-- CM Punk's return to AEW appears to be imminent at this stage and Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast recently had several more updates on the situation. According to Zarian, Warner Bros. Discovery has specifically been told that Punk will be returning so that would suggest that internally, AEW is confident that everything will work out and Punk will return. Zarian added that Punk is wanting to make it work and is fully willing to work with The Elite members but that the feeling isn't reciprocated by The Elite as they have no intention of working with him. It was also noted that there has been no dialogue between the two sides and nothing is planned for them to sit down and try to hash out their differences.
-- Punk's relationship with Chris Jericho, while also very strained, appears much more likely to be mended. According to Zarian, meetings are planned between the two as well as Tony Khan and FTR and the new Saturday should is expected to feature a top storyline involving Punk and Jericho. It's unclear if or to what extent FTR and Jericho's society will be involved but Jericho, while previously stating that Punk is "toxic", clearly knows there is money to be made in Punk's return to AEW and a potential storyline. Jericho also prides himself on being a locker room leader and would likely see this as setting a good example to the rest of the roster on putting aside issues for the better of the business.
-- On the topic of the new Saturday AEW show, Zarian noted that the used phrase "soft brand split" might not be as soft as first believed as the plan is for some wrestlers to predominantly be on one show or the other, the implication being that Punk will be put on the new show while the Elite will remain on Dynamite.
