working a program together when Punk returns to action.
Fightful is reporting that while there is an internal push for a program between Punk and Jericho, Punk is volleying to work with Samoa Joe out of the gate. Joe hasn’t been seen in AEW action since dropping the AEW TNT Championship to Wardlow at Revolution but he has maintained a presence in ROH, where he is the Television Champion.
Punk and Joe haven’t wrestled a match since August 2005 when they were involved in a Four Way Elimination Match. Neither came out on top, as it was won by Jamie Noble, who became ROH World Champion. Prior to that, Punk and Joe wrestled in two sixty-minute draws for the promotion, and Joe also holds two pinfall victories over the former WWE World Champion.
It is notable that a program with Joe would have nothing to do with the controversial AEW All In media scrum and subsequent backstage altercation with The Elite. With the hatchet apparently not yet buried between Punk, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega, diverting attention to a feud that has nothing to do with that negativity could be helpful in diffusing the story.
Finally, it was noted that what exactly Punk is pitching in regard to working with Joe is unclear. It could be just a one-off return match or a longer program between the two stars. Regardless, it may not happen, so, you know, stay tuned!