Report: CM Punk Likely To Feud With Chris Jericho Following AEW Return

After several months away, CM Punk looks to be on his way back to All Elite Wrestling in June 2023, with reports indicating the two-time AEW World Champion will be the star of the promotion's rumoured Saturday night show. The AEW roster will also see a soft split when the new Saturday show premieres in the coming months.

Many believe the biggest programme AEW could do when Punk returns is CMFTR vs. The Elite, playing off the real-life issues between Punk and The Elite that culminated in a backstage fight following Punk's post-All Out media scrum in which he called out the AEW EVPs, Hangman Page, and Colt Cabana.

That programme seemingly won't be happening, though. CM Punk is willing to work with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, with Dax Harwood publicly pushing for the trios match, but Andrew Zarian reported on Wrestling Observer Live that The Elite have "no intention" of working with Punk and there has been no dialogue between the two sides to resolve their issues.

Zarian said: "He [Punk] had recently said he wants to return to AEW and he wants to make it work. The issue here is he's willing to work with The Elite members. I know as of the time I was told and early this week, there was no intention on the other side. Maybe Kenny a little bit more than The Bucks but they do not want to work with him. There's been no dialogue between the two sides either about sitting down and making this work."

Instead, Punk appears to be set for a feud with Chris Jericho when he returns in June, with Zarian adding: "The way it was alluded to me is that the programme will probably be Punk and Jericho in some capacity. I don't know if FTR's involved or the Jericho Appreciation Society is involved...He's [Jericho] willing to make this work."

Reports have suggested that Punk, Jericho, FTR, and Tony Khan will hold a meeting in the near future to sort out any issues. Chris Jericho reportedly called CM Punk a "cancer" after his All Out rant and The Painmaker later told the AEW locker room with other top stars they would ensure Punk does not return to the promotion.

Punk called out Jericho and others in an Instagram rant in late March and Jericho has since hinted he is unwilling to work with Punk, although that comment now appears to have been a work from the inaugural AEW World Champion.

Punk and Jericho worked together on several occasions in WWE, including in a WWE Championship match at 2012's WrestleMania 28.