On a recent PWTorch audio show, Wade Keller spoke about the CM Punk return rumors. Dave Meltzer and Andrew Zarian have reported that Punk looks to be returning on the June 17th debut episode of AEW Collision at the United Center in Chicago. That hasn’t been officially announced by AEW but all signs point in that direction.
Meltzer stated that Punk has been told not to have any contact with The Young Bucks. However, it looks like Chris Jericho and Punk have a chance at working things out or at least getting to a point where they can work together.
On his audio show, Wade Keller said that the planned Jericho-Punk meeting would include FTR as a neutral party. Keller also stated that Jericho has been a close confidant of Tony Khan.
Keller on the Punk-Jericho meeting moderated by FTR: “The idea being FTR [saying] You know, we’re pitching the idea let’s moderate, we’re a neutral party, and we can help let Jericho and Punk work things out…Jericho is the closest confidant of Tony Khan right now, when it comes to things that include him, but go beyond him…I don’t know how often [but] there’s times where it’s like, ‘where’s Tony?’ ‘Oh, he’s in Chris’ hotel room, or he’s off in this restaurant booth talking to Chris’ or wherever they talk. And it’s not just about Chris Jericho stuff, like Jericho is a sounding board. There are people in that company who tell Tony, ‘listen to Chris, listen to Chris, he’s been around.’ You can’t trust anybody 100% but Chris isn’t like some secret agent who’s sabotaging AEW.”
Keller added that Jericho is not someone who is there just to collect a paycheck and then go back to Vince McMahon. He added, “I think he’s loyal to AEW, that’s what people say at this point. And so I think FTR and Punk are aware of that.”
Keller continued, “Among the people I’ve talked to, there’s not a high level of confidence that the meeting is going to go well that it could make things worse, but maybe not. Maybe things will work out. But people who have been around Punk, know Punk, know people who have known Punk for a very long time, are not optimistic that FTR mediating a meeting between Jericho and Punk is going to lead to progress. The other thing is, is it just sounds by every indication [that] The Bucks, The Young Bucks, Matt and Nick Jackson’s heels are dug in. And I think the Brandon Cutler comment adds to it. I just don’t see those parties reconciling.”
Keller also said that the ‘gaslighting’ tweet from Brandon Cutler makes it sounds like The Bucks side feels that Punk’s side wants to put out that he’s trying to work things out while The Bucks aren’t. Some would argue that Matt and Nick shouldn’t want to work things out because Punk threw the first punch.
Keller also stated that there are people in the company who we haven’t heard from that also don’t want Punk back. He said, “I think it’s well-known that he’s a draw. I also think it’s well-known that the welcome mat will not be rolled out for him in the locker room. The passion in that locker room against Punk in certain circles is unwavering. Punk has poured lighter fluid on that. Moxley and Brandon Cutler had been public. And there’s I think some people would surprise you in AEW, who would seem like neutral parties and all that who don’t want Punk back and they have reasons.”
There was more covered on this story by Wade Keller at PWTorch.com. We highly recommend that you subscribe at PWTorchVIP.com for more.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit PWTorchVIP.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. A PWTorch VIP subscription includes exclusive news in daily audio shows (without ads), more than 10,000 retro podcasts going back to 2004, the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter library and more.
