TNT, WarnerMedia Were Excited About CM Punk’s Impending AEW Debut, Some Of What They Knew

If you still had any doubts ahead of his debutthat CM Punk was making his way back to wrestling for AEW, TNT itself was operating on the assumption he’s coming in.

Fightful spoke with multiple people involved with WarnerMedia and TNT, who spoke of the excitement of bringing in CM Punk, and noted that he would have their promotional machine behind him upon his return. We weren’t told what exactly that would entail, but were told that TNT and WarnerMedia were both “very aware” of this. The same employees cited expressed that AEW running four shows over a few weeks in the same market and selling the way that they did impressed many within the company. One TNT source that we spoke with about the situation said they were particularly excited about the United Center/Chicago/Bulls/tie in.

One month after Fightful Select broke news that CM Punk was in talks for a pro wrestling return, he did on AEW Rampage.

Fightful learned at that time there were discussions regarding a multi-year contract with Punk to return, with Punk’s side being open to accepting that. We’re told the talks started well before that, June at the latest. As of the week prior to us reporting the two were in talks, we had been told of plans for a late August return.

Punk’s “I’m Back” press release was set at least a week prior to it being revealed. as those within WarnerMedia knew of the plan for the Jordan-esque release.

We are still working to find out specific details of the contract.

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