CM Punk's Relationship With AEW Is Getting Worse
The CM Punk/AEW saga rumbles on, with a certain recent event making matters even worse...
CM Punk and AEW's relationship appears to be no closer to healing following a new report stating that Colt Cabana's recent Dynamite return has worsened an already difficult situation.
Dave Meltzer reports in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Cabana facing Chris Jericho on AEW Dynamite's 2 November episode "only made things worse as far as issues with the two sides." This is the latest development in a growing saga that commenced at All Out 2022 (4 September), where Punk verbally attacked Cabana, 'Hangman' Adam Page, and AEW's Executive Vice Presidents in an incendiary press scrum appearance.
Said EVPs - Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks - brawled with Punk afterwards, having approached the now-former World Champion in his locker room. All involved parties were served indefinite suspensions. Now, Kenny and the Bucks will return at Full Gear 2022 this Saturday, while Punk and AEW are reportedly in contract buyout talks.
Cabana had been central to Punk's issues. Punk asking journalist Nick Hausman if he was friends with Colt sparked the press conference eruption, with the 44-year-old then addressing rumours that he was responsible for having Cabana removed from AEW television in November 2021. The duo's history is deep and problematic, turning, seemingly, from best friends to mortal enemies following the financial fallout of the infamous Dr. Chris Amman trial.
Meltzer writes in the Observer that Punk is still adamant that he had nothing to do with Cabana's disappearance from TV, which happened three months after Punk debuted for AEW. Despite his adamance, "a lot of AEW talent" believe the opposite - to the extent that it is openly discussed.
At the post-All Out scrum, Punk claimed not to care where Cabana does or doesn't work:-
"[I] want nothing to do with him. Do not care where he works, where he doesn’t work, where he eats, where he sleeps, nd the fact that I have to get up here and do this in 2022 is f*cking embarrassing. And if y’all are at fault, f*ck you, if you’re not, I apologize.”
Punk remains contracted to AEW until either his current deal expires or the two parties can agree on a severance package.