Why CM Punk Isn’t AEW Champion: Injury and Backstage Fight Explained

CM Punk received the AEW Championship at All Out, AEW’s most up-to-date (wonderful) pay-per-view, however he is conspicuously absent from AEW Dynamite. On the Sept. 7 episode of Dynamite, firm President Tony Khan introduced that the AEW Championship had been vacated, together with the Trios Championships, however no reason why was given. 

There are two causes. First, after All Out, a real-life backstage brawl erupted between CM Punk on one facet and “The Younger Bucks” Matt and Nick Jackson, plus Kenny Omega, on the opposite. Everybody concerned within the melee was suspended, Sports activities Illustrated was the primary to report. Sadly, virtually everybody concerned was a champion of some variety, which is why each the AEW and Trios Championships had been vacated.

The second, equally unlucky purpose is that CM Punk reportedly tore his triceps within the All Out important occasion match in opposition to Jon Moxley. Suspended or not, Punk is estimated to overlook as much as 8 months of ring time, based on the Wrestling Observer. AEW has but to acknowledge Punk’s harm. 

Explosive feedback Punk made throughout AEW All Out’s post-show press convention precipitated a real-life backstage struggle involving Punk, Omega and the Younger Bucks. 

Punk, whose actual title is Phil Brooks, lashed out in a profanity-rich tirade at “Hangman” Adam Web page, Matt and Nick Jackson, and Scott “Colt Cabana” Colton. Criticising The Younger Bucks, who’re each lively performers and government vice presidents of AEW, Punk described them as “irresponsible individuals who name themselves EVPs” who “could not fucking handle a Goal.”

The affair turned violent after the media scrum. Based on a number of wrestling publications, a struggle broke out between CM Punk and AEW producer Ace Metal on one facet and, on the opposite, the Jacksons and AEW EVP Kenny Omega. 

A event that includes Jon Moxley, Hangman Web page, Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara was devised to crown a brand new AEW Championship: Moxley and Danielson will wrestle within the finals on subsequent week’s Dynamite. 

AEW was contacted for remark however didn’t reply. This is what it is advisable know.

What occurred between CM Punk and Colt Cabana?

CM Punk and Scott “Colt Cabana” Colton had been famously good associates for a few years. Cabana has had a protracted profession as an impartial wrestler, most notably performing for Ring of Honor earlier than being signed to AEW, and pioneered business podcasts together with his Artwork of Wrestling podcast sequence.

The preferred episode of the Artwork of Wrestling podcast featured CM Punk, again in 2014. In it, Punk detailed his controversial exit from WWE, together with well being considerations that he claimed WWE’s medical workers did not correctly tackle. WWE ringside doctor Chris Amman sued Punk and Cabana for defamation, a case he in the end misplaced.

However that was solely the start of authorized proceedings for Punk. Cabana sued Punk for $1.2 million, alleging that Punk reneged on a pledge to cowl Cabana’s authorized charges for the Amman case. Punk countersued, and the difficulty was settled out of courtroom a yr later. 

Little has been stated by Punk or Cabana about their falling out, although it was a subject of dialogue amongst wrestling followers when Punk made his debut in AEW final September. When it was reported that AEW founder Tony Khan was planning on not renewing Cabana’s contract, hypothesis abounded that Punk had one thing to do with it. CM Punk strongly denied these accusations.

Cabana has since been moved to Ring of Honor, a wrestling promotion Khan bought earlier within the yr. 

What does Hangman Web page should do with it?

CM Punk defeated “Hangman” Adam Web page to win the AEW Championship at Double or Nothing again in Could. Within the buildup to their pay-per-view conflict, Punk and Web page had many storyline confrontations. Punk took exception to feedback Web page made in a single phase. 

“You discuss a giant sport about employee’s rights, effectively you’ve got proven the precise reverse since you’ve got gotten right here,” Web page stated, seemingly a reference to Colt Cabana’s probably being let go because of Punk. Web page and Cabana had been in the identical Darkish Order faction on TV, and are presumably associates in actual life. Web page additionally stated within the promo that the moments the place the digital camera is not on make a champion, and that he desires to guard AEW from Punk. 

As at all times in professional wrestling, the road between actuality and fiction is not clear. It is also not clear exactly what remark Punk took difficulty with.

Following his win in opposition to Web page at Double or Nothing, Punk sustained a foot harm that took him out of motion for over 2 months. Throughout that point, Jon Moxley received the Interim AEW Championship, establishing a future conflict with Punk. However when Punk returned on the Aug. 19 episode of Dynamite, the primary particular person he spoke about wasn’t Moxley — it was Hangman Web page.

Punk known as Hangman Web page to the ring in an apparently unscripted bit, then known as him a coward for not taking the problem up. “The apology have to be as loud and as public because the disrespect,” Punk stated. “And if anyone else has an issue with the champion, I counsel you come on down.” 

Punk’s feedback had been dissected by wrestling followers and media, however had largely blown over by the point of All Out on Sunday. Then got here the media scrum after the occasion.

What did CM Punk say after All Out?

AEW at all times holds press conferences after its pay-per-views, with founder and president Tony Khan taking questions from media alongside high stars. Punk and Khan opened All Out’s post-show scrum, and Punk rapidly addressed the lingering tensions. 

He first spoke about Cabana, going over their litigious historical past, earlier than taking intention at Matt and Nick Jackson, and probably Kenny Omega. Punk claimed that AEW’s EVPs misled the media by claiming he was concerned with Cabana’s rumored contract lapsing. “They unfold lies and bullshit … that I obtained any person fired when I’ve fuck all to do with him.”

Punk then spoke of Web page’s feedback of their pre-Double or Nothing promo in Could, saying the truth that he needed to make the assertion was embarrassing. “What did I ever do, on this world, to deserve an empty-headed fucking dumb fuck like Hangman Adam Web page to exit on nationwide tv and fucking go into enterprise for himself?” 

Punk stated that Web page jeopardized the primary $1 million home AEW ever drew — referring to the ticket gross sales from Double or Nothing — and stated it was a “shame.” 

“We’re far past apologies,” Punk stated, including that he gave Web page however “it didn’t get dealt with and also you noticed what I needed to do.” he stated in reference to the way in which he known as out Web page in his return promo.

Punk additionally responded to Web page’s statements in a latest Inside The Ropes interview, whereby Web page stated he would not really feel like he must take recommendation from veteran wrestlers. “Our locker room, for all of the knowledge and brilliance it has, is not price shit when you’ve an empty-headed fool who’s by no means performed something within the enterprise, do public interviews and say, ‘I do not actually take recommendation.’ Who the fuck do you suppose you’re?”

Web page and Cabana had been the one folks Punk explicitly named. Matt and Nick Jackson had been referred to solely as “EVPs.” 

“If you happen to’re an EVP, you do not attempt to center your high babyface and attempt to get your area of interest viewers on the web to hate him for some made-up, bullshit rumor,” Punk stated. “It actually pisses me off… I am attempting to fucking generate income, promote tickets, fill arenas and these silly guys suppose they’re in Reseda.”

Reseda, California a neighborhood in California that is dwelling to Professional Wrestling Guerilla, a promotion that incessantly featured The Younger Bucks. 

“I’ll nonetheless stroll up and down this hallway and say, ‘in case you have a fucking downside with me, take it up with me. Let’s fucking go.'”

What occurred after the media scrum?

We do not have an official account of what occured backstage following Punk’s feedback. The Wrestling Observer and Fightful, two dependable professional wrestling shops, have each reported on a scuffle that ensued between CM Punk, his coach and AEW producer Christopher “Ace Metal” Man, Kenny Omega and Matt and Nick Jackson. AEW coach Pat Buck and wrestlers Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa and Christopher Daniels had been reportedly additionally concerned in breaking the struggle up.

Punk is reported to have taken a swing at Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson reportedly sustained a blow to the attention after Metal threw a chair at him. Metal can be stated to have gotten in a melee with Kenny Omega, who’s additionally an EVP, reportedly biting him within the brawl. Accounts differ on who began the struggle. Some declare it was Punk and Metal, others say it was Omega and The Younger Bucks. Metal’s spouse was additionally reportedly within the room.

On Wednesday, Sports activities Illustrated reported that Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson, Pat Buck, Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa and Christopher Daniels had been all suspended. CM Punk and Ace Metal’s punishment is to be decided following the completion of an inside investigation, based on the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. 

The assumption is that no person concerned within the fracas will probably be at TV tomorrow and that different high stars not booked initially for Wednesday will probably be there. Loads of discuss of it as suspensions however that is not official.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) September 6, 2022

Proper now AEW expertise haven’t been informed something official. Virtually all I’ve spoken to consider CM Punk must go or make main amends to stay with the corporate.

Loads of the expertise have not arrived the place Dynamite broadcasting from but, however the warmth on Punk is unreal.

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 6, 2022

All of it places AEW founder Tony Khan in a really awkward place. Prior to now few weeks, information broke that Eddie Kingston was suspended for 2 weeks for a backstage confrontation with Sammy Guevara. Following a disagreement, Kingston palm-shoved Guevara within the face, which earned him the suspension.

Khan now has to cope with a a lot greater altercation involving stars extra integral to AEW. Punk is the corporate’s high star, and Omega and The Younger Bucks are featured stars and executives. Punk on Sunday develop into the AEW Champion, and Omega and The Younger Bucks received the AEW Trios Championship titles.