In a move that could shake up the world of professional wrestling, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to add another show to their schedule. While details of the deal are yet to be confirmed, rumors are swirling that the new show will air on Saturdays and may feature none other than CM Punk.
According to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, Punk is expected to make his AEW debut on June 17th, 2023, at the United Center in his hometown of Chicago. Speaking to F4WOnline.com, Meltzer revealed that the decision to bring Punk back to wrestling was made a few weeks ago, but negotiations hit a snag two weeks ago. However, it appears that the issues have been resolved, and Punk is expected to be a vital part of the new deal.
“Meltzer stated that Punk was considered to be a vital part of the deal, and that Warner Bros. Discovery wanted him to be the star of the Saturday show,” reports Wrestling Inc.
If the deal goes through, the new weekly show, reportedly called Collision, could be a significant financial boost for AEW. Meltzer estimates that if the show generates the same amount of revenue as Discovery’s first-run programming, which is around $500,000 per hour, AEW could earn a staggering $52 million per year. This would be a game-changing deal for AEW, which has quickly emerged as a serious contender to WWE’s dominance in the wrestling world.
“While the deal for AEW’s new show is not yet finalized, an official announcement is expected soon,” says Meltzer. “The fact that the United Center has already been booked suggests that plans are progressing well, and fans are eagerly awaiting news of the new show.” With Punk’s potential involvement and the promise of a major financial windfall, it’s safe to say that wrestling fans around the world will be keeping a close eye on this story in the coming weeks and months.
