Tag: CM Punk

Tony Khan won’t comment on CM Punk status, says ‘I did not know’ about his All Out press conference tirade

It’s hard to believe the All Out press conference would have gone down the way it did if he knew.

Tony Khan has been pretty consistent about not commenting on the status of CM Punk with AEW, and that didn’t change a few days out from Full Gear.

That’s notable because when the show hits Newark’s Prudential Center on Saturday, the return of The Elite (Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks) will mean everyone involved in the fracas that started after Punk’s post-All Out press conference tirade will either be back in action or (in the case of Punk’s longtime friend Ace Steel) gone from the company.

Punk’s fate remains a topic of intense interest and speculation, so it was no surprise that one of the questions during Khan’s pre-Full Gear conference call just flat out asked if fans have seen the last of CM Punk in AEW.

“I can’t comment on that,” Khan said. “I have nothing but positive things to say about the contributions CM Punk has made in AEW on screen, and certainly a lot of positive things to say about thing he did in AEW to date. … I do understand why you’d ask and appreciate you asking.”

The final question on the call also concerned Punk, and specifically about whether Khan might have known that Punk was going to go on the tangents he did — and why he didn’t do anything to stop it. In this case, the person asking the question was someone with a personal interest in the answer: Nick Hausman of Wrestling Inc., the journalist who Punk responded to at All Out that set the entire chain of events in motion.

Khan insisted he had no idea what was going to transpire, and that he had reasons for wanting the press conference to continue.

“You were sitting five feet away from me, and I did not know,” Khan said. “No, I did not know. But I will not comment beyond that except to say that I had Keith [Lee] and Swerve [Strickland] coming up right after that and Toni Storm after that. And I had important stuff to talk to them about.”

Common sense suggests that Khan might field a question or two about Punk after Full Gear too, but his answers are likely to be the same. We’ll find out late Saturday night.

CM Punk returning to WWE would be the most quintessentially pro wrestling thing ever

Never say never rarely applies as powerfully as it does in pro wrestling.

It’s not true to say that bridges can’t ever be burned in pro wrestling. Owen Hart’s family, understandably, has never forgiven WWE for his tragic death. Another Hart, Bret, appears that he will carry his grudge against Goldberg with him for the rest of his life.

But let’s just say that lots of those bridges are pretty fire resistant. People and companies that would never work together again in other walks of life find themselves reuniting in pro wrestling on a regular basis.

Despite that truth, CM Punk and WWE seemed like two entities that weren’t likely to find their way back to each other. The two had the messiest of divorces in 2014, and Punk wasn’t shy about speaking publicly on his dissatisfaction with how he was treated toward the end of his WWE run. He even went a step further and said it destroyed his passion for the business.

Yes, Punk did a brief stint on “WWE Backstage” prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (under contract with FOX and not WWE). That’s still a far cry from being back in a WWE ring, and when Punk felt the urge to wrestle again, it was hardly surprising that he chose to sign with AEW instead. Too much bad blood to go back, or so it seemed.

Of course, that was before anyone knew that Punk’s time in AEW would flame out so fast and so spectacularly. It’s almost inconceivable, given how he gave the still-young promotion a shot in the arm as soon as he showed up in 2021, that we would be discussing the possibility that by the end of 2022, his stint there might already be over.

It’s still not a sure thing, as AEW has never commented publicly about the fallout from the now infamous post-All Out press conference, where among other things, he challenged people who had a problem with him to come express that to his face, and the brawl that took place when Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks apparently took him up on his offer.

What we’ve learned since is that a bunch of people were suspended while AEW performed an internal investigation. Some of them have returned, The Elite look like they may be back on TV very soon, and Punk’s friend and trainer Ace Steel, who was also involved in the melee, was let go.

Punk is the figure whose fate most intrigues wrestling fans, yet it remains unknown. It’s possible that there’s a lack of urgency because the injury he suffered at All Out means he can’t wrestle until 2023 anyway. Or maybe he and AEW are still discussing things behind the scenes, whether it’s his eventual return or terms of his departure.

This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite raised some eyebrows by hinting at the latter. When Chris Jericho made an open challenge to any former ROH champion, Wednesday night in Baltimore, it was answered by Colt Cabana. Considering he was the very person Punk’s press scrum tirade started with — as well as someone who Punk was accused of getting buried in AEW because of their personal beef — it was easy to read Cabana’s appearance as “well that’s it, Punk’s gone.”

Whether that’s actually the case remains to be seen. What’s interesting now is that enough people believe Punk is finished with AEW that speculation has turned to where he might go next. And truly, unless Punk fancied a stint with New Japan, there’s only one place it would make sense to pop up at this stage in his career: back in WWE, naturally.

There aren’t many wrestlers left who would cause a huge stir by showing up unexpectedly on Raw or SmackDown in 2023. Punk is the exception to that rule, and figures to be at the very top of the list considering his name recognition, enduring popularity, and yes, curiosity over what’s gone down between him and AEW.

For Punk, a reconciliation with WWE would be relatively easy to justify. Most of his venom on his way out was directed toward Vince McMahon, who no longer runs the company he built into a global powerhouse. To be sure, Punk and Paul “Triple H” Levesque have their own history of animosity, but WWE’s current head of creative would undoubtedly put that aside if he truly felt it would be best for business.

The question then becomes whether it’s worth risking the reportedly improved morale throughout the WWE roster since McMahon stepped aside. Warranted or not, Punk now has the aura of someone who in unscripted sports would be called a locker room cancer — the kind of talent that would make a team have deep conversations to determine whether his positives truly outweigh his negatives.

In other words, Levesque and his team aren’t going to being back Punk just for the reaction he’d get when walking out for the first time, nor for the kind of online buzz created by the Bray Wyatt White Rabbit campaign. But it’s not a complete nonstarter either, with Fightful Select recently reporting one of its sources saying “they would likely be interested in possibly procuring the services of Punk.”

Back in 2014 or 2015, suggesting that Punk would ever be a WWE wrestler again would have gotten you laughed at, possibly by the man himself. It’s no longer a comedic notion, however, but just the latest possible example that in pro wrestling, “never again” is a concept that rarely applies.

Cody Rhodes didn’t leave AEW because of The Elite or CM Punk. Source? Cody Rhodes.

Wanting to “go for the big one” is the most relatable motivation.

As Cody Rhodes continues to rehab and heal up from his torn pec, he’s still finding some time to set the record straight on a few things. Specifically, Rhodes explained why he decided to leave AEW, a company he helped start, to return to WWE.

Responding to a fan on Twitter (whose tweet is now hidden), Rhodes said it wasn’t disputes with his fellow EVPs or CM Punk that made him want to leave, nor was it motivated by financial considerations.

“I didn’t leave because of the Bucks/Kenny,” Rhodes said. ” … and I didn’t leave because of/or have issues with Punk. … Not money, not booking, just a personal issue and my wanting to go for the big one.”

It caught many fans by surprise when it became clear early in 2022 that he and AEW weren’t going to come to terms on a new contract. The thought at the time was that since he, the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega were founders of the promotion and had executive roles, that it meant they were somehow automatically in it until the end.

When Rhodes signed with WWE and proved that wasn’t the case, speculation turned toward whether he had a falling out with The Elite, or perhaps newer talent like Punk who had been brought in after AEW had been around for a bit. Rhodes has now definitively stated that wasn’t the case, and that his motivation was simply to fulfill the untapped potential he saw in himself to prove himself on pro wrestling’s biggest stage.

Considering the reaction he got from fans after his WWE return, it’s hard to argue that Rhodes made the wrong call. He’s expected to go right back to being one of the top stars on the Raw brand as soon as he’s healthy again, which should be within the next few months.

Reports say Chris Jericho confronted CM Punk after All Out brawl, doesn’t want to work with him again

The Ocho also later appeared at the post-All Out press conference himself, so he was apparently busy that night.

Though the final fate of CM Punk in AEW has yet to be revealed, one of the big factors in a potential return down the road (and it would have to be down the road, as Punk’s injury status means he wouldn’t be able to return to action until next year) is whether some of the other big AEW stars won’t want to work with him if he comes back. It sounds like Chris Jericho might be among those leaning that way.

In this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote extensively about the eventual endgame from Punk’s post-All Out press conference tirade and the fight with The Elite that followed. He speculated again about whether Punk would eventually be back and suggested that “many if not most of the key top names were saying that they wouldn’t work with him,” with “Chris Jericho being the name mentioned most.”

It’s possible that Jericho told Punk face to face exactly how he feels. Fightful Select reported late Thursday night that Jericho “approached” Punk following the All Out brawl and before he headed to the press conference.

Jericho told CM Punk that he was a cancer to the locker room, and a detriment to the company. Those we’ve spoken to didn’t recount CM Punk’s reply verbatim, but said that he effectively told Jericho it wasn’t his business and needed to leave.

It’s obviously not ideal to have two top stars who don’t want to work together, but it’s happened before in pro wrestling, and AEW has a big enough roster that it’s possible to have Jericho and Punk on it without putting them in programs together.

But if Jericho’s feelings are echoed by a majority of the locker room, that is a problem. Even though Punk has proven to be a top draw, at what point does he subtract more than he adds?

AEW may already be there. There remains a school of thought that maybe everyone involved realizes there’s a lot of money to be made if the entire situation can be used as an angle and they all work together to profit from it. With each passing week, though, that feels more and more unlikely.

AEW reportedly seeking CM Punk buyout but non-complete clause a sticking point

It does seem like a big risk that WWE could snap up CM Punk as soon as AEW let him go.

The CM Punk saga that began with his now famous post-All Out tirade may be close to a conclusion — but there’s a catch.

In the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that AEW is in talks to buy out the remainder of Punk’s deal, which could have several years remaining since he has only been with the company for a little more than a year.

What could be holding things up is AEW attempting to ensure that Punk doesn’t simply show up in WWE right after his buyout.

The hold-up right now is said to be the non-compete period. Obviously if the non-compete is an issue, it’s about interest in going to WWE because there’s no need for a non-compete otherwise because nobody else but AEW and WWE can pay him close to what he was making. There are those in WWE who have been very negative towards him in the past, but it is a wrestling war and the optics of looking publicly like they have taken Punk from AEW would be very significant. HHH’s whole game right now is about surprise debuts and Punk would be the biggest possible for him to bring in for impact.

Meltzer adds that there’s no guarantee that WWE would rehire Punk, even under new management, but the downside risk if they would is pretty obvious for AEW. Punk is also injured and wouldn’t be able to wrestle (for anyone) until 2023, but as one of the industry’s best on the microphone, all he’d have to do to make an impact is appear in promo segments for WWE and it would definitely cause a stir.

Regardless of how the non-compete situation ends up being resolved, it’s clearer than ever that Punk is likely gone from AEW. It’s a stunning turn of events for a company and performer who seemed like they were perfect for each other in the summer of 2021, just to see their relationship unravel so quickly and publicly less than 18 months later.

Might AEW be better off without CM Punk?

CM Punk could be gone for good from AEW, but maybe that’s not the disaster it would have seemed a few months ago.

Back when Bill Simmons didn’t have a multimedia empire and was simply a columnist, he used to write often about the Ewing Theory: a concept created by one of his friends when the New York Knicks played better without Patrick Ewing, who in the 1990s was the team’s best player.

Might AEW be on the verge of testing the Ewing Theory in pro wrestling?

It’s not a perfect fit because CM Punk isn’t far and away the company’s top star. But by all accounts, he has moved the needle for AEW quite a bit since he arrived last year, in terms of ticket sales (especially in the Chicago area), merchandise sales, and overall credibility, though that last one is pretty subjective, to say the least.

What isn’t up for debate is that Punk is one of the most well-known stars on the AEW roster, one who even lapsed wrestling fans recognize. And now, as more time passes since Punk’s post-All Out press conference rant and the subsequent fight that involved Punk, his friend Ace Steel, the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, it’s becoming more and more possible that the wrestler and the company might actually part ways for good.

This week, Wade Keller of PWTorch came right and said that he thinks Punk is done in AEW (h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription).

I am not expecting CM Punk to wrestle in AEW again. I’m not saying it’s 100% sure thing but everything is pointing in the direction of some sort of buyout of his contract.

On the surface, that would appear to be a disastrous end to a marriage between performer and promotion that would have lasted only a little more than a year. AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan has spoken frequently about what Punk has meant to the company since he joined, making his loss seem like a big blow.

But maybe not. Fightful Select reported Wednesday ahead of AEW Grand Slam that the company had another talent meeting ahead of its New York show, and that its sources said the mood in the locker room had been better as of late.

A longtime AEW talent that we spoke with said the last three weeks have been much more laid back than how things were in the weeks that led up to AEW All Out. Another veteran claimed that the locker room has been the best over the last three tapings than it’s been in quite a while.

One AEW source we spoke used the term “addition by subtraction,” but wouldn’t specify who they meant specifically in that regard.

It doesn’t really have to be said. Though the Bucks and Omega remain suspended as well, the person who they’re almost certainly referring to is Punk. Here’s where the Ewing Theory applies: Even if AEW takes a short-term hit in terms of ticket and merch sales, could it actually be better off in the long run if Punk leaving means a more harmonious locker room?

You definitely can’t rule it out. Punk’s injury status means he wouldn’t be available to wrestle until 2023 anyway. Those months will pass quickly, but they’re long enough for AEW to realize that maybe it doesn’t need Punk after all, and that the company might be better positioned for future success without him.

That would have seemed a silly notion just a few months ago, but it’s looking more and more possible by the day.

Some of the suspensions from the All Out fight are over

Not for CM Punk, Kenny Omega or the Young Bucks, though.

Some of the participants in the infamous altercation after the AEW All Out press conference are back to work — just not the biggest names involved.

Fightful Select provided an update on some of the people who were said to be part of the fight that had CM Punk and Ace Steel on one side against the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega on the other.

Michael Nakazawa, Pat Buck, Christopher Daniels and Brandon Cutler all had their Brawl Out suspensions lifted after only one week. Pat Buck was backstage at AEW Dynamite, while Daniels and Nakazawa were already on a planned trip to Japan, but will now participate in matches for AEW at Tokyo Game Show.

The presumption, also backed up by Fightful Select, is that these four were suspended pending an internal investigation into the events of that night, and have since been cleared of any serious wrongdoing.

Of course, those also aren’t the names fans most want to know about. The fates of Punk and Steel remain “uncertain,” though in Punk’s case there is somewhat less urgency, even though he’s at the center of the whole situation, since he is injured and not expected back in 2022.

Omega is in Japan, where he’s posted pics of himself eating and catching up with old friend and former tag team partner, Kota Ibushi.

The Bucks are, by all accounts, at home, and their popular “Being the Elite” YouTube series is also on hold.

All of that is to say that how this all plays out in the end is anyone’s guess. While some observers feel it would be better for all involved if AEW cuts ties with Punk, his status as one of the company’s top draws makes that a bit more complicated calculus than it might be for someone else who had started the same kind of uproar. No one expects Omega or the Bucks to be fired, but if the investigation finds they were the aggressors, a longer suspension might be in the cards than initially thought.

In the meantime, as with all things wrestling, the show goes on. Death Triangle has already taken over as AEW World Trios Champions with Omega and the Bucks out, and the company will crown a new AEW World Champion at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York this coming Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Roman Reigns, Kazuchika Okada, CM Punk top 2022 PWI 500

According to the latest PWI 500, Roman Reigns is the top star in all of pro wrestling, not just WWE.

It’s time to acknowledge Roman Reigns as the best pro wrestler on the planet.

For the second time, Reigns was selected No. 1 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500, its rankings of the top male pro wrestlers in the world. The list, which has been published annually since 1991, also gave Reigns the top spot in 2016.

Joining Reigns in the top three are Kazuchika Okada of NJPW and currently suspended AEW star CM Punk. Both are former number ones in their own right; Okada in 2017, Punk in 2012.

AEW and WWE each placed another wrestler in the top five, with Hangman Adam Page appearing at No. 4, followed by Bobby Lashley. It’s a career-best rank for Page, whose previous high was No. 33 two years ago, while Lashley slips just a few spots from No. 3 in 2021.

The top 10 for 2022 also includes AAA luchador El Hijo del Vikingo at No. 8, and former ROH World Champion Jonathan Gresham at No. 10. After Okada, the next highest ranking NJPW wrestler is Shingo Takagi at No. 11.

Perhaps the most bittersweet entry among this year’s top wrestlers is No. 9-ranked Big E. While it’s his first appearance in the top 10 after moving up four places since 2021, Big E is currently out of action following a broken neck sustained in March, and he told TMZ over the summer that he’s unsure if he will ever be able to wrestle again.

Other notable entries within the PWI 500 top 30:

  • Jox Moxley slips just a bit from No. 6 in 2021 to No. 12.
  • At No. 13, Matt Cardona is the top-ranked indie performer.
  • Josh Alexander‘s No. 14 ranking makes him the top Impact Wrestling star for 2022.
  • Last year’s No. 1, Kenny Omega, finds himself at No. 19 this year, in large part due to time he missed due to injury.
  • Current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jay White of NJPW is sure to use his No. 23 ranking as even more of a chip on his shoulder.

The December issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated containing the entire PWI 500 is available now digitally, and will go on sale in print form soon.

AEW All Out 2022: Best photos of CM Punk vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship

See the best photos from the AEW World Championship match between CM Punk and Jon Moxley at AEW All Out 2022.

Before that press conference happened and CM Punk became the most talked about personality in all of pro wrestling, he had a heck of a match against Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship in front of his hometown fans in Chicago.

Punk was injured during the match and his long term future with AEW is unknown, but for now his lasting in-ring memories will heavily feature this bout. Relive the action, blood and drama through some of the best photos from the main event of AEW All Out 2022. (Photos courtesy of All Elite Wrestling)

Neither CM Punk nor Christian Cage will be wrestling again in 2022

Maybe CM Punk and Christian Cage can be injury rehab buddies since they face similar recovery times.

Even if CM Punk is able to mend fences and return to an AEW ring down the road, it won’t be until well into 2023.

Lost just a bit amid all the well justified hoopla over Punk’s post-All Out press conference rant and the subsequent altercation he had with the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega was the fact that Punk was also injured that night. Initially, it was thought that he might have been hurt during the fight, but it turns out it occurred during his AEW World Championship match against Jon Moxley.

It was later reported to be “serious,” and Dave Meltzer clarified that during his latest Wrestling Observer newsletter, confirming that it’s a torn triceps which will require surgery. That means Punk will be out of action for around 6-9 months.

Christian Cage may be facing the same length of time on the shelf. While “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry referred to Cage being hurt during his promo this week on Dynamite, but Meltzer says now his injury may also be a torn triceps. That will put a serious damper on their feud, though with Luchasaurus also involved, Perry should have no trouble staying busy for the time being.

If Punk remains on the sidelines for the top end of the estimated recovery time, it’s possible he might not be cleared to wrestle again until June of 2023. That would mean he’d go an entire calendar year without wrestling anyone but Moxley, who he lost to on Aug. 24 in an AEW World Championship unification match on Dynamite, before beating him in the rematch at All Out on Sep. 4.

That’s assuming, of course, that Punk isn’t simply done with AEW after the fallout stemming from the press conference and everything that followed — which isn’t guaranteed, as AEW is said to be conducting an independent investigation into what went down. Regardless, it’s a sobering reminder that the company’s days of being able to call upon one of its top draws are going to be delayed for quite a while if they will continue at all.

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