Ace Steel almost made it onto last night's IMPACT Wrestling Bound for Glory broadcast before being nixed, partly because of CM Punk.

Punk & Steel were both suspended after All Out 2022 alongside others related to the now-infamous backstage brawl. Both were brought back to AEW with the launch of AEW Collision, with Steel's rehiring coming as a shock to many in the company. Steel was let go shortly after Punk was fired from AEW following his backstage fight with Jack Perry at AEW All In 2023.

Steel was backstage at this week's Bound for Glory event trying out as a producer, but he nearly competed on the show, PW Insider reports. There was, at one point, talk of using Steel as a surprise entrant in the 20-person gauntlet match. The idea was nixed as there was a concern that fans would see Steel appearing as a sign that CM Punk was coming, and didn't want to accidentally tease something that wasn't going to happen.

The match went ahead without Steel but there were several surprise entrants, including ex-AEW star Sonny Kiss. Juventud Guerrera and Matt Cardona also competed in the match.

Despite these surprises, IMPACT Wrestling staple Jordynne Grace won the match, becoming the first woman to win the 'Call Your Shot' gauntlet match. Post-match, Grace would call her shot and announce that she will challenge for the IMPACT Knockouts World Championship at Hard to Kill 2024 in January next year. The show will be the first pay-per-view following IMPACT's return to the TNA Wrestling name.