Report: CM Punk Pitching For AEW Return Match Against Samoa Joe

CM Punk wants to rekindle an old rivalry for his first match back in All Elite Wrestling.

Reports have noted Punk will be returning to AEW on the inaugural episode of Collision, the promotion's new Saturday night show that is scheduled to premiere on June 17 on TNT. The new show will air from 8 pm until 10 pm ET and Punk will be the top star on Collision. 

Chris Jericho looked set to be Punk's first rival upon The Straight Edge Superstar's return, especially after a "productive meeting" in Florida between the two competitors in recent weeks, but CM Punk has a different programme in mind.

According to Fightful Select, CM Punk has become "increasingly interested" in working with Samoa Joe for his AEW return and he has been pitching to face Joe for the better part of a month. It is unknown if Punk has pitched to face Joe in a one-off match or if he wants to work a longer programme with The Samoan Submission Machine. 

Punk and Samoa Joe have a storied history together in pro wrestling stemming from their trilogy of matches over the ROH World Title in 2004. They fought to two 60-minute time-limit draws before Samoa Joe finally defeated Punk at All Star Extravaganza II. Outside of the trilogy, Punk and Joe have clashed in PWG and on an indy show in Coventry, England. Punk has never defeated his rival in singles action.

Punk and Samoa Joe have not shared a pro wrestling ring since a Four Way Elimination Match for the ROH World Title at ROH Redemption in August 2005. The match saw Punk lose the ROH World Championship to James Gibson (AKA Jamie Noble). 

Joe has not appeared on AEW TV since he dropped the TNT Championship to Wardlow at Revolution in March. The former TNA World Heavyweight Champion has remained involved in Ring of Honor as the reigning ROH World Television Champion.