Top AEW program was always in the plans (Patreon)

The CM Punk situation changed a lot of plans in AEW, but not one major program.

CM Punk’s fight with Jack Perry and subsequent termination surrounded a CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe match for the Real World’s Championship. Fightful Select reported that the original plans for Punk involved Ricky Starks for the AEW Real Worlds Championship. 

However, Samoa Joe’s plans were already in place as well. We’re told that despite CM Punk still having the Real World’s Championship, there were not immediate plans for an MJF/Punk program. Instead, Samoa Joe had previously been planned to feud with MJF as is the case on television now.

EDIT: Apologies for the paragraph cutting off. We've reached out to Patreon who said they are addressing the issue of this happening of late.