CM Punk is set to return to AEW on June 17 for the premiere episode of AEW Collision. Punk has been been absent from television since AEW All Out 2022 when he won the AEW World Title from Jon Moxley, but suffered a torn triceps in the match and then made disparaging remarks towards Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson), and more.
While Punk didn't have a relationship on television with The Elite, his feud with Hangman Page carried the company into AEW Double or Nothing 2022, leading to the first million dollar gate in company history. Punk said in his AEW All Out press conference comments that Hangman threatened that gate due to comments he made in a promo ahead of the bout.
"You talk a big game about workers' rights," Page said on television. "Well, you've shown the exact opposite since you got here. I love this place, I care about this place. This is my home. And this Sunday at Double or Nothing, I will not be defending this championship against you. No, for the first time in my life, I'll be defending All Elite Wrestling from you."
According to Punk, who spoke to Marc Raimondi of ESPN, Page told him he said what he did because Punk had AEW wrestler and coach Colt Cabana fired from the company, or at least tried to. Punk told Page that wasn't true and had previously denied asking Tony Khan to remove Cabana from AEW.
"And I proceed to have what I think is a garbage match because I'm trying to protect myself on stuff instead of actually just working and trying to put on the best performance I can," Punk said. "I'm keeping an eye out. He chopped me in the mouth one time, and I'm just like, 'OK, did you do that on purpose?' You chip my tooth, and I'm like, 'All right, should I give him a receipt?' It changes the dynamic. It poisoned everything for me, and it made it all really, really ugly, and that was what set all of this off, and here we are over a year later and ain't s--- been done about it."
Punk was injured after AEW Double or Nothing 2022, but called out Page on television when he returned from injury in an unscripted moment. Page did not go to the ring when called out by Punk.
During his AEW All Out media scrum, Punk criticized Page for saying he didn't take advice from veterans. Hangman later clarified his comments in April 2023.
Elsewhere during the interview, Punk commented on his AEW All Out comments. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
