Tony Khan Expects CM Punk To Get A 'Very Positive' Reaction For His AEW Return

CM Punk is set to make his return to All Elite Wrestling on the debut episode of Collision and the 44-year-old will team with FTR to take on Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Juice Robinson. 

With the show taking place at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, June 17, it is expected that Punk will receive a good reception and Tony Khan thinks the two-time AEW World Champion will be given a "very positive reaction" from the hometown crowd. 

"Well, I think it'll be very exciting to see how the fans react, but I expect a very positive reaction, particularly in Chicago for the first episode. I think then, going forward, CM Punk's one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, so certainly he's gonna get a great reaction. Depending on who his opponent and the type of reaction he's trying to get, I expect CM Punk to connect with the crowd as well as anybody in the entire pro wrestling business. He had an amazing connection with the fans, and I think that's part of his longevity and his mystique is his amazing connection with the crowd. CM Punk's a really great wrestler, and I'm very excited to have him back in AEW, starting this Saturday night on TNT on AEW Collision," Khan said on Barstool Rasslin'.

Punk has been away from AEW TV since the main event of All Out in September 2022. The Second City Saviour sustained a torn triceps in that match but he also ended up being suspended following a backstage fight with The Elite after Punk's infamous post-All Out media scrum. 

Punk is expected to be the star of Collision and a roster split of some sort will be introduced from June 17. 

H/T to Fightful