Revealed: Top WWE Stars' Reactions To AEW Backstage Mayhem
CM Punk's diatribe and its after-effects still the talk of the wrestling world.
The AEW post-All Out media scrum and reported backstage scuffles have been the talk of the wrestling world recently, including in WWE.
Fightful Select reports that several WWE talent reached out to the outlet to learn more about what happened. One talent said that if CM Punk's comments and the ensuing confrontations were a work, it would be one of the most elaborate they'd ever seen. Another echoed that sentiment, adding that if it was a work, "bravo." These talents contacted Fightful before learning that it wasn't a work.
One long-time main-eventer told Fightful they considered Punk's actions to be unprofessional and that he's not a company man or the leader he envisions himself to be, adding that Punk is "selfish and arrogant." Fightful reported that several repeated those sentiments, including some who worked with Punk at FOX.
Another top WWE talent said that "if the parties involved don't put their issues aside and make money with it that 'none of them have business talking about drawing houses or losing fans or interest. They have a good show but this is still the biggest piece of business they've done and they have to capitalize.' "
Wrestling is full of examples where wrestlers have turned real-life drama into money-making angles. Edge and Matt Hardy spring to mind, as does Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett in TNA.
One WWE official noted that this sort of confrontation doesn't happen often in WWE, mainly because talent knew that if they did this while Vince McMahon was there, they probably would be shown the door.