In 2023, CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a backstage altercation that resulted in Perry’s suspension and Punk’s termination. Since then, much has changed, including CM Punk’s victorious comeback to WWE, with Tony Khan addressing the controversial footage related to the incident.
In April 2024, AEW Dynamite aired this footage after Punk criticized AEW and Khan. Khan told Ariel Helwani that he chose to show the footage because he disagreed with Punk’s account, where Punk admitted to choking Perry “a little bit” and then shouted at Khan to quit.
Khan noted that airing the footage brought significant attention to Dynamite, stating, “This is a TV show and it did huge numbers.” He believed it was a sensible move but acknowledged that opinions on the matter vary, saying, “It’s in the eye of the beholder.”
On AEW television, it was explained that The Young Bucks lost at All In partly due to being distracted by the backstage drama. This fight marked Punk’s second backstage incident in under a year, following a brawl in September 2022.
Khan revealed the fight with Perry was a major reason Punk could no longer remain with AEW, expressing his desire to reconcile, “Obviously I wanted to reconcile.” However, despite Khan’s hopes, Chicago-born Punk returned to WWE in November 2023 as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. Punk’s chapter with AEW is now firmly closed, and he has no plans to wrestle again under the “All Elite” banner.
Fan Take: This revelation is crucial for AEW fans as it highlights the internal challenges the promotion faces in managing star power and locker room conduct. It also emphasizes how personal conflicts can reshape wrestling careers and affect the sport’s dynamic landscape.
