Report: Backstage News On Meeting Between CM Punk & Tony Khan

While it was not announced during the May 24 edition of AEW Dynamite, CM Punk is officially on his way back to All Elite Wrestling and the 44-year-old is scheduled to return on the debut episode of Collision on Saturday, June 17. It was revealed on Dynamite that the premiere of Collision will emanate from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, the same venue where Punk made his AEW debut back in August 2021. 

Although it is once again planned, CM Punk's return to AEW looked less than certain over the past week after it emerged the two-time AEW World Champion had been pulled from the launch of Collision on May 17 due to issues with AEW over the status of Ace Steel. Punk's friend was reportedly re-signed by AEW at some point over the past several months and the working plan was for Steel to be back on the road with the promotion after the launch of Collision. CM Punk was informed last week, however, that Steel would not be at TV tapings, a decision which Punk disagreed with. 

The two sides have been in regular contact over the past week, with reports noting that Punk had to sign several legal documents related to "speaking about certain subjects, disparagement clauses, and ensuring he appears at scheduled television dates." 

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has also reported that CM Punk and Tony Khan had a final meeting this week which is believed to have "went well." A number of issues were worked out at a meeting, including an agreement that nobody will speak publicly about Brawl Out.

Upon his return on June 17, CM Punk is expected to face Samoa Joe before eventually moving on to a programme with MJF over the AEW World Championship.