Earlier tonight, AEW and Tony Khan made a joint statement announcing that the company would be terminating the employment agreements of CM Punk, effective immediately. The move comes following the conclusion of AEW’s internal investigation into the backstage altercation between Punk and Jack Perry at AEW All In last weekend, which resulted in the AEW Discipline Committee unanimously recommending Punk’s termination with cause.
Tony Khan offered some comments as part of the statement, sharing that the decision was ultimately his and acknowledging that the news would be a disappointment to some of the promotion’s fans. Overall, however, he felt the move was in the best interests of AEW workers, with the AEW President specifically singling out its talent and venue operators.
In the wake of the news, many have taken to social media to share their reactions including WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff. The former WCW President has been openly critical of both AEW and Khan himself in the past but Bischoff was quick to praise the move. “Just heard the news,” Bischoff wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “In my opinion, @TonyKhan made the right call. A tough one, but the right one. #Respect.”
CM Punk competed in his final AEW match at AEW All In: London less than one week ago where he was successful in retaining his “Real” World Championship over Ring of Honor World Television Champion Samoa Joe in the show’s opener. Prior to the match, the 44-year-old is alleged to have gotten into a backstage altercation with fellow AEW star Jack Perry which reportedly led to both being suspended from the promotion.
Following the event, various reports emerged regarding the incident: Tony Khan is said to have been present during the confrontation, Punk vs Ricky Starks was supposedly pitched to headline All Out, and it was claimed the two-time AEW World Champion “sucker-punched” Perry during their altercation.