More on CM Punk’s Firing from AEW – Tony Khan Statement, Potential WWE Return in Doubt, Confrontation with Khan, WBD

As noted before, AEW announced on Saturday that they have officially terminated CM Punk’s contract with cause following their investigation into Punk’s backstage incident with Jack Perry at this past Sunday’s All In event at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Saturday’s AEW Collision show featured an official statement by AEW CEO Tony Khan explaining his reason why Punk’s contract was terminated was due to Punk’s actions backstage at All In had endangered people.

“Today, I had to make one of the toughest decisions of my professional career. Today, I terminated Phil Brooks, CM Punk, for cause.

This stems from a backstage incident at AEW All In last Sunday. The incident was regrettable and it endangered people backstage. That includes the production staff, the people who help put the show on every week — innocent people who had nothing to do with it.

I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over 30 years. I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt until last Sunday that my security, my safety, my life, was in danger at a wrestling show.

I don’t think anybody should feel that way at work. I don’t think the people I work with should feel that way. And I had to make a very difficult choice today. It came at the recommendation of a discipline committee here in AEW, as well as outside legal counsel who delivered a unanimous recommendation. And I have followed up on that recommendation.

I’m sorry to any fans who are upset by this. I’m sorry to anyone who’s upset by this. Despite that, we’re gonna have a great show tonight on Collision and we’re gonna have a great AEW All Out pay-per-view tomorrow here in Chicago. Last weekend was the greatest weekend in AEW history. This is the greatest week in AEW history. We’re gonna continue the great momentum here tonight on Collision and tomorrow night on the All Out pay-per-view.”

Fightful Select reported that it is currently not known if AEW had included a non-compete clause as part of the terms for Punk’s release based on their sources.

In regards to the possibility of Punk going to WWE, it was reported that Punk still has major heat with several people within WWE and those spoken to within the company stated that they do not expect Punk to join them. Those within WWE reportedly also stated that they had also not expected Punk to get fired from AEW.

In regards to the backstage reaction, it was reported that AEW’s locker room especially those close to Punk were not aware beforehand that Punk would be getting fired. Many people reportedly were interviewed as part of AEW’s investigation into the All In backstage incident.

In regards to Punk’s backstage confrontation with Khan, it was reported that those spoken to stated that Punk had lunged at Khan which would match up with his statement on Saturday about him fearing for his safety and life over the situation.

Punk reportedly had expressed his unhappiness in AEW verbally numerous times going from his infamous All Out 2022 post-show media scrum to saying “I hate this place” ahead of his return at Collision’s debut show and his recent fight with Perry.

It was reported that AEW and Warner Bros Discovery officials have held talks about the on-screen direction of AEW Collision following Punk’s firing. Security reportedly were confiscating Punk signs prior to the start of Saturday’s Collision show in Chicago, which was something that had been expected to happen.

In regards to Punk’s issues with The Elite, it was reported that there had been no real progress towards getting a meeting in place with both sides nor both sides wanting to work together again despite Punk’s claims of wanting to do so.

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez reported that his sources provided additional details regarding AEW’s decision to fire Punk. Meltzer reported that there is a lot more details regarding Punk’s backstage incident at All In that has yet to be made public that played a role in AEW’s decision to fire him. Meltzer also reported that Punk lunging at Khan backstage would be too kind of a word to use to describe what Punk actually did based on those spoken to.

Alvarez reported that AEW officials had held a meeting with talent prior to the start of Saturday’s Collision show to discuss Punk’s firing from the company.

Ace Steel’s status in AEW following Punk’s backstage incident at All In and firing afterwards is currently not known.

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com