Report - AEW World title change wasn't timed to counter CM Punk's WWE title win in Chicago

A new report says AEW’s World title change was not timed to counter CM Punk’s WWE title win in Chicago. Punk won the Undisputed WWE Championship in Chicago last week and made his first in-ring appearance since April, defeating Sami Zayn for the title on the July 6 edition of Raw in his hometown. Two days later, at AEW Dynamite: Beach Break in Clearwater, Florida, Kenny Omega defeated MJF to win the AEW World title for the second time, after his first reign ended in 2021. After the title change aired on Wednesday, fans speculated AEW altered plans to “steal thunder,” but Fightful Select reports those claims are false. The report says Omega’s AEW World title match had been scheduled months in advance, before Zayn won the WWE title. Looking ahead, Punk is set to defend against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2026, while Omega will defend at AEW All In 2026 against the winner of the men’s Owen Hart tournament, Will Ospreay.