CM Punk’s AEW Championship Vacated After Backstage Combat

CM Punk is not the AEW Champion. After profitable the title at Sunday’s All Out pay-per-view, Punk was formally stripped on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite by president Tony Khan. A brand new champ can be topped on Dynamite in two weeks. Khan additionally stripped Kenny Omega and “The Younger Bucks” Matt and Nick Jackson of their Trios Championship titles on Wednesday’s Dynamite. 

It adopted explosive feedback Punk made throughout AEW All Out’s post-show press convention, which precipitated a real-life backstage battle involving Punk, Omega and the Younger Bucks. 

Punk, whose actual identify is Phil Brooks, lashed out in a profanity-rich tirade at “Hangman” Adam Web page, Matt and Nick Jackson, and Scott “Colt Cabana” Colton. Criticising The Younger Bucks, who’re each lively performers and govt vice presidents of AEW, Punk described them as “irresponsible individuals who name themselves EVPs” who “could not fucking handle a Goal.”

The affair turned violent after the media scrum. In keeping with a number of wrestling publications, a battle broke out between CM Punk and AEW producer Ace Metal on one aspect and, on the opposite, the Jacksons and AEW EVP Kenny Omega. In consequence, in accordance with Sports activities Illustrated, AEW has suspended The Younger Bucks and Kenny Omega. CM Punk and Ace Metal’s punishment — suspension or termination of their contracts — is to be decided. Complicating issues, CM Punk reportedly injured his triceps in his match towards Jon Moxley.

Pac and The Lucha Brothers beat Orange Cassidy and The Greatest Buddies to win the vacated Trios Championships. A event that includes Jon Moxley, Hangman Web page, Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara will crown a brand new AEW Championship. It’s going to culminate on the Sept. 21 episode of AEW Dynamite. 

AEW was contacted for remark however didn’t instantly reply. Here is what it’s essential to know.

What occurred between CM Punk and Colt Cabana?

CM Punk and Scott “Colt Cabana” Colton have been famously good pals for a few years. Cabana has had an extended profession as an impartial wrestler, most notably performing for Ring of Honor earlier than being signed to AEW, and pioneered business podcasts together with his Artwork of Wrestling podcast sequence.

The most well-liked episode of the Artwork of Wrestling podcast featured CM Punk, again in 2014. In it, Punk detailed his controversial exit from WWE, together with well being considerations that he claimed WWE’s medical employees did not correctly tackle. WWE ringside doctor Chris Amman sued Punk and Cabana for defamation, a case he finally misplaced.

However that was solely the start of authorized proceedings for Punk. Cabana sued Punk for $1.2 million, alleging that Punk reneged on a pledge to cowl Cabana’s authorized charges for the Amman case. Punk countersued, and the difficulty was settled out of court docket a 12 months later. 

Little has been mentioned by Punk or Cabana about their falling out, although it was a subject of dialogue amongst wrestling followers when Punk made his debut in AEW final September. When it was reported that AEW founder Tony Khan was planning on not renewing Cabana’s contract, hypothesis abounded that Punk had one thing to do with it. CM Punk strongly denied these accusations.

Cabana has since been moved to Ring of Honor, a wrestling promotion Khan bought earlier within the 12 months. 

What does Hangman Web page should do with it?

CM Punk defeated “Hangman” Adam Web page to win the AEW Championship at Double or Nothing again in Might. Within the buildup to their pay-per-view conflict, Punk and Web page had many storyline confrontations. Punk took exception to feedback Web page made in a single phase. 

“You discuss an enormous sport about employee’s rights, nicely you’ve got proven the precise reverse since you’ve got gotten right here,” Web page mentioned, seemingly a reference to Colt Cabana’s probably being let go as a result of Punk. Web page and Cabana have been in the identical Darkish Order faction on TV, and are presumably pals in actual life. Web page additionally mentioned within the promo that the moments the place the digital camera is not on make a champion, and that he desires to guard AEW from Punk. 

As at all times in professional wrestling, the road between actuality and fiction is not clear. It is also not clear exactly what remark Punk took problem with.

Following his win towards Web page at Double or Nothing, Punk sustained a foot harm that took him out of motion for over 2 months. Throughout that point, Jon Moxley received the Interim AEW Championship, organising a future conflict with Punk. However when Punk returned on the Aug. 19 episode of Dynamite, the primary particular person he spoke about wasn’t Moxley — it was Hangman Web page.

Punk known as Hangman Web page to the ring in an apparently unscripted bit, then known as him a coward for not taking the problem up. “The apology have to be as loud and as public because the disrespect,” Punk mentioned. “And if anyone else has an issue with the champion, I recommend you come on down.” 

Punk’s feedback have been dissected by wrestling followers and media, however had largely blown over by the point of All Out on Sunday. Then got here the media scrum after the occasion.

What did CM Punk say after All Out?

AEW at all times holds press conferences after its pay-per-views, with founder and president Tony Khan taking questions from media alongside high stars. Punk and Khan opened All Out’s post-show scrum, and Punk shortly addressed the lingering tensions. 

He first spoke about Cabana, going over their litigious historical past, earlier than taking goal at Matt and Nick Jackson, and probably Kenny Omega. Punk claimed that AEW’s EVPs misled the media by claiming he was concerned with Cabana’s rumored contract lapsing. “They unfold lies and bullshit … that I received any person fired when I’ve fuck all to do with him.”

Punk then spoke of Web page’s feedback of their pre-Double or Nothing promo in Might, saying the truth that he needed to make the assertion was embarrassing. “What did I ever do, on this world, to deserve an empty-headed fucking dumb fuck like Hangman Adam Web page to exit on nationwide tv and fucking go into enterprise for himself?” 

Punk mentioned that Web page jeopardized the primary $1 million home AEW ever drew — referring to the ticket gross sales from Double or Nothing — and mentioned it was a “shame.” 

“We’re far past apologies,” Punk mentioned, including that he gave Web page however “it didn’t get dealt with and also you noticed what I needed to do.” he mentioned in reference to the way in which he known as out Web page in his return promo.

Punk additionally responded to Web page’s statements in a current Inside The Ropes interview, whereby Web page mentioned he would not really feel like he must take recommendation from veteran wrestlers. “Our locker room, for all of the knowledge and brilliance it has, is not price shit when you’ve got an empty-headed fool who’s by no means completed something within the enterprise, do public interviews and say, ‘I do not actually take recommendation.’ Who the fuck do you assume you might be?”

Web page and Cabana have been the one individuals Punk explicitly named. Matt and Nick Jackson have been referred to solely as “EVPs.” 

“In case you’re an EVP, you do not attempt to center your high babyface and attempt to get your area of interest viewers on the web to hate him for some made-up, bullshit rumor,” Punk mentioned. “It actually pisses me off… I am attempting to fucking earn a living, promote tickets, fill arenas and these silly guys assume they’re in Reseda.”

Reseda, California a neighborhood in California that is dwelling to Professional Wrestling Guerilla, a promotion that often featured The Younger Bucks. 

“I’ll nonetheless stroll up and down this hallway and say, ‘you probably have a fucking downside with me, take it up with me. Let’s fucking go.'”

What occurred after the media scrum?

We do not have an official account of what occured backstage following Punk’s feedback. The Wrestling Observer and Fightful, two dependable professional wrestling retailers, have each reported on a scuffle that ensued between CM Punk, his coach and AEW producer Christopher “Ace Metal” Man, Kenny Omega and Matt and Nick Jackson. AEW coach Pat Buck and wrestlers Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa and Christopher Daniels have been reportedly additionally concerned in breaking the battle up.

Punk is reported to have taken a swing at Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson reportedly sustained a blow to the attention after Metal threw a chair at him. Metal can be mentioned to have gotten in a melee with Kenny Omega, who’s additionally an EVP, reportedly biting him within the brawl. Accounts differ on who began the battle. Some declare it was Punk and Metal, others say it was Omega and The Younger Bucks. Metal’s spouse was additionally reportedly within the room.

On Wednesday, Sports activities Illustrated reported that Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson, Pat Buck, Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa and Christopher Daniels have been all suspended. CM Punk and Ace Metal’s punishment is to be decided following the completion of an inside investigation, in accordance with the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. 

The assumption is that no one concerned within the fracas can be at TV tomorrow and that different high stars not booked initially for Wednesday can be there. A number of discuss of it as suspensions however that is not official.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) September 6, 2022

Proper now AEW expertise haven’t been advised something official. Virtually all I’ve spoken to consider CM Punk must go or make main amends to stay with the corporate.

A number of the expertise have not arrived the place Dynamite broadcasting from but, however the warmth on Punk is unreal.

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 6, 2022

All of it places AEW founder Tony Khan in a really awkward place. Previously few weeks, information broke that Eddie Kingston was suspended for 2 weeks for a backstage confrontation with Sammy Guevara. Following a disagreement, Kingston palm-shoved Guevara within the face, which earned him the suspension.

Khan now has to cope with a a lot greater altercation involving stars extra integral to AEW. Punk is the corporate’s high star, and Omega and The Younger Bucks are featured stars and executives. Punk on Sunday turn out to be the AEW Champion, and Omega and The Younger Bucks received the AEW Trios Championship titles.