Finally, What REALLY Happened With CM Punk At AEW All Out
Huge new report on CM Punk, AEW, All Out 2022, and The Elite drops as investigation concludes.
This week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter leads with a monster update on All Elite Wrestling's post-All Out 2022 brawl, stating, in the most concrete terms so far, that CM Punk's time in the promotion is coming to an end.
CM Punk and Ace Steel fought with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks following Punk's incendiary press scrum appearance, where he verbally attacked the EVPs, 'Hangman' Adam Page, and Colt Cabana. The Elite are understood to have approached Punk and Steel in Punk's locker room afterwards, leading to the brawl.
Dave Meltzer writes in the Observer that AEW's investigation into what happened concluded last week. Steel's release, buyout negotiations over Punk's contract, and the Bucks and Omega's imminent return to television were products of this.
A number of important figures within AEW noted at this week's Dynamite tapings that Punk wouldn't be back in the promotion. On top of this, "key top names" in AEW have claimed they would never want to work with him.
One commented:-
“Punk won’t be back. His value on screen isn’t one percent worth the hassle and black cloud he causes backstage.”
In Meltzer's words, "the collective decided that [Punk] was voted off the island." Regardless of his perceived value to AEW's business - and regardless of who was and wasn't willing to work with him - the team had decided the 44-year-old was out.
Legal issues were initially reported as a stalling point in AEW's investigation. Meltzer notes that neither The Young Bucks nor Omega pressed charges. Lawyers from both sides were involved until the investigation was wrapped, however.
Wrestling Inc.'s report on CM Punk's dog Larry getting hurt in the brawl (necessitating two teeth being reported) is debunked strongly in the Observer. Per one source who wasn't affiliated with either side, but turned negative towards Punk afterwards:-
“The dog story is a complete lie. When the altercation was happening Punk was a total psycho and could’ve career PF less about the dog. Kenny picked the dog up to save him from being hurt and gave him to Megha. Megha was holding the dog screaming at Punk to stop. Punk didn’t even register that his `baby’ was being held by a stranger in the middle of a fight. It didn’t stop him one bit.”
Meltzer had previously reported that a non-compete period was a sticking point in Punk and AEW's contract buyout talks. With these negotiations still underway, seemingly, and Punk still technically under AEW contract, Meltzer had not heard of any communication between the former World Champion and WWE as of a few days ago. While WWE would be the only non-AEW promotion capable of paying Punk what he was earning under Tony Khan's employ, there would currently be no legal way for the market leaders to approach the firebrand.
Nobody involved in the investigation will be permitted to publically or privately talk about what happened. Steel's wife, Lucy Guy, was in the room but wasn't spoken to in the investigation, meaning she could theoretically tell her story if she wished to. Just don't expect anything from Punk, the Bucks, Omega, or Khan.