CM Punk & The Elite Drop Top AEW Titles
Suspended stars vacate AEW World and Trios Championships after All Out 2022 brawl.
CM Punk and The Elite vacated their respective AEW championships ahead of last night's Dynamite, prompting company founder and CEO Tony Khan to make an on-air address on the belts' future.
Punk, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega are currently serving suspensions following an already-infamous brawl following AEW's post-All Out 2022 press scrum, though Punk would have had to let go of the AEW World Championship regardless of this. Per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, the 43-year-old suffered a serious injury while wrestling Jon Moxley in the pay-per-view main event, meaning that even if the Elite brawl hadn't happened, he'd still be vacating the strap:-
Punk injury, believed to be from the tope, is serious. Rumors from Sunday but he hadn't confirmed them but it's been confirmed to me no matter what happens discipline-wise that the title situation has to be changed and addressed tonight.
Advertisement— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) September 7, 2022
Omega and the Bucks became AEW's first World Trios Champions at All Out, defeating The Dark Order and 'Hangman' Adam Page. Khan announced that these titles, too, were being vacated on Dynamite.
A new World Champion will be crowned by AEW's Grand Slam Tournament of Champions. Culminating at the Grand Slam special on 21 September, it started last night, with Bryan Danielson defeating 'Hangman'. Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara will contest the next clash on Friday's Rampage, with Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho joining the competition in the second round next week.
This is the second time Punk has been forced to vacate the AEW World Championship shortly after winning it. Khan opted to introduce an Interim title the first time around, which was won by Jon Moxley.
The Trios Titles, meanwhile, found new owners on Dynamite. Khan put the belts on the line in Death Triangle's pre-announced bout with Best Friends and Orange Cassidy, with PAC, Rey Fenix, and Penta Oscuro taking the win.
There is currently no word on when Omega, Punk, and The Young Bucks will return to AEW television.