CM Punk returned from injury on the debut episode of AEW Collision.
He wrestled in the main event of the night, teaming with FTR to take on Samoa Joe, Jay White and Juice Robinson.
Punk picked up the victory for his side, pinning Juice Robinson following a GTS, after a much-hyped showdown with Samoa Joe in the ring.
This was his first match in 10 months, since suffering a career-threatening injury last year.
It was CM Punk’s second injury in AEW, with both of them deeply affecting his reigns as the AEW Champion.
Broken Foot (May 2022)
CM Punk’s first injury in AEW was on the AEW Dynamite episode after Double or Nothing 2022.
At the event, he defeated Adam Page to win the AEW Championship for the first time in his career.
This was a joyous moment, and he celebrated with FTR in the ring after match.
He came out the next week for a six-man tag team match on Dynamite in high spirits.
He leapt into the crowd for a group hug at the start of the match, something he did multiple times since returning.
CM Punk was booked to team with FTR against The Gunns and Max Caster (due to Anthony Bowens injury, he could not wrestle the match against CM Punk).
Punk broke his foot when he jumped into the crowd. He banged it onto the guard rail, but completed the match despite suffering the injury.
After the bout, he was challenged to a match at Forbidden Door against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
CM Punk accepted the challenge, although the match would not take place due to his injury.
His broken foot would mean he missed Forbidden Door, and the CM Punk vs Hiroshi Tanahashi match never took place.
Torn Tricep (September 2022)
Despite only being his second match back from his first injury, CM Punk’s second injury in AEW came at All Out 2022.
His first match back after his first injury was on the August 24th 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite.
CM Punk battled Jon Moxley to unify the AEW and Interim AEW Championships for the first time in history.
Moxley beat Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title at Forbidden Door, and had to wait for some months before he could take on Punk for the first time in AEW.
Moxley won that match in mere minutes, although CM Punk claimed he was not cleared to wrestle during that match.
The rematch was two weeks later, at All Out 2022. This is when CM Punk suffered his second injury in AEW, which would keep him out of the ring for nearly a year.
During the main event of All Out 2022, CM Punk tore his left tricep in the match against Jon Moxley.
It has been said that the injury occurred during a suicide dive, with Punk landing awkwardly on Moxley as he flew out of the ring.
Despite winning the match, he was forced to vacate the title soon after the show. This was both due to the injury, and the explosive press conference that followed.