CM Punk’s days with AEW are officially a thing of the past and the former World Champion has had some choice words for AEW President Tony Khan.
Punk was fired from AEW in September of last year, mere days after his backstage fight with Jack Perry at All In 2023 and a year on from his backstage fight at AEW All Out 2022.
On a today’s edition of Ariel Helwani’s “The MMA Hour” podcast, Punk was asked for his thoughts on Tony Khan. He said,
“He’s not a boss. He’s a nice guy. And I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company. But it’s not my company. I’m an outsider.”
Punk added that the last time he spoke to Khan was at All In 2023 and that what he expected AEW wanted from him was different than what he was actually used for. He said,
“I thought I was coming in to help. To help business. If I could teach something, great. And I think I was just brought in for other reasons.”
CM Punk didn’t hold back, adding that AEW is not a ‘real business’ focused on making money.
When asked what he thinks it is, Punk said it’s about having good matches, which isn’t bad at all, but is not the structure of a sustainable business.
Punk added that he felt from the start of his AEW run that he wasn’t wanted and mentioned the Elite as people who had wanted him gone from the start.
CM Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. He will provide commentary this weekend at WWE WrestleMania 40.
CM Punk, the former World Champion, recently spoke out about his time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and his thoughts on AEW President Tony Khan. In a podcast interview with Ariel Helwani, Punk expressed his opinions on the company and its leadership.
Punk’s departure from AEW came after a backstage fight with Jack Perry at All In 2023, which followed a similar incident at AEW All Out 2022. These altercations ultimately led to his firing from the company in September of last year.
When asked about Tony Khan, Punk stated that he doesn’t see him as a boss but rather as a nice guy. However, he believes that this niceness is actually detrimental to the company. Punk expressed that he thought he was brought into AEW to help the business and contribute his knowledge and skills. However, he felt that he was used for different reasons than what he expected.
Furthermore, Punk criticized AEW, stating that it is not a “real business” focused on making money. He mentioned that while having good matches is important, it is not the sole foundation for a sustainable business. This comment suggests that Punk believes AEW should prioritize financial success and long-term stability.
Punk also shared his feelings of not being wanted from the start of his AEW run. He specifically mentioned the Elite, a prominent faction in AEW, as individuals who had wanted him gone from the beginning. This sentiment implies that there may have been underlying tensions or conflicts within the company.
Since his departure from AEW, CM Punk has made a return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023. He will also be providing commentary at this weekend’s WWE WrestleMania 40 event.
In conclusion, CM Punk’s recent comments shed light on his experience with AEW and his thoughts on Tony Khan and the company’s direction. While Punk had hoped to contribute to the business and help it succeed, he felt that his expectations were not met. These revelations offer insight into the dynamics and challenges within the world of professional wrestling and the complexities of managing a wrestling promotion.