For nearly a year now, one of AEW’s top stories has not taken place on their television, although there have been hints about it on Dynamite and Collision. Of course, I am talking about the tension between “Real” AEW World Champion CM Punk and The Elite. Punk has successfully worked himself back into the AEW fold, becoming the focus of Collision on Saturday nights alongside friends like FTR and others.
Prior to Punk’s return to TV, FTR’s Dax Harwood teased the idea of CMFTR teaming up for a trios match against The Elite at AEW All In. The idea was not vetted by AEW management and led to Harwood getting heat with his home promotion, subsequently ending his podcast weeks later. Despite Harwood ending his podcast, fans have still clamored for the trios match to take place, especially considering CMFTR is taking on House of Black this Saturday night on Collision for the AEW Trios Championships.
In an interview with DAZN, FTR addressed where things stood in regard to making the match a reality.
“I think if all the cards fall in the right place, and, you know, the story is right, and the opportunity calls for it. Then, hell yeah, we can do it,” Harwood stated.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s hard to know with all the moving parts that are involved,” Wheeler said. “I don’t want to speak for anybody, but I think wrestling is all about making the most money for yourself and for the company you work for, and I think everybody here all agrees with that, and the more time passes, the more likely I think it is that we can get to there, but you never really know, and I don’t want to say yes, but I hope so.”
Issues began brewing early last year when rumors began making the rounds that CM Punk was either holding Colt Cabana back or had outright asked that he be released by AEW. Cabana, a close friend of The Elite, and others had some of his defenders, like Eddie Kingston and Adam Page, make references to their real-life dislike of Punk on the microphone in promos during feuds with him.
Things boiled over at last year’s AEW All Out media scrum, when Punk took aim at members of the media, including me, alleging bias and seeming to insinuate some had started the rumors about Cabana. He also tore into The Elite in particular, questioning their abilities as Executive Vice Presidents and ability to lead the company in a money-making direction. Following the heated comments, an altercation ensued in the locker room that reportedly saw Punk and Ace Steel fighting with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and others for several minutes. Everyone involved was taken off TV and stripped of their respective titles.
Punk is now back on AEW TV on Saturday nights as part of Collision, and The Elite continue to make Dynamite their home on Wednesday nights. The two sides have reportedly not spoken since AEW All In last year and were kept apart backstage at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. FTR will take on The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships at AEW All In London, and CM Punk versus Samoa Joe for the “Real” AEW World Championship is also being teased.