This past Wednesday night, Tony Khan made it official, CM Punk will return to All Elite Wrestling on the debut episode of Collision on June 17. The event will emanate from The United Center in Chicago, IL, and is set to feature other AEW stars like Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, Thunder Rosa, and Andrade El Idolo. The Second City Saint could find himself mixing it up with any one of those individuals when the cameras go live but it’s been reported that Punk is most interested in working with Joe.
If Punk wants to work with Joe, it seems as if he may get his way. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Punk and Ace Steel will be heavily involved in the creative for AEW’s new Saturday night TNT property. It was noted that this is especially true for the stuff Punk is doing on the show, along with the main angles and storylines, which will revolve around the former AEW and WWE World Champion.
It is interesting that Steel will have a prominent voice in regard to the show considering, as last reported, he won’t be backstage for the events. As we reported, Steel was re-hired by the company several months ago after being terminated following the AEW All In backstage altercation. The plan that Punk and AEW management had put together saw Punk returning to the AEW fold for Collision as a wrestler, and Steel as a backstage figure.
Due to Steel’s presence making some talent uncomfortable, the call was made the day before the Warner Brothers Discovery 2023/2024 Upfront presentation that Punk’s former ROH tag team partner would not be returning on-site, and will be working remotely. The decision resulted in lawyers getting involved and miscommunication between teams led to Punk’s name being pulled from the initial Collision announcement.
Punk and Steel won’t be the only talents lending their creative minds to the Collision product, Bryan Danielson will also be working with the Saturday night creative team.