All Elite Wrestling is firing superstar CM Punk for a reason

All Elite Wrestling announced Saturday that it has fired superstar CM Punk after AEW investigated an incident during last Sunday’s “All In” pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London.

Punk and fellow AEW wrestler Jack Perry, son of the late actor Luke Perry, reportedly got into a physical altercation backstage during a pay-per-view event.

AEW’s statement, released on X (formerly Twitter), said that Punk’s wrestling and employment contracts have been terminated.

After the investigation, the AEW Disciplinary Committee met with outside legal counsel before making a unanimous recommendation to [AEW owner Tony] Khan that CM Punk will be terminated for a reason,” AEW’s statement read.

Khan, CEO, General Manager and Chief Creative Officer of AEW, said in an accompanying statement that he wished he “didn’t have to share this news,” but made the decision “in the interest of the many wonderful people who make AEW possible.” every week.”

AEW is scheduled to hold its pay-per-view “All Out” Sunday at the United Center in Chicago, the day after its weekly television show “Collision” on Saturday in the same building.

Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, is a native of Chicago and a big star in the city.

“Phil has played an important role in AEW and I thank him for his contributions,” Khan said in his statement. “Terminating his contracts with AEW for a cause is ultimately my decision, and mine alone.”

Punk, 44, returned to AEW in June after tore a biceps muscle in a match last September. After last year’s match, Punk engaged in a controversial press conference and then got into a physical altercation with AEW wrestlers Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Kenny Omega, who are also the company’s CEOs.

Bank said in June that he had apologized to Khan for what he said at the news conference.

The incident came in September 2022 after AEW wrestler Adam “Hangman” Paige went off script in a televised interview segment with Punk, bringing up things the two didn’t agree to talk about – and things Punk said weren’t true.

Bank said nothing was done to Page for discretion.

“He poisoned everything for me, made everything really ugly, and that’s what led to all of this, and here we are over a year later and we’re not done with it,” Banks told ESPN in June.

The belief among the people in the locker room was that Punk had kicked another wrestler, Colt Cabana, out of AEW, or at least tried to do so. Punk and Cabana used to be best friends, but they had an ugly falling out, involving lawsuits. Punk denied trying to fire Cabana. Cabana is still employed by AEW.

Punk has been one of the most popular stars in professional wrestling over the past two decades. He is a two-time former WWE Champion and a three-time World Heavyweight Champion. Punk was also a two-time former AEW Champion. He has fought twice in the UFC after leaving WWE in 2014.