Columnist Rob Pasbani catches you up on all the wrestling news headed into the weekend.
With AEW announcing all these big shows in the next few months, including trying to fill London’s massive Wembley Stadium, I figured CM Punk’s return was all but an inevitability. When we last spoke about Punk a few weeks ago, things took a sour turn online, but it seems the train is back on the tracks for a likely CM Punk return in the next few weeks.
Fightful, who have been quite accurate with CM Punk stories in the past, says that while nothing is quite set in stone yet, the working plan is for Punk to return before the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event at the end of June. AEW just announced that the final Dynamite before Forbidden Door would take place on June 21 in Chicago, so the hope is to have his return be in his hometown or a few weeks prior.
Punk has expressed interest in working with The Elite, with FTR lobbying for a potential trios match, but as it currently stands, The Elite are not interested in working with Punk. All the members of the Elite have their contracts up by the start of 2024 and are in the midst of renegotiating. Punk is trying to push for a sit down with all sides, so everything can just be settled behind closed doors. Punk also wants to sit down with Chris Jericho after Jericho privately called Punk a cancer in the locker room, and Punk threw some barbs at Jericho on social media. Jericho posted this cryptic message on social media last night:
In the last few weeks, rumors have swirled at AEW is on the precipice of launching a new weekly Saturday night show on WarnerMedia channels. Fightful includes in their report a possibility that if Punk returns, the rosters would be split (a soft split) to accommodate the issues between Punk and others and keep them separated. I would assume they would all still have to be under one roof for PPVs.
The Saturday show looks to be a two-hour prime-time block. There is only one Saturday date announced so far, in July, in Canada. With a two-hour show on Saturday nights, that would mean all future PPVs would be on Sundays. Also, they would be directly competing with WWE and UFC PPVs which take place during that time.
All of this is tentative. We’ll see if Punk ends up making it back. As a fan, I would love to see Punk vs. Omega, but as a businessman, I understand why the Elite wouldn’t want to work with Punk. It’s a crazy time for AEW behind the scenes and we’ll keep you posted on how everything plays out.
I am so excited to be hosting a new podcast, called KNITRO with my good buddies Colin Young and Jordan Olds aka Gwarsenio Hall. Jordan has never seen an episode of Nitro, meanwhile Colin and I are lifelong fans. We take Jordan on a journey through the peaks and valleys of WCW one episode at a time.
Come back on Monday for the first episode!
Smackdown tonight has three matches announced:
AEW Rampage is on tonight at 9:30pm eastern or after the NBA game on TNT with this lineup:
NJPW Capital Collision, Saturday, April 15, 6:30 p.m. eastern on FITE PPV
NJPW Collision in Philadelphia, Sunday, April 16, 5 p.m. eastern on FITE PPV
This Sunday, streaming on FITE will be a great lucha PPV, AAA Triplemania Monterrey with the following lineup:
WWE RAW on Monday at 8pm on USA:
Next Wednesday on AEW Dynamite on TBS at 8pm:
WWE has announced their next Saudi Arabia show scheduled for May, which was originally named King and Queen of the Ring, will now be called Night of Champions. Typically, every title in WWE is on the line. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are the current tag team champions. Zayn, who is of Syrian descent, has never appeared on a Saudi show, and Owens only appeared on one. It would seem they would logistically have to lose the titles before the event.
On Ring of Honor TV this past Thursday, Eddie Kingston revealed he’s dealing with a hernia injury from his match at the Supercard of Honor against Claudio Castignoli.
FTR revealed they signed a new contract with AEW for four years. They teased that once the contract is up, they would retire.
Jeff Hardy made his return to AEW, appearing on camera for the first time since his DUI arrest last year. He looked to be in good shape, but many criticized how many more chances can he get:
Konnan revealed in an interview that he had Rey Mysterio reach out to El Hijo del Vikingo to warn him to tone down his style: “Not only have I told him, I had Rey Mysterio tell him. He already needs a knee operation and Rey has had 14, so I told him to talk to Rey and Rey’s giving him very good advice because I want that guy to last. He’s talented and he’s a good kid.” Vikingo was the MVP of WrestleMania weekend.
Kazuchika Okada, who just lost the IWGP World Title, told Sports Illustrated that his goal at the moment is to win a tag team championship.
All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and New Japan Pro Wrestling announced a joint show happening June 9th at Ryogoku Sumo Hall. It will air on PPV with proceeds going to charities.
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