The pending return of CM Punk appears to have a location.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that AEW has booked the United Center in Chicago for Saturday, June 17, which is expected to feature Punk’s return.
From Meltzer:
As things stand right now, the return of C.M. Punk is scheduled for a 6/17 show at the United Center in Chicago, which being a Saturday night show, is likely the debut of the new weekly show.
The rumor of the new show name is AEW Collision, based on a trademark the company took out some time back, when the talks with WBD for the new Saturday show got serious.
At press time everything was not finalized, but the building is booked and it likely will be announced very shortly, when the Punk deal and the TV deal are finalized. Obviously with the building deal in place, the TV deal has to either be done or they must be almost certain of it.
The decision on Punk returning was made many weeks ago, although there was a snag two weeks back that has evidently been worked out.
Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast had reported a June return for Punk in conjunction with the start of AEW’s yet-to-be-announced Saturday night show, which is expected to be called ‘Collision’.
Punk has been off AEW programming since the incident at last September’s All Out event with the press conference and backstage fight with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. Punk also suffered a torn triceps that night during his match with Jon Moxley.
The United Center housed Punk’s debut with the promotion in August 2021. Without announcing Punk’s debut, it was all but said he would be there and led to the company selling out the building with over 14,000 paid and a gate of $635,000. Two weeks later, AEW did its largest pay-per-view to date featuring Punk’s first match with the company against Darby Allin.
