After weeks of rumours and speculation, an official announcement on the future of AEW is imminent.
On May 17th at the Warner Bros Discovery upfronts it is believed that the launch of AEW Collision will finally be confirmed. It has also been reported that the return of CM Punk is also due to be confirmed in the coming days.
These two massive stories will reportedly signal a brand split with talent being exclusive to either Dynamite on Wednesdays or Collision Saturdays. There have been numerous rumours about how the split will go down, with recent speculation suggesting that it wouldn’t be as hard as previously expected. However, it seems that this won’t be the case after all.
A new report from Fightful Select has claimed that talents are expecting a “hard brand split with the exception of AEW champions.” While there will be exceptions, the working plan is that there will be a “firm split.” There is no word on how the split will take place, or whether it will feature some kind of draft.
The returns of several previously absent talents have been planned around the upcoming changes.
The report adds that Rampage will be filmed at tapings for Dynamite, while Ring of Honor will be taped on Saturdays along with Collision. While early graphics for Collision have a “WCW Nitro influence.”
CM Punk And The Elite To Be Kept Apart In AEW Brand Split
It has previously been reported that one of the key factors in the split is the desire to improve locker room harmony and smooth things out following the controversy that dogged the company in 2022.
With Punk’s return reportedly coming on the debut of Collision at the United Center on June 17th, it is believed that he will be central to the new show while The Elite will head up Dynamite. It has been stated that the legal and personal issues between the two sides are yet to be fully resolved.
CM Punk hasn’t featured for AEW since calling out The Elite and others at the post-All Out media scrum in October, before getting into a fight with the trio backstage.