AEW terminates contract with CM Punk amid controversy and investigation

AEW fires top star CM Punk with cause after investigating a physical altercation that occurred during a pay-per-view event.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) made a significant announcement on Saturday regarding the termination of top star CM Punk's contracts with cause. The decision came after an investigation into an incident that took place during the "All In" pay-per-view show at Wembley Stadium in London. It was reported that Punk and fellow AEW wrestler Jack Perry engaged in a physical altercation backstage.

In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), AEW revealed that their Discipline Committee, along with outside legal counsel, unanimously recommended the termination of Punk's contracts with cause. AEW owner Tony Khan ultimately made the decision, stating that it was in the best interests of the many individuals who contribute to AEW's success.

AEW is now preparing for their upcoming pay-per-view event, "All Out," which will take place at the United Center in Chicago. This comes after their weekly Saturday "Collision" television show in the same venue.

Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, is a Chicago native and holds significant popularity in the city. Khan acknowledged Punk's contributions to AEW in his statement, expressing gratitude for his role within the organization. However, he emphasized that the decision to terminate Punk's contracts was his alone.

Punk, 44, returned to AEW in June after recovering from a torn biceps injury sustained in a match the previous September. Following that match, Punk was involved in a controversial news conference and reportedly had a physical altercation with AEW wrestlers Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, and Kenny Omega, who also hold executive vice president positions in the company.

In June, Punk publicly apologized to Khan for his remarks during the news conference. The incident in September 2022 occurred when AEW wrestler Adam "Hangman" Page deviated from the script during a televised interview segment with Punk, discussing topics they had not agreed upon and that Punk claimed were untrue.

Punk expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that it had tainted his experience and remained unresolved for over a year. There was a belief among individuals in the locker room that Punk had attempted to get another wrestler, Colt Cabana, fired from AEW. Punk and Cabana were previously close friends but had a falling-out that resulted in lawsuits. Punk denies any involvement in Cabana's employment status, and Cabana is still with AEW.

Throughout his career, Punk has been a highly popular figure in professional wrestling. He is a former two-time WWE champion, three-time world heavyweight champion, and two-time AEW champion. After departing from WWE in 2014, Punk also competed in the UFC on two occasions.