CM Punk insists Chris Jericho on WWE Network proves Vince McMahon isn’t ‘afraid of AEW at all’

WWE legend CM Punk has claimed Chris Jericho’s upcoming Broken Skull Session proves Vince McMahon isn’t threatened by All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

The former world champion’s highly anticipated interview with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin will air on the WWE Network on April 11, with fans around the world stunned to see the company working with a wrestler from a rival promotion, albeit someone held in such high regard from his own tenure in WWE.

Asked about the move, CM Punk told TMZ: ‘Honestly, my major reaction and opinion on it is I think that it shows Vince McMahon isn’t afraid of AEW at all because if he was, he wouldn’t allow that to happen.’

Punk – who has his own issues with the company, despite fans clamouring for a comeback – has predicted a ‘feel-good interview’ that doesn’t ignore Jericho’s current run in AEW, but also one that won’t delve into ‘the tough questions’.

He explained: ‘It feels like it’s gonna be softball questions. I don’t know if they’re going to ask Jericho all the tough questions – and nor do I think that they possibly should…

‘It will probably just be like a feel-good interview. They’ll talk about Jericho’s past at WWE, I’m sure they’ll mention AEW but they won’t get into the hard questions that I think a lot of people would be interested in.’

Punk also noted how AEW will benefit from the interview with the company getting publicity on the WWE Network – and Peacock in the US.

He added: ‘Anytime anybody’s talking about you, it’s good. There will be people who don’t know AEW exists who will watch it and say “Oh wow cool, I didn’t know that, I just thought Jericho was retired.”

‘But, there is also something to be said about keeping your guys special and the only place you can see the superstar is on my television show.

‘It’s new age and I think both companies need all the eyeballs they can get at the moment so kudos to everybody involved.’

As for Punk himself, it’s still a pipe dream as to whether or not he ever makes a return to WWE.

His friend and former WWE Backstage co-star Renee Young certainly hopes he laces up the boots one more time, and she insisted wrestling is very much in his heart.

She exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘I think it would be an absolute shame if he did not come back. Like you said, that passion is still there! He’s a wrestler! He is a wrestler through and through.

‘Whether he was busy doing movies or TV shows or other aspirations that he has, I think at the end of the day wrestling is the thing that makes that guy tick.

‘I think for him to not come back in some capacity, whatever creative he ends up working out that he really wants to do – I think ultimately, that that’s what it would come down to for him, is finding that great creative.’

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