Tonight’s Dynamite is set to feature several segments and matches hyping this Sunday’s AEW: Double or Nothing. Notably, Adam Cole and Chris Jericho will sit down for their contract signing, and Orange Cassidy will get a tune-up match against Kyle Fletcher before putting his AEW Intercontinental Championship on the line in a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royale in Las Vegas. However, the most hotly anticipated aspect of Dynamite tonight may be Tony Khan’s AEW: Collision debut city announcement, as well as possible clarity on CM Punk and his status with the promotion.
Last week at this time, Warner Brothers Discovery conducted their 2023/2024 Upfront presentation that included the official announcement that Collision is heading to TNT on Saturday nights. CM Punk, who is expected to be a big part of the show, was not included in the initial rollout and the rumor mill went into overdrive in regard to The Second City Saint’s relationship with AEW.
Graphics for Collision with Punk on them were reportedly made but not used. A cached version of the press release was unearthed that featured Punk mentioned as one of the talents for the show, and then news began to swirl that Punk may have backed out of the announcement of his own accord due to his friend Ace Steel not being brought back in a backstage capacity.
As we have reported, Steel was re-hired by the promotion months ago following his termination after the AEW: All Out locker room altercation. The plan was to bring Steel back to work on Collision, with Punk, but the night before the Upfront, Tony Khan changed his mind, and due to miscommunication between lawyers, Punk was pulled from the announcement. As of yesterday, we are under the impression communication between Punk and Khan is positive, and the former AEW and WWE World Champion should be returning to the fold soon.
Fightful is reporting that legal documents were sent to Punk sometime in the last week and were in regard to “certain subjects, disparagement clauses, and ensuring he appears at scheduled television dates.” The paperwork wasn’t described as a “legal threat,” and it was noted that the documents were largely to protect AEW, in several situations.
“People close to CM Punk” believe he will be at the AEW: Collision debut show on June 17. As we also reported yesterday, Daily’s Place is not currently earmarked as a backup location to The United Center in case things fall through with Punk. With that said the AEW talent that Fightful spoke with said they have not been given their travel information for the first episode, and other possible locations have been discussed.