Every week lately has been a new Tony Khan announcement on AEW Dynamite. There was the reveal of the badly kept secret of a new Saturday show called Collision. There was the equally already known news that it would be in Chicago, and then that CM Punk would make his comeback at the first show. This Wednesday, Khan will announce the first main event for Collision. All of these announcements, however, haven't created much buzz for Collision. The live crowd was mixed on hearing CM Punk's name. The at home crowd has been even less responsive.

Outside of the first show in Chicago, CM Punk's hometown, the ticket sales for other Collision dates have reportedly been bad. These include several shows in Canada, Newark, and Greensboro. Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer spoke on Wrestling Observer Radio about how bad ticket sales are outside of Chicago. "Punk has been moving tickets in Chicago, but not in the other places, not in Toronto, which is not a good sign because Toronto is one of the greatest markets in North America. They sold out Forbidden Door in a snap of the fingers and then for the Collision show, they're still under 2000 tickets in the Scotiabank Arena... In Winnipeg obviously, because they have Jericho and Kenny Omega from Winnipeg and Edmonton will do very well, you know, I mean it's not through the roof or anything. It's about 5000 tickets sold, but they'll sell more late. I think Edmonton will do well. Calgary, I've had people in Calgary tell me that one's a little bit struggling for the Saturday night, but I think, you know, with the Owen Hart tournament, I think they should do ok but Hamilton and Hamilton and Regina are going to be very, very tough. They're like 700 tickets for the Collision in Hamilton and I think also part of it is, is that, you know, in Canada they only get Dynamite on television, they don't get Rampage. And there's been no announcements of Collision and there's been no announcements of Collision for the UK either.” (h/t WrestlingNews.co)

RELATED: Why AEW Collision Will End Up Being Another AEW Rampage

Is CM Punk Still A Draw In 2023?

Tony Khan has put all of his Collision eggs in the CM Punk basket. Is this a sign of desperation, with AEW attendance and ratings down of late, to put everything into a star who did so much damage to the company, or does Khan still truly believe that a brand can be built around one of wrestling's biggest names?

It was massive news when CM Punk showed up in AEW in 2021. Attendance and ratings went up and Punk had a great run. Then came injuries and his post All Out meltdown in 2022. He hasn't been seen in AEW since and many of his co-workers, as well as fans, turned against him. Collision's low ticket sales seem to show that the majority of wrestling fans aren't excited about CM Punk anymore. The fascination with him may have worn off.