Whenever CM Punk steps in front of a microphone, whether it’s inside the ring or out for AEW or WWE, it tends to grab attention. He’s managed to make waves despite limited media appearances, giving fans a glimpse into the mind of this controversial talent.
On Monday, Punk gave a rare interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, which lasted nearly two hours and touched on sensitive topics regarding his time in AEW. From Jack Perry to subtle nods at “Brawl Out,” nothing was off-limits, including a candid conversation about AEW CEO, GM and head of creative Tony Khan.
Following the discussion about Khan’s involvement in the All In 2023 incident with Perry, Helwani asked Punk to share his thoughts on working for AEW’s boss, leading to a blunt assessment from the 45-year-old.
“He’s not a boss, he’s a nice guy,” Punk said. “Ultimately, that’s a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company. I’m an outsider. I thought I was brought in to sell merchandise and tickets and draw numbers for pay-per-view and stuff, and I clearly did that. But that’s not what the place was about and some people didn’t like that.”
Expanding further, Punk said he thought he joined AEW to help their business, but felt it was for other reasons. He then labeled AEW as “not a real business,” attributing this to their focus on “having good matches.”
“I thought I was coming in to help business,” Punk said. “If I could teach something, great, and I think I was just brought in for other reasons, you know? Their business, and I know a lot of people are going to be upset, is just not predicated … it’s not a real business. It’s not about selling tickets. It’s not about drawing money. It’s not about making money. It’s just not. I don’t know. I think having good matches, maybe? And there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Punk’s two harsh assessments of AEW are bound to fuel discussions among fans, marking yet another mic drop moment from the outspoken wrestler. And while AEW has faced its fair share of criticism in recent years, these latest remarks only intensify the scrutiny on how they operate behind the scenes.
[lawrence-related id=47480]