Below is a collection of reports from Fightful Select on CM Punk from the All In (Brawl In) fight up until this week's Backstage Report Podcast.
August 27:
CM Punk and Jack Perry had an altercation backstage at AEW All In.
Details are few and far between at the moment, but we have learned that Jack Perry and CM Punk had an altercation shortly before CM Punk went to the ring for his AEW All In match. Jack Perry was on right before him, and did a spot on a car window, and said "it's real glass, cry me a river." This was a shot at Punk, who had a confrontation at an AEW Collision taping this Summer over Perry's insistence on using real glass for a spot on the show. We're told Perry wasn't happy with how the situation was relayed publicly by those close to Punk.
We have learned the following regarding Punk's side of things, which claims that Jack Perry approached CM Punk backstage and "stepped in his face" and "bumped" Punk. Punk was said to have then pushed Perry. Perry allegedly "came at Punk and got choked." We haven't heard of a particular kind of choke or who broke things up. Please note this is only one side of the story, and more details will emerge.
Miro has claimed the Punk side of the story "was fake and untrue," and other versions allege that Punk threw a punch and that Punk stepped to Perry first. Other accounts claim that Punk initiated things. They exchanged words, Punk got in Perry's face and pie faced him. Punk allegedly grabbed Perry in a front face lock and it was broken up.
PWInsider has reported that Jack Perry was sent away from the venue and CM Punk was still at Wembley for a time. Eventually Punk was also asked to leave. Wrestling Observer claims that they were removed by security.
We've reached out to both CM Punk and Jack Perry for their sides.
To clear up a misconception regarding their prior argument and "Perry trying to not come to work the next week," we're told he had a pre-planned and approved vacation.
Tony Khan confirmed the altercation and said an investigation was going on.
August 28:
We've learned more about PUNK V PERRY.
There was a lot of eye rolling and "this again?" type responses to the Punk altercation. Punk's side of the story is pretty clear, though we're still getting details about the other side. One source said "with 100 percent certainty, Jack Perry didn't throw the first punch. Punk shoved him and put him in a choke." Depending on who you speak to, accounts have said that Punk shoved, pie faced or threw a punch.
The situation happened between the end of Perry's match and Punk's, with one account claiming Samoa Joe was trying to be a peacemaker and keep others out.
Several accounts claim that Punk asked Perry if they had a problem, and Perry said that Punk started something online regarding the real/fake glass story, and that was his receipt, as reported by PWTorch. Perry had told a couple of people he was planning to make a comment during the match.
As a reminder, we were not present for the skirmish and don't endorse either side as gospel. Many situations like this are going to be inconsistent depending on which side you hear from.
People close to Punk say that there wasn't much communication between he and Tony Khan after the incident. Punk has went as far as telling people he "hates this place" as a result of the constant issues in AEW. Many people within the company say he's plenty responsible for those issues.
Neither CM Punk or Jack Perry were at the AEW All In after party, and Punk headed out of London Monday afternoon. As Haus of Wrestling reported, both Perry and Punk were told they should leave Wembley at different times to make things easier.
It was confirmed that both men were suspended.
September 2:
AEW announced that CM Punk was terminated – both as a wrestler and an employee. AEW founder Tony Khan said the decision was one he didn't want to have to make, but needed to for the safety of the AEW team.
While it was noted the termination was with cause, thus far we do not know if there is a non-compete attached, or a severance or severance period. As a result, we don’t know when Punk would be eligible for a move to another wrestling company. He still has major heat with numerous top names in WWE, and was asked to leave earlier this year when he showed up. There had been no real expectations or plans of Punk heading to WWE, and most people we spoke to there didn’t think he was going to be fired.
The AEW roster, including several that were close to Punk, did not know as of Saturday that Punk was set to be fired. There was an investigation throughout the week in which saw a disciplinary committee informed of the findings. We don’t know who comprised that committee, but we’d heard of many people within the company being interviewed.
Tony Khan spoke about the situation before AEW Collision to the live crowd, in a manner in which had many people questioning things. He appeared sitting a chair, and said many things that he would go on to say in a pre-recorded statement at the top of the show. Notably that outside legal counsel and the disciplinary committee both recommended he terminate CM Punk’s contract. Khan said he feared for his safety and life in the situation, which matches up with word that he was in plain sight of the Jack Perry and Punk confrontation. There was also word that Punk lunged his direction. When Fightful asked Tony Khan this week about whether or not Punk had a confrontation with Tony earlier that day as rumored, he largely avoided the question and defended the booking. The crowd booed Tony Khan heavily at the start, and much of the crowd turned to his side by the end.
Regarding the Miro vs. CM Punk aspect, Punk had seemed genuinely confused regarding that making the rounds. Miro and Punk supposedly spoke about it mid-week and had a laugh about the word that they had issues. Punk and Miro had maintained a good relationship, with Punk pushing for Miro to be on Collision.
Punk had expressed unhappiness verbally numerous times– from the All Out post-show scrum, to saying “I hate this place” ahead of AEW Collision’s debut and even after his fight with Jack Perry.
Punk had been slated to main event AEW All Out in a strap match with Ricky Starks. That was adjusted to Bryan Danielson in a huge surprise that was kept very secret within the company up until just before the show. PWTorch reported that AEW was confident that their alternative plan would work out really well.
We’ve heard that there were also ongoing discussions between AEW and WBD about the on-screen direction of AEW Collision. Security was confiscating CM Punk signs ahead of the show, which was to be expected.
Up until the end, we’d heard no real progress on Punk working with the Elite, though he’d claimed to Fightful and others backstage that he still wanted to get into a room and talk with them and make something work.
We’ve reached out to CM Punk, but haven’t heard back, and haven’t heard of him reaching out to others as of yet. Jack Perry is not slated for any Chicago-week shows. Perry has not been fired, or informed of a firing at least as of Punk’s firing.
For those asking if it’s a work, the numerous AEW sources we’ve spoken to claim it isn’t. AEW hasn’t commented on that specific question in an official capacity.
September 3:
CM Punk and AEW have reached an end, as the company terminated his employment contract and wrestler contract.
Regarding Haus of Wrestling’s report about a planned meeting with CM Punk and the Elite in Atlanta that got moved, this will long be the subject of a story of two sides. Those close to Punk say that the meeting was scheduled to happen, while those close to the Elite are adamant it was never going to happen. We have heard at least that a meeting was pitched, which seems to be something all sides agree with. We’d also heard that there was a brief interaction between Young Bucks and Punk in London, but when we asked Punk’s camp about that, it was clear he was frustrated that The Elite still weren’t open to talking to him.
We’ve not heard about Punk speaking with much of anyone thus far, the quietest we’ve heard out of that camp in quite a while. We haven’t heard that Ace Steel will be affected. He’s still serving as effectively an off-site consultant and is under a deal until September 2024.
There was a meeting ahead of AEW Collision where talent was addressed on the situation. Not everyone who was in town for AEW or Starrcast was at the meeting, and we’re told not all of the information was relayed to people who weren’t at the show. Many of the details haven’t been made available, but talent were asked to not speak on the situation on social media.
There were interviews during the investigation all week. The interviews weren’t only with those who witnessed the situation, but those who had interacted with Punk throughout his run, and several unrelated things were broached.
Punk does still have the usual supporters within the company, though we have not heard of anyone else who knew the decision was coming besides those on the disciplinary committee.
We have not heard the particulars on the Tony Khan-CM Punk element of the story, but had heard independently that Punk had “lunged” at Tony Khan. The specifics of the interactions between Khan and Punk have been kept very quiet, but there were multiple exchanges throughout the day that were less than pleasant, Fightful has heard.
One source indicated that WBD and AEW spoke this week about the direction of AEW Collision, and ending the “soft brand split” that had existed to keep peace within the company. WBD was also informed that AEW were going to terminate Punk. As of Thursday, the Young Bucks were scheduled for the Saturday show, and as of Wednesday, Bryan Danielson was internally slated to face Ricky Starks. Danielson replaced Punk, who was originally planned, though not announced. Danielson is expected to be an integral name on AEW Collision, and was factored into the show heavily from the start.
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