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It's the WWE Bash in Berlin season. Two of the Stamford-based company's biggest stars, Kevin Owens and CM Punk, are gearing up for some hard-hitting matches.
Ahead of Owens' World Title bout, rumors of his contractual status have come to light, and very interesting details about a potential AEW move have also been revealed. KO recently spoke about his relationship with CM Punk, and his comments are bound to spark a wide range of discussions among wrestling fans.
The roundup closes off with some interesting news about the location of WrestleMania 42 in 2026.
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#1. Updates on Kevin Owens' WWE deal, AEW's past stance
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Kevin Owens might've not won a World Title in ages, but he remains a consistent player in WWE's main event scene, having been an influential figure in multiple top storylines.
Owens signed a three-year extension a while back, which is due to end in early 2025. KO might have a prominent position in WWE, but there is always a possibility that he will choose to join his friends in AEW.
Dave Meltzer reported in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that he could have jumped ship when the Owens' WWE deal was about to end in 2022. Surprisingly enough, Tony Khan's company decided not to match WWE's offer, which, at the time, was said to be one of the most lucrative deals in wrestling.
Meltzer noted that the business has changed considerably ever since, as AEW is willing to spend more than what is deemed market value for a talent. The veteran journalist believed AEW would have probably presented a deal similar to WWE had Owens' contract expired right now.
"Owens' contract, which was a three-year deal which at the time of signing was one of the highest in the company and in wrestling, will be due in early 2025. At the time, AEW was aware and didn't attempt to match his big offer which tells you something about how salaries have escalated in the last two plus years because if it was this year there is a good chance they would have tried to match the deal," said Meltzer. [H/T: Wrestling Observer Newsletter]
Swerve Strickland recently re-signed to a multi-year contract, and reports suggest he will earn more than many WWE veterans. Come 2025, Owens' status will be one of the most deeply observed stories in pro wrestling.
#2. Kevin Owens and CM Punk are not friends
CM Punk has his fair share of rivals, both on-screen and in real life. The former AEW World Champion departed from the Jacksonville-based company on bad terms after falling out with several talents, most notably Jack Perry and The Elite. One of the Bucks' long-time friends, Kevin Owens, is undoubtedly aware of Punk's past reputation and has kept his distance since the latter's return.
During a recent interview with The Mail ahead of Bash in Berlin, the former Universal Champion was asked about his relationship with CM Punk, which seemingly doesn't exist.
Owens bluntly claimed he and Punk weren't friendly at all, and if they were to interact, it would only ever be on TV:
''We never talk,' he says, to the point. 'We have no reason to talk. We're not friends. We're not, we don't, you know, we're just not, I don't know. 'We have no reason to talk. If we work together, we will talk, but just not a thing we do.''
While Owens will challenge Rhodes for the Undisputed Title, Punk will look to get some retribution over Drew McIntyre in a Strap Match at Bash in Berlin.
#3. Major WrestleMania 42 clarification
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently turned heads when he claimed WWE would be returning to Philadelphia in 2026. The city hosted the most recent edition of The Show of Show, and many were surprised to learn about the possibility of the PLE happening in Philly again.
After speaking to a well-placed source in WWE, Mike Johnson of PWInsider confirmed that the company had not locked in the location of WrestleMania 42 yet. It was stated that Shapiro might have mentioned WrestleMania in a broader sense and would have been referring to WWE having a similarly large show in Philly again in 2026. Whatever may be the case, WrestleMania 42's location remains undecided.
