Recent weeks have witnessed another series of incidents involving CM Punk within AEW, prompting discussions and concerns among the company’s roster and backstage personnel.
As reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the atmosphere behind the scenes in AEW has taken on a somewhat familiar tone reminiscent of the circumstances leading up to the notorious ‘Brawl Out’ incident from the previous year.
While overall harmony prevails backstage and collaborations among the talent generally flow smoothly, there is growing discontent regarding the recurring drama and the formation of various cliques. Esteemed veterans not embroiled in the conflicts argue that unless the issues are directly addressed, the situation could deteriorate further. In an effort to maintain tranquility and avert potential legal disputes, a decision has been made to keep individuals separate from CM Punk.
Though CM Punk and his supporters have reportedly expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with key figures such as The Elite, there appears to be a lack of communication regarding these potential discussions. Speculation surrounds the notion that management might be impeding the organization of such meetings. Notably, the issues appear to primarily involve CM Punk, while other AEW talents such as FTR, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and Kenny Omega managed to resolve their differences earlier. A proposed third encounter between the Bucks and FTR was quickly agreed upon by both parties upon Tony Khan’s suggestion.
In addition to these tensions, there has been a series of smaller incidents, one of which included a social media post by CM Punk on Instagram featuring an ROH Death Before Dishonor t-shirt with an incorrect date. This event, interpreted by some as a slight towards Dana Massie, Matt Jackson’s wife and the individual responsible for AEW merchandise, highlighted underlying tensions.
Despite the underlying concerns and controversies, CM Punk’s presence has been described as influential and positive within the realm of AEW Collision, where he is noted for his leadership and contributions to the show’s booking process.
