Report: CM Punk Expected To Be At Debut Episode Of AEW Collision

CM Punk looks to be on his way back to All Elite Wrestling.

Reports over the past several weeks revealed that Punk was scheduled to make his AEW return on the debut episode of Collision on Saturday, June 17 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. There was a hiccup in those plans, though, after it emerged that AEW and Punk were at odds over the return of Ace Steel. The former AEW producer had reportedly been re-signed by the promotion at some point over the past several months and the plan was for Steel to return to the road following the launch of Collision. Punk was informed by AEW last week, though, that Steel would not be on the road with the promotion, a decision which Punk disagreed with. 

According to reports, Punk was then pulled from promotional materials for the launch of Collision and it was noted that AEW had produced a back-up plan to air the debut episode of Collision at a different location if Punk did not return. 

In the latest update, Fightful Select has reported that Punk and AEW have remained in contact over the past week and their conversations are believed to have been productive. People close to the 44-year-old believe he will be at the first episode of AEW Collision on June 17. 

A report from former Wrestling Inc. President Raj Giri this week stated that AEW had sent a legal letter to Punk. Fightful Select noted documents were sent to Punk for him to sign which covered "speaking about certain subjects, disparagement clauses, and ensuring he appears at scheduled television dates." The documents were produced to protect AEW in several situations but there was no indication they contained legal threats. 

In regards to the back-up location for Collision, Fightful Select stated that Daily's Place has not been explicitly mentioned to them as a back-up location but venues other than the United Center have been discussed internally.