25 Worst Wrestling Moments Of 2023

21. Tony Khan Announces CM Punk's Dismissal

The reasons for AEW firing CM Punk following his physical altercation with Jack Perry are understandable on every level. When you get into a physical altercation with a coworker, no matter how justified it might feel and how much it feels like a storm in a teacup to someone who grew up during wrestling's more outlaw-ish years, you can't be surprised when your employment status is terminated.

Tony Khan recorded a segment explaining the decision to fire CM Punk that aired on the 2 September episode of Collision. What was so polarising about Khan's words in his statement was that Punk's actions towards Perry had caused him to "fear for his life". Every living person has found themselves in various stages of danger, and so it suggested the Chicago superstar had gone to the extreme in his backstage altercation with Perry.

What later emerged was a skirmish that was violent enough to justify Khan's decision to let Punk go from the company, but in no way does it suggest anybody's life was endangered.

In an era where so much feels like trial by public opinion, this felt like an attempt to paint Punk as a danger to society and justify why Khan had come to his decision at the expense of CM's public reputation. It was disingenuous at best, and only made AEW a more polarising product than it had been prior to the fallout from 'Brawl Out'.