Who Really Started AEW's All Out Scrum Brawl?

Witnesses are divided on who really started AEW's backstage fight.

The Young Bucks CM Punk
AEW

It appears unclear if CM Punk or The Young Bucks started the post-All Out 2022 backstage brawl already etched in modern pro wrestling legend.

Bryan Alvarez reported on today's Wrestling Observer Radio that after speaking with multiple sources, neither side of the situation will dispute that CM Punk punched Matt Jackson at least once, Ace Steel threw a chair that hit Nick Jackson, and Steel bit Kenny Omega and pulled the Executive Vice President's hair.

Where the sides differ in opinion, however, is how the fight started. While one side claims that The Young Bucks were the aggressors, having stormed into Punk's dressing room following his inciteful press scrum comments, prompting Punk and Steel to defend themselves. Others, meanwhile, claim that Punk started throwing punches when the Jackson brothers walk in.

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Alvarez and cohost Dave Meltzer quipped that they had heard different versions of the story depending on who they'd spoken to.

Meltzer stated that Steel's wife was in the room while all of this was going on. She is currently recovering from a broken leg, hindering her ability to get out of the way of the chaos.

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Fortunately, as things stand, there is no indication that anybody was seriously hurt in the commotion.

AEW is yet to announce any punishments stemming from the brawl. "Pending legal issues" have emerged from it, with none of the principals going on record as a result.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.