Not seen in AEW since a backstage brawl with members of The Elite last September, CM Punk’s next move will be widely scrutinised
Here, DAZN looks at when we might see the Chicago native return to action.
Will CM Punk return to AEW?
Even though it appeared unlikely at one point following the incident at All Out last September, it does appear that we will see CM Punk return to AEW this year.
Speculation within wrestling media in the last few weeks seem to be of the impression that AEW will launch a Saturday night show titled ‘Collision’ starting in June, and Punk is seen as the performer to get the new show off the ground.
With Collision now set for the United Center in Chicago on June 17, Tony Khan on the May 31 Dynamite confirmed Punk's return.
Could CM Punk return to WWE?
Maybe one day but not yet. Punk left WWE in 2014 and hasn’t enjoyed a healthy relationship with them since.
When he joined AEW in 2021, Punk would make some references about the company he used to work for, and he looked happy to be working in wrestling once more.
In April 2023, Punk was backstage at a WWE event, and it was reported by some that he was there to mend fences with The Miz and Triple H. Those same reports also stated that Punk was asked to leave the arena after a while, news which Punk met with understanding and compliance.
It appears that the visit, while more notable than most, went similarly to countless other times a wrestler signed to a rival company appeared backstage for a bit to see their friends and former colleagues.
Despite attending the WWE event, Punk is still under contract to AEW and any return to WWE can only take place when he’s not longer contractually obligated to AEW.
Who will CM Punk wrestle when he returns?
The most obvious feud for Punk to return to would be against The Elite. Things are not that straightforward though.
A lot went on in the build-up to All Out leading to the altercation backstage and that means numerous wrestlers will need to make peace before they all begin working together again.
Chris Jericho is a mainstream name that Punk knows well, and it was leaked on social media in recent days that the pair had met, and that the meeting went well.
Currently, it looks like fans tuning into AEW Collision will be welcomed by CM Punk feuding with Jericho, but that could all be different in between now and summer.