AEW Has Plans For “Major Name” On Collision In Addition To CM Punk

The AEW return of CM Punk is coming soon, but he may not be coming along as reports suggest a “major name” will likely be debuting or returning on Collision.

It is well known by this point that former two-time AEW World Champion CM Punk is expected to return to AEW as part of a new Saturday show called Collision. The show is expected to premiere on Saturday, June 17 from CM Punk’s hometown of Chicago.

Last week it was revealed that Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the TBS & TNT channels that AEW programming airs on, pushed for Punk’s return since they think his comeback will boost television ratings.

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote that in addition to CM Punk’s return on Collision, there is some “major name” that is expected to be part of the show as well.

“The show, believed to be called AEW Collision, as noted last week, is expected to debut on 6/17 with a show from 8-10 p.m. Eastern, from the United Center in Chicago, which would also be the return of C.M. Punk along with what is expected to be either another major name debut or return.”

Collision is expected to air on TNT on Saturday nights unless it is pre-empted. There are obviously some big free agent names out there that could debut like Bill Goldberg looking to set up a retirement match perhaps or even Mercedes Mone, who would be a huge addition to the women’s division.

As he continued, Meltzer wrote about how what isn’t known about Collision is how much AEW will be paid for the show while also speculating on what the ratings could be.

“The most important note on the show is the unknown, which is how much TNT is paying for the new show. If that number is to come out, it won’t be until the show is announced. The belief is that the show will be announced as official on or just before 5/17, which would be the upfronts when announcements are made. Obviously, you’d need about a month promotional push for both getting the word out about the new show and to announce the buildings for the first few episodes.”

“With the return of C.M. Punk, the show would be expected to start out with strong numbers, like Rampage did. Long-term, obviously the goal is to not wind up at the level Rampage currently is. When Dynamite was moved to Saturday’s due to sports playoffs on Wednesdays two years back, it did 450,000 to 650,000 viewers and around an 0.20, and this is when it was available in 14 percent more homes and the Wednesday numbers were numbers were much higher, so it’s a substantially tougher night.”

When CM Punk does return to AEW TV on Collision it will be his first time on AEW programming since the AEW All Out pay-per-view in September 2022, which was an eventful night where Punk won the AEW World Title from Jon Moxley, tore his triceps during the match, went on a press conference and got into a backstage fight with The Elite as well.