Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff Writer September 2, 2023, 5:55 p.m. ET
All Elite Wrestling announced Saturday that it has fired top star CM Punk with cause following AEW’s investigation into an incident that occurred during its “All In” pay-per-view show last Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London occurred.
Punk and fellow AEW wrestler Jack Perry, son of late actor Luke Perry, reportedly got into a physical altercation backstage during the pay-per-view broadcast.
AEW’s statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), said that both Punk’s wrestling and employment contracts have been terminated.
“Following the investigation, the AEW Disciplinary Committee met and later convened with outside legal counsel before making a unanimous recommendation [AEW owner Tony] Khan that CM Punk is terminated for cause,” AEW’s statement read.
Khan, AEW’s CEO, general manager and head of creative, said in an accompanying statement that he wished he “didn’t have to share this news” but made the decision “in the best interest of the many great people who make AEW possible.” . every week.”
AEW is scheduled to host a pay-per-view show titled “All Out” at the United Center in Chicago on Sunday, a day after its weekly telecast “Collision” at the same building on Saturday.
Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, comes from Chicago and is a big star in the city.
“Phil played an important role at AEW and I thank him for his contributions,” Khan said in his statement. “Terminating his AEW contracts for cause is ultimately my decision and mine alone.”
Punk, 44, returned to AEW in June after suffering a torn biceps in a match last September. After that match last year, Punk participated in a controversial press conference and then reportedly got into an altercation with AEW wrestlers Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Kenny Omega, who are also executive vice presidents of the company.
Punk said in June that he apologized to Khan for what he said in the press conference.
The September 2022 incident occurred after AEW wrestler Adam “Hangman” Page went off script in a television interview with Punk, bringing up things the two disagreed about – and things Punk said that they are not true.
Punk said that out of discretion nothing was done to Page.
Punk told ESPN in June.
The people in the locker room believed that Punk had fired another wrestler, Colt Cabana, from AEW, or at least tried to. Punk and Cabana were once close friends, but a nasty argument broke out that also led to lawsuits. Punk has denied trying to get Cabana fired. Cabana is still employed by AEW.
Punk has been one of the most popular stars in the pro wrestling business over the past two decades. He is a former two-time WWE Champion and three-time World Heavyweight Champion. Punk was also a former two-time AEW Champion. After leaving WWE in 2014, he fought twice in the UFC.