Like jazz, it was the phrases he didn’t say.
On Thursday (AEST)’s version of AEW Dynamite, firm CEO and head of inventive Tony Khan revealed the place they’d maintain the primary episode of the corporate’s new TV present Collision – presupposed to be one other top-level present, like Dynamite, quite than the smaller Rampage program.
On its face, reserving Chicago’s United Middle is only a huge venue in a giant metropolis for a giant present.
But it surely’s not simply that; it’s affirmation of the wrestling world’s greatest open secret – after weeks of conflicting stories, spats between reporters and wrestlers, and will-he-or-won’t-he issues.
CM Punk is coming again to AEW.
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The second-biggest US professional wrestling firm kickstarted its hottest 12 months of programming, pushing ever nearer to WWE within the rankings, when it revealed Punk as its mega-signing in August 2021 on the second ever episode of Rampage – subtitled The First Dance and in addition held on the United Middle in Punk’s hometown.
There’s each probability AEW will attempt to copy the components for the Collision debut episode on Sunday June 18 (AEST), given they bought out the costly venue 21 months in the past by hinting (however not really saying) he would debut there.
It’s hoped internally Punk’s return can kickstart one other huge summer time, after AEW hit a rankings plateau in current months, given he’s a confirmed draw.
However he’s additionally a threat, due to how his first run with the corporate ended.
Following final September’s All Out pay per view, instantly after occurring a stunning rant at this press convention, Punk and his nice mate Ace Metal had been concerned in a real-life brawl with firm founders and vice-presidents The Younger Bucks and Kenny Omega.
Fuming at rumours about icing out former finest pal turned enemy Colt Cabana, Punk left reporters in attendance surprised along with his behaviour – which included claims former champion ‘Hangman’ Adam Web page had “gone into enterprise for himself” with an on-camera quip about ‘employee’s rights’ – and the combat occurred when the Bucks and Omega confronted Punk in his locker room in regards to the feedback.
Metal was fired, having thrown a chair at Nick Jackson and bitten Omega, whereas a torn left triceps suffered by Punk in his match with Jon Moxley (aka Dean Ambrose) on the pay per view ended up as a blessing in disguise – as a result of it meant Punk needed to take time away from the corporate anyway.
The Bucks and Omega returned after a suspension lasting roughly a month, however Punk has barely even been talked about on AEW programming because the incident – even when he was stripped of the world championship he held on the time.
Now wholesome, there have been conflicting stories in current months over whether or not Punk and AEW wish to get again collectively – which is the place the brand new Collision present is available in.
Warner Brothers Discovery, the company which airs AEW in america through its TNT and TBS cable channels, has loved the corporate’s TV rankings (as they sit within the prime 5 in the important thing demographics nearly each week) and needed extra hours of programming.
However in addition they needed Punk again on their screens as a result of they noticed how a lot he drove rankings throughout his first stint – Rampage has by no means come near hitting the heights it reached for his return after seven years on the sidelines.
That gave Punk monumental leverage and compelled Tony Khan to work out precisely how he might get the Bucks, Omega and his dethroned world champion again collectively.
The reply hasn’t gave the impression to be ‘sit them down and inform them to cease preventing like youngsters’ – as a substitute, AEW is nearly emulating WWE with a semi-brand break up.
Collision, airing dwell three days after Dynamite, will highlight wrestlers who haven’t precisely made buddies throughout their AEW stint or are extra Punk-aligned than Bucks and Omega-aligned.
When the present was formally confirmed at Warner Brothers Discovery’s upfront final week, wrestlers named included Miro (aka Rusev, who was sad with the way in which he was being booked together with requested to lose in a mini-tournament), Thunder Rosa (who has legit warmth with a lot of the different ladies on the roster) and Andrade El Idolo (who had a real-life combat backstage with younger star Sammy Guevara final October).
Surprisingly, regardless of weeks of stories Punk was the explanation Collision even existed, he was not talked about. Maybe this was to maintain him as a quasi-surprise for the present’s debut.
However maybe it was but extra drama. It’s believed Punk was pulled from Collision’s preliminary promotional supplies as a result of he was in a dispute with Khan over the re-hiring of his pal Ace Metal – the one who bit Kenny Omega – as a producer.
Punk believed Metal could be allowed backstage once more; the response from others inside AEW wasn’t so optimistic.
It’s believed the scenario has since been labored out – AEW wouldn’t have booked the United Middle with out Punk, as a result of if he doesn’t present up at Collision there could also be an precise riot, as famously promised when Punk wrestled John Cena at Cash within the Financial institution 2011, additionally in Chicago.
And so the corporate, within the week of its Double or Nothing pay per view, will look to construct hype for Punk’s long-awaited return. Maybe there’ll be some type of trace on the PPV, particularly given Punk was anticipated to renew his highly-acclaimed feud with present world champion MJF following All Out 2022 (and MJF is anticipated to retain his title in the principle occasion of Double or Nothing).
However there’s little doubt a minimum of two issues will occur.
One: drama. As a result of wherever Punk has gone in his profession, we’ve seen it – from the very begin of his WWE stint, to his controversial exit, and to his fiery, transient run in AEW so far.
Two: an increase within the rankings. As a result of wherever Punk has gone in his profession, we’ve seen it.
And for AEW, the latter makes the previous value it.