CM Punk's AEW Return OFF?! WBD Claims Star "Not Affiliated" With Collision
Latest on CM Punk's AEW return following Collision launch announcement.
CM Punk's AEW comeback appeared to be left hanging in the balance by the end of a busy news day on Wednesday, which started with AEW's Saturday show, Collision, being formally unveiled at the Warner Bros. Discovery upfronts, and closed on a 'Voice of the Voiceless'-sized speculation storm.
Long rumoured to become a centrepiece on Collision upon the new brand's launch, Punk was omitted from the upfronts and promotion materials hyping the show yesterday. Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina and Wrestlenomics' Brandon Thurston both noted, however, that WBD's press materials originally featured the Chicagoan:-
WBD's press release headline for the AEW Collision announcement originally mentioned CM Punk and other wrestlers, which you can see in the cached listing (left) before it was edited (right).
h/t to @JimmyTraina for noticing pic.twitter.com/VUzkvjzbh1
Advertisement— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) May 17, 2023
Later, ComicBook.com's Connor Casey reported that upon reaching out to a Warner source about the situation, the response was:-
"CM Punk is not affiliated with TNT's AEW Collision."
Fightful Select, meanwhile, reported that "there are still plans with CM Punk." What has been described as "active content plans" featuring the former AEW World Champion existed as of this week, though there's always the possibility of things changing.
Punk is understood to have not wanted to be announced for Collision ahead of time. There is no indication of whether or not this impacted the AEW/WBD press release, though the 44-year-old has been in regular contact with AEW founder and President Tony Khan. There is word, too, that fellow Brawl Out participant and long-time Punk ally Ace Steel could be brought back to the promotion.
Khan announced Collision's first six dates and locations during last night's Dynamite, but stopped short of confirming a location for the June 17th launch. This is to be announced next Wednesday - with Chicago's United Center long rumoured.