On last night’s AEW: Dynamite, Tony Khan rolled out his latest Collision announcement and this time he made it official, CM Punk will be on the debut episode. Punk’s return to the AEW fold has been rumored for months and has felt a bit like a forgone conclusion over the past two weeks. The Second City Saint will join an AEW brand that includes other names that have not been seen on TV in some time, Thunder Rosa and Andrade El Idolo.
Ring of Honor Television Champion Samoa Joe is also being advertised for AEW’s new TNT property, and it has been reported that he could be the first person CM Punk feuds with when he returns. Joe is not playing down the rumor, either, recently telling the Kick Rocks Podcast that he’s open to facing anyone who wants to show up in Chicago on June 17.
A feud between the two former ROH World Champions has a lot of potential but it seems Punk could have his sights set on multiple targets. Following Khan’s announcement, Punk took to his Instagram Stories and shared a link to a YouTube clip from the movie Billy Madison. In the clip, Madison can be seen on the playground with a variety of children. When one of them throws a dodgeball at his face, he grabs it out of the air with one hand and lets them know, “Now you’re all in big, big trouble,” before pummeling them with shots.
Punk should not be lacking for top competition when he returns. Outside of Samoa Joe, rumors of a feud with Chris Jericho bandied about after the two shared a sit-down meeting that was said to go well. There’s also AEW World Champion MJF, who currently holds the title that Punk technically never lost. Punk was stripped of the championship after the backstage altercation at AEW All In, along with The Elite being stripped of their AEW World Trios Championships.
One name that is not currently in AEW could be a possible contender as well. NJPW’s KENTA issued a tweet last night noting that he is free on June 17, and possibly down to put his GTS up against Punk’s. Even if a match doesn’t go down on Collision, the two could settle things in a few weeks at Forbidden Door 2.