Fans still talk about when CM Punk ripped Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and AEW EVPs (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) at the post-AEW All Out media scrum in 2022.
Punk was part of a fight with Nick and Matt Jackson after the scrum that included Omega and Ace Steel. AEW stripped Omega and The Bucks of the Trios Titles and suspended them.
Omega took to his Twitch stream where he discussed the incident. Here are the highlights:
On the incident:
“Just because I represent a company or because I am an employee at one company over another, does that mean I love every storyline? Does that mean that I agree with every decision? No, of course not. I’m not the booker. I don’t have power, I haven’t had power for more than four years now in that company and I know that’s gonna sound odd because like, well Kenny, you’re an EVP. I’m nothing. I am nothing, and I’ll tell you why, it’s because I’m a terrible EVP. I don’t deserve to be an EVP. If people wanna ask for my advice, I’ll do my best to help them. If there’s a fire to put out backstage, I’m gonna do my best to be that person. But, if we go back and I don’t want to have to comment on it, but I’ll do it, just because it adds context to it. I thought my duty as an EVP during Brawl Out would be to enter the situation while there was chaos, de-escalate it and create a peaceful environment for everyone. I was able to create a peaceful environment for most important person in that altercation and that was Larry and I swear to God, honestly, that was my biggest — and that sounds funny but, I look at animals and our pets as people and Dobby of course (Omega’s cat), one of the most important people in my life. So, to get little Larry out of there was the most important thing to me and that was a success. Unfortunately, try as I may, things were too chaotic for me to be able to do anything on my own power… I believe it was in that instance when I realized that the way that I wanted to go about things wasn’t necessarily the way that other people wanted to, was also the way that other people necessarily didn’t want to and then it was also maybe not the way that the boss wanted to take care of it and I also thought of myself as a liability because I am, I don’t wanna say old school, I’m not old school. I just played a lot of contact sports and I’ve gotten into jiu-jitsu and boxing and mixed martial arts. I just know that sometimes, when you perform or when you fight, when everything’s on the line, when you give your heart, when you give your soul towards something and you’re in that moment of high stress or high anxiety where you’ve maybe emptied the tank and you’re just physically exhausted… But when you’re in an environment like that, sometimes emotions get the best of you and people will wanna throw hands… and I am unfortunately or fortunately a believer of it. I think if it’s decided, hey, this is the best way to solve things and you can shake hands after and move on after, I’m actually a believer of fighting. I am and that sounds terrible to say which is why, like, don’t make me an EVP in 2024. We can’t do that stuff anymore. I just feel that sometimes, that’s how you have to settle things. Sometimes, and I don’t mean you have to settle it and then it has to be shown on-screen to everyone or people have to brag online about who won, who lost. No, it’s not for that purpose. It’s for the purpose of just getting that stuff out that you need to get out, and I’ll admit, there were a number of times, even now with me, where I thought that-that might have been the most appropriate answer. It never came to that. We were able to talk things out and we became better friends and there was a level of respect at that point on between myself and these other parties and maybe I’ll share these stories later. It’s crazy. As much as I’ll believe in cooler heads prevailing, sitting down and talking, sometimes there’s just like, hey, I can’t even think straight until I start throwing some hay, you know? Or maybe that I need to be smacked on a little bit, whatever the case might be. I think if it’s a contained scenario and if it’s not a situation where, you know, there’s pulling people’s eyeballs out, low blows, hair-pulling or scratching, you know what I mean? If it’s just like, hey, let’s just hang and bang a little bit. I can see it sometimes being conducive for a positive work environment. Again, this is exactly why I have no power nor should I. So, that’s just how I feel and I’m gonna leave it at that.”
On Punk:
“Status with (CM) Punk right now? Um, I don’t know. It’s just mutual respect. We reached out to each other… I can’t really think of anyone that I dislike or have an issue with, especially an issue with wrestling… It’s not like, hey, we’re good now. It’s we were never bad. Honestly, if it weren’t for a complete other factor, we would have been able to have that talk on the night of Brawl Out. There’s no issue between him and I, as far I know (Omega laughed). I don’t think there is at all.
That’s another thing too guys. I don’t wanna seem standoffish or secretive about what happened. Yes, there’s legalities and all that stuff but even if there wasn’t, and I know this is gonna sound weird because I’ve done a lot of comedy stuff in wrestling, but like, I’m actually not a huge fan of pulling back the curtain on stuff that doesn’t need to be out in public… If for whatever reasons, guys were to fight or whatever, it’s not for the public to know. That’s just for them to air out their stuff to get it out of their system. That’s all I mean.”
In 2022, CM Punk made headlines when he engaged in a heated altercation with Colt Cabana, Hangman Page, and AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks at the post-AEW All Out media scrum. The incident caused quite a stir among fans and led to consequences for those involved.
Following the scuffle, AEW took action by stripping Omega and The Young Bucks of the Trios Titles and suspending them. This decision was met with mixed reactions from fans and sparked discussions about the incident and its aftermath.
Kenny Omega, one of the individuals involved in the altercation, took to his Twitch stream to address the incident and provide some insights. During his stream, Omega discussed various aspects of the incident and shared his thoughts on the matter.
One of the key points Omega made was that just because he is an EVP of AEW doesn’t mean he agrees with every decision or storyline. He emphasized that he doesn’t have power and hasn’t had it for more than four years in the company. Omega admitted that he is a terrible EVP and doesn’t deserve the title. However, he mentioned that he tries his best to offer advice and help when asked.
Omega also reflected on his role during the Brawl Out altercation. He believed that as an EVP, his duty was to de-escalate the situation and create a peaceful environment for everyone involved. He expressed his success in ensuring the safety of his cat, Larry, who he considers one of the most important individuals in his life. However, Omega acknowledged that the chaotic nature of the situation prevented him from exerting much power or influence.
Furthermore, Omega shared his personal views on fighting as a means of resolving conflicts. He admitted that he believes in fighting if it is decided as the best way to settle things and if it remains contained and respectful. However, he clarified that he doesn’t support fighting for the sake of bragging or causing harm to others. Omega acknowledged that cooler heads prevailing and open communication are usually the best approaches, but he also recognized the occasional need for physical release.
Regarding his relationship with CM Punk, Omega stated that there is mutual respect between them. He mentioned that they have reached out to each other and that there is no issue between them as far as he knows. Omega also expressed his preference for keeping certain matters private, even if there are no legal restrictions. He believes that personal conflicts should be resolved privately and not aired out in public.
Overall, Omega’s comments shed light on the incident and provide some insight into his perspective as an EVP of AEW. While the altercation caused a stir among fans, it seems that those involved have moved past it and maintain a level of respect for each other. As the wrestling industry continues to evolve, incidents like these serve as reminders that conflicts can arise even among colleagues, but it is important to address them in a professional and respectful manner.