10 New Directions For AEW After Double Or Nothing 2023

4. CM Punk’s Return…Eventually!

CM Punk
AEW

Your writer still believes that Tony Khan will iron out any issues with one CM Punk and welcome him back into the AEW fold. There's too much money to be made on both sides, and that'll eventually become more important than petty squabbles or other backstage goings on.

It's still up in the air whether or not Punk will be there for Collision's debut episode on 17 June, but agreeing terms and getting him fired up for the new Saturday TV show shouldn't be impossible. This is pro wrestling, for crying out loud - anything can (and often does) happen.

Punk back in AEW is almost inevitable.

Granted, it might not be the biggest story of wrestling's summer this time. AEW already burned through that excitement in 2021, but they will create some headlines and buzz by bringing CM back into view. Just...maybe keep him away from The Elite for now, or at least until they're capable of doing business without anymore backstage fights.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.