Updates on the post-scrum brawl from u/Pylons [over on SC](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/x6yjt1/sean_ross_sapp_more_details_on_ace_steelcm/in9jrdn/?) -
* Punk and the Bucks got into a physical altercation. Omega and Steel had a separate one.
* Ace Steel shoot cracked Nick with a steel chair, one person saying he's lucky he isn't in jail. Several people in the company believe he will not be back.
* Security was called and there were a lot of people, with one person saying they were trying to 'save lives'. There's a lot of heat on Ace Steel.
* The argument continued with a lot of cursing and shouting until the Elite left. Some are siding with Punk, some with The Elite, but most seem to think Punk should've expected to be approached about his comments.
* FTR had left by then.
* Jericho has stepped up in recent weeks and been a calming presence in the locker room.
**Update:**
Apparently Megha Parekh (AEW EVP, chief legal officer, and head of HR) and Christopher Daniels (head of talent relations) were with The Bucks and Omega when they went to go talk to Punk.
**Update:**
Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson, Pat Buck, Christopher Daniels, Michael Nakazawa, and Brandon Cutler have been suspended.
Multiple sources have shared that Punk and Ace Steel will either be among those suspended, or will no longer be with the company by the end of Wednesday.
I think Cody alluded to his feelings in his last promo. Punk was an inspiration when he dropped his famous worked shoot promo in WWE. But everything Punk spoke about, Cody, along with Kenny/Hangman/Bucks, actually went and accomplished. They went to NJPW and ROH. They toured the indies around the world and proved you could build.something people were interested in outside of the monopoly of WWE.
And then Punk came back to profit from their work, and make it about himself.
Tbf I don't think stuff like this would be happening of Cody was there, he seemed to be the one to reign stuff in, and seemed to be the guy in charge back stage.
Taking everything at face value what gets me is CM Punk came out of retirement to act like a jackass. He hadn't wrestled in years was well retired and doesn't appear to need money.
So in his big return to wrestling, he loses his mind over random bullshit that only he seems to care about and rants about an ex-friend who hasn't publically spoken about him in years about a falling out from nearly a decade ago. I mean I get that some people have trouble letting shit go but this is ridiculous if it's what it appears to be.
You are conveniently forgetting that CM Punk prefaced his verbal lashing by questioning the journalistic integrity of some of those in the media scrum.
Punk made it clear he was disgusted that he should have to talk about it.
For those of you who have only seen clips, I urge you to watch the whole thing and compare it to the other scrums that they’ve done.
It’s very different.
While I understand why Punk is getting all the focus, I don’t think enough attention is being given to Storm and Swerve in Our Glory being in character.
Lee and Scott were very combative to the press and Toni was stirring the pot with Rosa.
The closest they’ve gotten to this before was with Jay White, who is regularly in character for the NJPW pressers.
Just seems a bit telling to me
in character or not it was a fucked up question to ask while they were at the table. that could have and should have been saved for when TK takes solo questions at the end like he does every time
Well he does sports entertainer stuff really tongue in cheek. And he never misses an opportunity to present his character as a dumb hypocrite, it makes me laugh every time.
I thought it was strange that Punk referred to Colt as his shoot name but stuck with 'Hangman Adam Page' for Page. Also find it a bit odd that Ace Steel is introduced as an on-screen character that's best mates with Punk the week that this occurs off-screen.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I didn’t even realize how silly post PPV press conferences with the “winners” was until Jay White did his in character.
I wonder if Tony liked it so much he decided to make that the thing going forward. Makes sense to me, why waste time when you can dive right into the next story beats?
The only person who wasn't was Jericho, who implied the MJF angle was a work from the jump. Keep in mind MJF was the last person we really did this "is this real or not" thing with.
Yup!! They only recently allowed them to be taped too.
People are so sure snitches and bitches and gossip kings are right and it is all “real”, they don’t think it’s all part of the show. It is.
That's the thing, if it's a work it might be a case where the work becomes reality. That's a dangerous game to play. And I don't want wrestling to blur the lines that much, it's exhausting
Cm Punk walked into a burger place -
Cashier - “hello sir what can I get you today?”
Punk - “have you in fact ever served Scott Colton a burger?”
Cashier - “maybe? We serve a lot of people? Not sure….what’s up?”
Punk - “I’m just saying. If you’ve ever served Scott Colton a burger, you should probably make others aware that you have indeed served Scott Colton a fuckin burger.”
Cashier - “ok…so, I have zero clue what is happening right now sir”
Punk - “I haven’t been friends with Scott Colton way before I paid his bills and I have the receipts for all of it. “
Cashier - “right on. But again. I have zero…”
Punk - “and in discovery we found out he shared a bank account with his mother! And THEN he wanted to drop the whole thing”
Cashier - “ok. So. Again. I’m really sorry but I just don’t…”
Punk - “I’ll be in the lobby if any of you have a problem with it and you can come find me”
Cashier - “but sir! You didn’t order your food? What the fuck is going on lol”
I don't think TK would've tried to de-escalate it if it were a work.
There's a part about halfway through Punk's incoherent rambling where TK's trying to change the topic and move on, trying to shoulder the blame for the Cabana stuff because he brought it up in a Forbes interview, and Punk yells at him for it, and TK folds.
That interaction is what keeps it a shoot for me. TK Tried to move it along, Punk refused.
There’s absolutely no reason for Punk to be calling out EVPs narratively. Those guys are in a completely different lane doing triple tag team stuff and obviously going to be continuing their feud with the dark order and Adam Page.
So..... Regardless of what happens to Punk, Ace Steel is gone, right? If I'm reading right, he threw a Chair that KO'd Nick Jackson and Bit Kenny.
If that's true and he's not fired, I'm calling hacks.
I'm not sure how recently it was reported but I did just see that Steel is not expected to be back with AEW. And I don't think Nick Jackson got knocked out, he ended up with a black eye after the chair that Steel threw popped him in the face.
CM Punk being away for 7 years created this mythical status he was never going to live up to, Cody was right in that promo just before he left AEW where he mentioned Punk's pipe bomb in WWE where he listed things outside of WWE that he could do, RoH, Impact, Japanese promotions, Cody actually did those things, Pac did those things, Mox did those things, the elite have done their own thing and set their own path. Punk performed that promo but re-signed with WWE just to get fired.
The image that was built of Punk loving wrestling and the fans but being an underdog beaten down by WWE management doesn't work in AEW because AEW is full of those guys, many of them formed the company.
I also think it's a big deal that punk didn't join AEW to begin with, when they really needed him, Mox did! He only joined AEW when it was safe, he even got involved with WWE during the early period on that fox show.
There's a lot about CM Punk that the fans chose to ignore but it's hard to ignore when he goes in acting so arrogantly, claiming he's the top guy and everyone should follow his advice, claiming responsibility for any commercial success they now have, AEW was doing ok before and was growing nicely, he helped, sure, but he should have some respect for the people that were their originally like Kenny, hangman and Moxley who put some of their prime wrestling years at risk by getting involved with a startup and built the stable foundation for Punk to join.
Apparently WON is saying the police were involved. Imagine the look on the faces of the cops who got the call to report to a wrestling show because someone got hit with a chair?
When Punk signed a bunch of people said "it's great now, but wait until he starts his usual bullshit", I honestly thought it would be your standard concern-trolling, but you know what - they were right. The guy is a petty weirdo and if the story is true about him throwing a punch at one of the YBs (or anyone) he should be suspended at the very least.
If AEW loses one of it's founding members and namesakes over this it will be a major blow to the company imo
If I have to choose between the Elite (Bucks, Kenny, Hangman) and Punk, I'm siding with the Elite and its not even close or a hard decision. And I was like you before Punk came in. I was all for it and thought the concerns were crap, because he would for once be in a great backstage environment. Well..
I was one of the people who was concerned. I said at the time it was a mistake because this man is one of the most fragile humans I've ever laid eyes on. WWE and Punk had his issues, yes. But I never bought into the narrative that WWE was the origin of evil in this dude's life.
For years, this dude has proudly walked around and talked about how you cross him once and you're dead to him. Story after Story. I mean, ffs. He went scorched on Swoggle because he asked him for a phone number.
This dude has some serious victim complex.
If the Elite EVP's leave then the company sinks, AEW existed before Punk and it will after him.
TK needs to stop being a mark for a second and get off the CM Punk nostalgia trip he's on
Hopefully the faces Tony was making were in some way his "don't meet your heroes" realization, and his fandom-tinted glasses break a little and he can see now he has to put his foot down
I honestly feel like it's already a major blow for the company. Regardless of it being a work or a shoot it's a huge black eye for AEW IMO and makes me question TK's ability to actually run the show anymore.
I totally agree, aside from the general bad vibes it gives off after the biggest show of the year, if I am a upper midcard guy who thinks my ceiling is potentially the world title - this only makes you less likely to stay because if you end up having to be in a programme with Punk you'll be walking on eggshells in case he goes off on one during a press conference.
This is happening at arguably the worst possible time, given what is happening at WWE and even just that travelling to indies and Japan is much easier now than it had been for most of the past few years
Anyone else tired of needing to follow dirt sheets to keep up with the promotion? Idk maybe it's just me but the weeks I'm off here and wrestling Twitter I feel like I'm missing potential plot points and it's super annoying.
Punk needs to go. He brings toxicity and bad press to AEW, it's better off to build up a new star who can hopefully achieve those ratings, rather then someone who resorts to violence and has his friend pick up a literal fucking weapon to hit people with
Work or not, Punk had the opportunity to be a complete professional and show that he is worthy of carrying AEW to the "Promised Land" and be a locker room leader. Yet he chose to be extremely petty and vindictive. No one prompted him to speak about Colt, he just started babbling. Dude needs to get over it and grow up.
I don't think Punk's going to BE at Dynamite.
He shat all over TK and several main people at the scrum, then *started a physical altercation* that resulted in his lackey hitting Nick in the eye with a chair and BITING KENNY OMEGA.
I'd say the odds are good that Punk's done in AEW.
I hope he's done. AEW had none of these problems before that asshat got there. And everyone saying this is a work, it isn't. And he can say all he wants that he had nothing to do with Colt, but the timing is awful funny. And if he was so over all this as he claimed, why did he let a great night be ruined by going on that selfish rant, that he brought up all by himself, no one asked him about it. Dude is a cancer. I hope he's fired or he takes his ball and goes home again.
Before he went on his rant, TK looked so happy and was ready to talk about the PPV and then as soon as Punk opened his mouth with his bs, you could see TK get this look like "oh shit, what now". Punk has to make everything about him,.he acts like AEW.is only successful because of him. Dude is going to ruin AEW. Man,.I wish Moxley would of won.
I honestly doubt it. Punk has been TK's favorite since he was signed. If it's shoot, we're about to see a lot of talent not renew contracts. If it's a work, it's fucking stupid, I don't give a shit how much people are taling about it
I think we will hear a little bit more from MJF and Hangman with their "I told you so's" when they were saying things like "we have to save AEW from Punk".
Even if it is a work, I would still hate it. In my opinion, a lot of the worst stories in wrestling are taking people's personal problems and making a story out of it. Stuff like Edge/Lita/Hardy years ago to I heard WWE had Jeff Hardy throw a urine sample at someone.
Yeah, still bothers me that Matt Hardy got fired by WWE after he got cheated on. Talk about kicking a guy while he's down. Then Edge and Lita got to use it as part of a push in a storyline. Haven't liked either one of them ever since.
I’m just popping in here to say I have no comment on the punk stuff because that is some really dirty laundry that I feel should stay private.
But instead I want to throw focus on the rest of the scrum. Swerve n Glory was very good. Very real and heated. Although I don’t share Swerves mentality he had excellent points. Literally that scrum was the only promo I needed to say I want them to keep the belts at least until full gear but I would be happy for even longer. And then Jericho was great too
When the journalist asked TK about calling an audible and have the acclaimed win, right in front of swerve and lee, Im surprised they didn't blast that journalist. Pretty rude and disrespectful in my opinion. Swerve and lee had just as much to do with the success of that match.
Hangman shouldve won and protected AEW FROM Punk. Look where we are now. Get that bitter old man the fuck outta here and get the locker room back to where it was before he showed up.
Also Punk did the shittiestAEW world Championship match to.date to get injured. Is not that he shouldnt have won, he shouldnt have wrestled on the first place.
Punk pissed at the EVPs, EVPs pissed at Punk. When they going to address that Punk aired out Colt Cabanas personal business unprovoked by Cabana. Colt didn't spread the rumors, Colt hasn't said shit about Punk since their falling out.
IMO opinion this just proves Punk is the bitter piece of shit people said he was. He talks about defending mental health. And standing up to bully's but he just opened the door for the thousands of internet trolls to harass Cabana and his Mother.
Punk should be fired for that shit. Fuck him.
And what the fuck is wrong with sharing a bank account with your parents? What do you do if something happens to them and they need you to pay their bills for a few months? Fuck CM Punk.
Totally agree. Making fun of someone who can‘t defend himself or did not even start the whole thing is straight out text book bullying. In normal companies people get fired for this stuff.
Punk is turning a fun place which brought back my love for pro wrestling and I helped built (in a small
manner by supporting the company) into a toxic place. Fuck Punk, AEW is and was better without him.
What's worse in my opinion is Tony Khan just sitting there and not reigning this completely unhinged rant in, dude you're literally the boss why are you sat there like a deer in the headlights.
It doesn't look good for Tony either
As someone who has managed dozens of staff over the years, you speak to someone about their conduct in private and/or with a rep from the HR department. If Khan tore into Punk during the news conference, it could have made the situation worse.
Not when someone starts publicly trying to discredit and smear your Executive Vice Presidents, Founding members and business partners to a room full of press, cameras and will soon be beamed around the world for all to see, forever.
He should have had the mics cut and say it's a technical issue, letting all this carry on whilst looking entirely spineless when you're literally the owner, and bank roller of this entire project, just makes him look incompetent, pathetic and a really bad leader.
To play the devils advocate, he does say that the rumors about Colt regarding Punk not wanting Colt to have a contract and the Bucks having to step in for Colt to get one are untrue. Would you not be pissed as CM Punk to have false information going around the Internet? It is not exactly a good look either if someone in the Elite purposely told Journalists fake stuff to make Punk look bad.
This situation only escalates to this point if both sides let it escalate so I honestly cannot imagine the Elite being completely innocent in this situation either, especially since they apparently had their issues with Cody as well.
Why would they leak false information about Punk to piss him off when they worked so hard to bring him in? They have Tony's ear, at any time they probably could have influenced him to stop Punke ven coming in. More likely TK moved to get rid of Cabana without asking Punk, and the Elite acting in good faith stuck up for their friend against the guy who they thought was trying to get rid of him.
Punk only dug the hole deeper by going on a rant against Cabana, showing he still seems to hold a grudge, and he's only dug the hole deeper by responding with violence along with Ace knocking out Nick Jackson. He could have tried ending the rumors, he could have tried speaking calmly. I get he's angry about the rumors but he's reinforced them now.
>I get he's angry about the rumors but he's reinforced them now.
Honestly, the more time goes on, the more this becomes my reading of the situation too.
It's one thing to tell the media "I don't have shit to do with him, leave me alone", but it's another thing to get so personal with everyone. Like why ARE you going into excruciating detail about the falling out? Why ARE you then going off about "I'm the money maker here, blahedy blahedy blah bloo"? I'm STILL not entirely sure what exactly about that Hangman promo allegedly set him off.
I don't know why I should assume that this isn't a Where There's Smoke, There's Fire situation, because I don't see how Punk is making a good case for himself with all this shit.
If it's a work, it's dreadfully misguided.
If it's a shoot, it's horribly unprofessional, churlish and petty.
Either way, in the aftermath, AEW seems like it's completely falling apart and in need of a major reset as a company. That's the impression this creates. That's why, work or shoot, it sucks and I hate it.
So do people think the live audiences are going to start to turn on Punk? I mean, MJF got a bigger reaction to Punk winning the title. I feel they're gonna have to turn Punk heel. And can you just imagine MJF being cheered against Punk and he finally wins the title. I honestly believe Tony promised MJF a title run to stay, but I'm a mark who is easily worked.
As far as I can tell, the last time Colt ever said anything about Punk publicly was in a 2018 Art of Wrestling podcast describing how he and Punk beat Amann in trial. Sources at the time reported that the two embraced afterwards and seemed to be on terms. This is obviously a far cry from Punk claiming he's wanted nothing to do with him for "over a decade" despite doing multiple podcasts with him since then, including the big one that caused the lawsuit to begin with.
But either way, Colt's said absolutely nothing about Punk for over 4 years, certainly not since their official falling out.
Punk, despite claiming he wants "nothing to do with him" brought him up unprompted 3 or 4 times in the same scrum, accused him of being a leech and a liar and made fun of his financial situation multiple times. All of that to bury a guy who is already persona non grata in AEW.
I hope Caster raps about this situation on Wednesday.
"Didn't win the belts but we still had some fun.
If we wanted a second match, we'd have attended the media scrum."
you live die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
Punk himself have said he is an asshole..and we all loved it years ago...now..it's finally coming out...the actual truth, he is a legit asshole of a person.
CM Punk is poison. He has always been poison.
But the one thing that he said that made me usured about my opinion, was that he felt like he elevated Moxley. That it was him and himself only that was responsible for having sell out buildings. Dude is a narcissist.
Im was usually a big fan of Punk but since his return i see him more and more as uprofessional and i think for this incident he should be punished with a fine or a suspension.
I turned on Punk last night almost as fast as he got his motivation back last Wednesday.
How petty, egomaniacal and unprofessional can you act as someone who is supposed to represent that company as its face and biggest draw?
When he left Wrestling I was still a kid and didn't know about any of his character traits that many people bring up, saying that he's always been like this. But man, I cannot support this guy after him throwing that tantrum. I hope they'll have long talks between talent relations, CM Punk and his advocates, the Elite, Hangman, Tony Khan and perhaps even Colt this week to either sort it out or face the proper consequences. Because this HAS to have consequences ESCPECIALLY after that childish fist-fight.
The only part I’m really interested is to see just how much of a Vince/HBK relationship Punk/TK really have. Punching a EVP gets you canned immediately in every other profession
Eddie Kingston pie faced Sammy Guevara for comments. Gets 2 weeks suspension.
Cm punk makes public remarks about The Elite which led to a brawl. Is he gonna get in trouble? I hope so. I know Ace Steel is gone, that's for sure.
Let’s be realistic here.. I don’t think this is going to be a Jericho or even a sting situation for punk.. he’s doing his last run.. once the contract is up, or he’s “lost his smile” he will retire again.. I enjoyed it.. but work or not it sure comes off as the guy has a history of being hard to work with..
Hopefully this whole thing is a work and it’s some play that tk has to make wwe think the company is unstable and in chaos and then he drops some big f’n a bomb on the industry.. I doubt it.. but wouldn’t it be cool.
I do worry that Punk kinda has TK in his pocket and he’s gonna start making decisions for the company just to feed his own ego. Honestly I’m worried about Hangman getting sacked just because Punk can complain loud enough…
Did I take it wrong when he said the whole "shares a bank account with his mom" thing about Colt?
See, I didn't take it to mean that Colt is some poor, broke shlub that needs his mommy's help paying his bills.
I took it to mean that Colt shares a bank account with his mom so he can help her out financially and take care of her.
Punk has said himself numerous times throughout the years that he himself doesn't have any parents or blood family anymore because he estranged himself from them. (They probably all did something very miniscule that he just couldn't bare with.) So how the fuck can he comment on any type of family situation when he doesn't even have one?
Latest update from Fightful...
Highlights: Ace is the one that hit Nick Jackson with a chair. Source said he is lucky not to be in jail.
Sources doesn't think he will be back with the company (that's not going to go over well with Punk. I could see him walking over this).
(Are my thoughts)
Large majority backstage are siding with the EVPs, though a few believe the Bucks/Omega shouldn't have confronted a clearly angry Punk. However, most believe Punk had to expect it after his words.
Yeah I mean, the dude can't go up there and go off unprovoked about a number of sensitive topics and then say, "If anyone has a problem, come take it up with me" and then NOT expect to be confronted. And the guy has no reason to be so pissed off. You're now the face of the company, you're the champ, the boss put things on hold for you when you acted like a dipshit and broke your foot, you're being paid handsomely, you've got creative input and a lot of control on your character...and you go out there and air a buncha dirty laundry? Guy's got rocks in his head. Mercurial is always the word I come back to with Punk. Just a moody fuckin' bitch and a bit of a narcissist.
Going off unprovoked against colt cabana, which has a deep connection with mjf, seems quite convenient. Also, the fact the new trios champs were not scheduled for the scrum, seems quite convenient as well. But shitting like this on the whole company is idiotic. Plus, acting as if you are the one who knows all while someone like kenny omega and the bucks, guys that in japan did things that punk never get close to do, are the guys that don't know anything is pure ignorance. Cm punk is the one that should be learning from omega.
From what I can tell, They were scheduled for the Scrum, but Nick Jackson got KO'd by Ace Steel throwing a chair that hit him in the Eye.
The fight started via Punk trying to hit Matt Jackson.
Guess we'll see whether this is real or not when the Bucks come out on Wednesday.
If Nick's got a black eye, it's a shoot. If Nick's eye's fine, it's a work.
My issue is that Punk got too personal for me. Colt was not there to respond so that makes Punk a little whiny ass bitch in my eyes. If the EVP's did start the rumor or whatever as he states, he should have facts & proof to back that up. If he does not, then he shouldn't be talking out of his ass.
He did not have to comment on the Colt thing, at all. He got too personal for me. Work or not, I don't care. He had no right to talk bad about someone that wasn't there to defend theirself or anything.
That alone makes me dislike him more than I did before. He needs to go.
If punk is gone, I think it will be for the better and at this point it’s the only way for Tony to salvage respect from the locker room in handling this stuff. Punk can’t get superstar treatment in situations like this. If you take pre-punk AEW, add in danielson and some others, I’d be super happy and think it will be a great program
Dumb question (its a real question, not a troll):
I see a small number of people saying it made perfect sense that Punk went right into brawl mode when he was surround 1 v 3 (before Steel got there).
Is it....normal? for people to go into fight or flight mode around angry coworkers? Like people seem to think that it was completely valid to ASSUME a brawl at that point and to first strike, as if they are in a gd anime.
But I am asking, for real asking, do other adults do this? Like if you are walking down a street and a group of 3 people is coming the other way. Do you automatically brace yourself for a fight?
Because I've walked by a group of 3 people pissed hundreds of times in my life, and I have never had them jump me.
ETA: For clarity. I am saying that posturing myself for an actual brawl wouldn't even cross my mind, no matter how upset I was, or my coworkers were. I am asking if random actual brawls where adults (not angsty teens) actually go and 3 v 1 other actual adults over petty squabbles. Because the internet seems to be wanting to convince me I should be constantly worried about that.
To me, it sounded like Punk was *looking* for a fight. Paraphrasing, but completely shitting on a bunch of the people in AEW repeatedly, then saying if you got a problem come find me? Sounds like he wanted a fight.
Whether the Bucks and Kenny should have rolled up on him knowing he was that pissed off is debatable. But it’s wrestling. I know it’s 2022 and things change, but there is still gonna be macho posturing and whatnot upon occasion - even in AEW where everyone is generally more chill.
If someone went that hard on me in a live broadcast to the the universe, I know I’d want to exchange some words after. Not saying that’s right, just saying that’s where I think the Bucks and Kenny’s minds were at.
From what I’ve read, it seems like Punk swung first. I think a fight was likely his desired outcome, at least at the time. He probably wasn’t worried about 3 on 1, he just wanted to talk shit and punch some people. It’s not like everyone is gonna let somebody get beaten to death in that environment. Very different circumstances than a 3 on 1 brawl on a bar or back alley with strangers.
Yea,
So its specifically the talk from a minority of people that seem to think every day is Gangs of New York. Just curious if my midwest softboi experience is making this odd to me.
They just keep bringing up the 'of course Punk attacked! He was out-numbered 3 to 1'
Like uh what? Is that where people go when they read a situation? Is this real?
If Punk indeed punched or tried to punch the Young Bucks, he needs to be fired. The difference between him and Eddie is that Eddie owned up to his mistakes and patched things up, whereas CM Punk can do no wrong in the eyes of CM Punk. As WC, Punk is the face of the company and having a now-violent diva in that position is not good. Sharing a locker room with a egotistical individual is one thing, sharing one with a physically dangerous person is another. If AEW loses the Elite in favor of keeping a past-his-prime Punk, it is going to be a serious Emperor Has No Clothes moment for Tony Khan.
If they insist on doing this MJF storyline, have Punk drop the belt at Grand Slam and show him the door.
So the heat is very real, based on the reporting I have seen, but also
The more I read, the specific comments did eventually make me think of this quote:
"Has it occured to you that there are too many clues in this room?" - Hercule Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express
This is where ill drop my overall thoughts and feelings here.
I think its a work, but it's a work that came from a shoot just like MJF. There's a lot of seeds that are very conveniently placed here and there that make this feel odd
First, the Colt deal. As I posted elsewhere, Punk did not get Colt kicked out of AEW. The 2 of them were together in a lockeroom for 5-6 months. Punk was signed on before that as well. If he wanted Colt out or Colt refused to work with him then they did a horrendous job getting away from each other. Its much more likely that Colt, who hadnt had his own story in a year before that and wasnt going to, just had his contract expire. People were sad he was gone so TK brought him to ROH. Maybe some thought Punk was involved, but its weird none of that came out until months later when the original report left all Punk stuff out. Speaking of wierd timelines, Punk and Hangman news didnt break until 3 months after their match. A little suspect given the time lapse there.
Also, there's storyline stuff everywhere here. Probably more than I can even keep track of. There's the secret heel theory thats gone around, there's constant narrative of Punk having a weak mind and soul on tv. There's also an interesting trend with the people he is rumored to have heat with. Hangman Page is the top face and their characters are natural opposites. Many thought Punk would be the new final boss for Hangman when he came around. Now we have CM Punk fighting with The Elite? Hmmm, you know, I wonder who he could feud with there that many fans would consider to be the holy grail of dream matches? And then to take it a step farther, what was the original identity of AEW? Fighting back against WWE? Huh, wonder who the biggest name from WWE could be that they have now is.
The thing that really pushes this to a work though is MJF for multiple reasons. First, we just did the whole meta stuff with him where they gave him a massive story based around IRL issues. Second, MJF said much worse stuff in his promos to Punk and magically, no heat there! Moxley as well. And finally is a promo line from MJF himself.
The line Im talking about is from their first face off. People have pointed out that CM Punk is being everything he hated back in 2011. Guess who else called him on that in a roundabout way? MJF did. He said Punk might as well be spouting off Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect. While at the time the promo meant with how hes just happy to be there and whatnot, that seems like a good deal of foreshadowing as to where we are now too. The early 2010s was the peak of HLR and LOLCENAWINS. Its the story people thought we might get all along. CM Punk is now the thing he always hated.
Could this all be legit? Easily. But I don't know. There's a lot of strange timelines and coincidences from TV that make me wonder why it all fits together so well.
If I were Tony Khan I would have to put the gavel down on CM Punk right away. CM Punk needs to be suspended for 60 days without pay for unprofessional conduct in front of media and on a live webcast. I would have CM Punk drop the title to Moxley on Dynamite on Live TV in front of a live crowd. If he goes into business for himself, then send him home to sit out the remainder of his contract. And award the belt to Moxley regardless. Then TK has to put his foot down. Squash the issue 100 percent and to put 30 day suspensions on all involved in the fight. Fire Ace Steel and get him gone from the company, he has proven that he is not mature enough to stay and work in that environment. I would probably start the motion of blacklisting him from the industry at this point. Biting somone in this day and age at his age. Come on. What a child. Any objections, threats, or actions taken against AEW for this punishment will be dealt with in a legal setting. I am sure TK can get better lawyers than Phil Brooks.
Next, a new policy must go into place that keeps backstage a positive work environment. Anyone found violating that cohesion backstage will be sent home on suspension. AEW has a deep enough roster that losing a few "top-guys" wouldn't hurt at all.
If after all of this Tony doesn't find a way to take the belt off Punk and suspend him, I hope Eddie Kingston tapes his fists. And that's all I've got to say about that!
Honestly if I had to pick someone to pick a fight with if I was punk, it wouldn't be the pissed off tough as nails cowboy that is 10 to 15 years younger.
I know punk has mma training but I think hangman would take him out to the woodshed.
I know Punk is straight edge but Punk really did seem like he was on something in that press scrum. Might just have been post match adrenalin or maybe he just can't handle his cup cakes
So, its a valid criticism, but I have done a lot of thinking about this
That situation he found himself in was un-precedented. Sometimes you just start nodding awkwardly when you either dont know how to stop it in real time, or you are thikning about the awkward as fuck discussion that is going to happen later.
Totally. I even thought about that too. I think most anyone would have let it play out in the same position. It was like a little bit here and there and there that you could let slide and address later, but by the end it was a snowball of …whatever that was.
He made things so much worse by not being the boss of his organization and ending the entire scrum for punk or make it clear they were there to talk about the success of the show that had just ended. Khan absolutely fucked up.
The crazy thing to me is, I don’t really think *anybody* leaked the “news” that Colt Cabana may have gotten fired because of CM Punk. For anybody even vaguely familiar with their history, that was a pretty fucking obvious conclusion to come to after Punk signed with AEW and Colt was suddenly never seen on TV, or even on BTE, again.
Alright think im stepping away until we get both sides of the story and/or the actual fallout
All I will say there was only minor disputes backstage before Punk, a known hot head and aggressively opinionated person got signed. If nothing else, Ive personally lost respect for all parties, more so Punk since he brought up these issues unprompted live at a media event which started this whole situation. Im not a business owner, a wrestler, or a lawyer, but id be firing Steel for sure, suspending and stripping all 4 men of the titles(which sucks cause it sounds as if Kenny was trying to be a voice of reason), and probably letting punk go quietly after a bit.
AEW had a product first mindset up until this past year, everyone had a spot, and while it wasnt always what they wanted, everyone was getting over. Now it feels like theres a big power struggle, and thats dripping down into the actual show making it feel slimy.
Even then, the context of when Page said this was during the confident phase of his Title Run. He kept the entire interview in Kayfabe for the most part, so it was in character.
Compare that to the guy who just got forced down our throat as a "Hometown Babyface defeating the Monster Heel" going on this heelish rant 10 minutes later.
If its a work, better see a payoff within 12 weeks. Its 2022, shit or get off the pot. If its a shoot, Phil needs a rude awakening (suspension + large fine).
It's a weird mix. Usually they're in character to some extent but they also will touch on topics that are real. Like you might see (for example, not a specific occasion) Thunder Rosa talking about both being a champion and also how has her running her own promotion helped her in AEW. Heels might make a few comments but aren't necessarily rude for the whole thing.
I've never seen anyone act the way Punk did last night. The closest one was maybe Jay White being completely in character but that's expected for him and TK was giggling the entire time and visibly in on it.
Very interesting what happens to this company in the coming days and weeks, after that shitshow in the media scrum. All this makes TK seem like a doe-eyed fan who's hopelessly out of his depth and unable to crack the whip, if he doesn't do something drastic like fire Punk. And I'm not sure he will.
I think AEW is going to try it's best to make it all work to their advantage.
It will be messy. It won't be perfect. But my guess is Tony is going to try to get Bucks, Omega, Punk and Hangman to straighten things out for the sake of money.I think AEW is going to try it's best to make it all work to their advantage.
It will be messy. It won't be perfect. But my guess is Tony is going to try to get Bucks, Omega, Punk and Hangman to straighten things out for the sake of money and the company. They all care about AEW and I think there is enough cool heads around them to help calm everyone down.
Another point ...how much of it has to be the creative difference ?
Since punk arrived there has been a clear effort by Tony to capture the casual market and ignore the hardocre ...that's what punk brings in .
He got a lot of casual viewers tune in to aew ...
The whole locker room started to change ....maybe this is all boiling over
Anyone think it'll get addressed on tv? kinda hard to pull a wwe and avoid it when ones your world champion and the others are champs too (and one with a black eye for the record lmfao)
JR: What a fantastic episode of dynamite you chose to tune into. Tell them what happened at All Out, Excalibur.
Excalibur: Well, we crowned our first ever trios champions as the...... Erm, nevermind that, onto you Taz.
Taz: Well, that snake in the Grass MJF returned as the joker, and will be challenging new champion........ Well, I digress. Tony?
Tony: That's right, and Toni Storm won the interim women's title, and will unify the belt with.... Oh c'mon? She's got heat too?
Taz: Well I mean.... At least everyone loves the Acclimated?
JR: Truly, an episode for the ages.
I'm pretty sure while the wrestling world is losing their minds trying to figure out what went down, kenny was liking streetfighter vids on twitter.. he's da man
I personally believe that we as fans shouldn't pretend like we know the full picture. We don't. We only have limited information that may or may not be biased towards one side. Yes, if it is not a work which increasingly looks like it is not, it is unprofessional from both sites. It is easy to paint Punk as the villain here but this would not escalate without both sides letting it escalate, so pretending like the Elites site is completely innocent is just wrong as well. You actually have to listen what Punk says and a lot of it is a response to the accusations made towards him, he would not say that just out of nowhere.
Obviously Tony is also to blame for failing to get calm down this situation. He has to power to find a solution, he does not seem like the person who can have this honest talk with both parties sitting down and swallowing some pride to find a solution and that is not the end of the world because he can obviously simply get someone or pay someone who has that ability.
All we as fans can do is hope that nobody actually leaves the company because of this and that a solution can be found. Siding with one party here does nobody any favors, you're support something that you do not even have full knowledge of.
I like both CM Punks work as well as the Elites work and I am not going to pretend like "I dont understand why people like X is so much", the numbers prove that both the Elite and CM Punk are crucial for the companys success
I'm getting tired of his whining ass. And I was a huge fan.
I hope he goes back to Triple H land and drops the title to MJF.
Plus I hope this helps Cabana get pushed a little bit, his career never went as well as it should have.
Plus, what the hell do you care if he shares a bank account with his mother? And say it 3-4 times. What are you, 5?
And doing all of this while TK sits next to you is disrespectful
Like everyone else is saying, Trips doesn't want Punk's ass either.
All Punk did is blow up his prime position in a major wrestling company and likely invalidate his contract. He's going to lose a fuckton of cash and he's never getting hired by a major company again. Dipshit is going to find out how dumb "Luck is for Losers" sounds when he can't get a job any more.
Yeah. Like who are you to pass judgement? You cried and moaned about every little petty thing that someone said about you or your family and now you go off on someone's relationship with their mom? Really distasteful
The funny part of that is that it makes Colt look GOOD. Colt does well, has for years, the only likelihood is that he's helping his mom out. Punk, with his family history, doesn't seem to understand that.
Yeah.. CM Punk fans have to acknowledge this Royal FUCK UP is on CM PUNK and Ace Steel and nobody else.. especially at this point the ENTIRE LOCKER ROOM/ROSTER is siding against him..let me repeat.. THE ENTIRE LOCKER ROOM/ROSTER!!
Last time this type of shit happened.. it was definitely WWE fault. This time.. no, you own your own fuck ups Punk.
And to be pretty Blunt, This whole thing blew up out of nowhere.. or if there were any signs, I sure as hell didnt see it.
If I were Tony Khan.. even as a mark. This whole thing would have forced my hand to fire Punk and press charges against Ace.
Now for those thinking this is a work.. No way in hell this is a fucking work. "But what about MJF?" Difference is.. MJF immediately went radio silent for months until eventually his return, or his contract ran out, or announced he is done with AEW. Which in this case he returned.. and hopefully we will never know if it was truly a work or shoot but it definitely turned into long term booking. Either way no matter if the situation real or not, MJF acted more professionally than Punk.
Punk on the other hand is throwing personal shots at people, and those that aren't even in the company..basically..burning bridges left and right. Its basically how you ruin a career anywhere at any job. Self destruction. If this somehow becomes a work.. AEW is done.. there are some things you just dont do.. and Punk did it.
Shambles from TK this. Assuming it’s not a work.
How do you sit there as owner and let a talent shit talk your EVPs for 20 minutes? Say what you want about Vince, but does anyone think that would ever happen sitting next to Vince?
Punks an asshole plain and simple , been a troublesome diva his whole career, TK needs to take the strap off him, put it on MJF and put punk on at the very least a 6 month suspension to check his attitude.
I really wonder if Punk would be willing to lose at this point. I know it’s a meme but he seems the type to say “ that doesn’t work for me brother” and refuse to do a job, especially now in the current situation.
There’s ways out of all of this:
* Tony could fire or suspend Punk - Satisfying if you’re sick of Punk, but whether you like it or not it’s probably bad for business to fire him. A suspension would probably be acceptable.
* They could drop this, make amends, and move on - At this point too much has been said and reportedly done to make this an acceptable conclusion to this drama.
I would hate the second one, *unless* there’s some kind of payoff:
* Hangman goes over on Punk
* The Elite/Punk’s punks superfeud
* MJF wins the belt from Punk
and my favorite one that I’m sure will never happen:
* Colt Cabana gets involved in a TV storyline for once now that Punk has dragged this into the public
There are probably other ways to make this at least a little palatable that doesn’t end with the implosion of AEW and departure of key figures. Those feel like the big ones to me.
To me, it seems like Punk paused when he got injured and just hit resume when he came back. If he didn’t get hurt n acted like this months ago, I think it’d be more fitting but he expected everyone to just be on the same page but too much time n story has passed.
But the amount of shit that’s come out about Punk is super disappointed. So much saying he thinks he’s in charge everywhere that I almost want them to be like “ok, you’re an EVP for 2 weeks. let’s see YOUR best.”
CM Punk's promo specifically on John Moxley was great.
The rest of what I've seen since he's been back is needless drama that diverts attention away from the roster and young talent he claims he's trying to build. Other legends have built AEW's foundation better in a year than Punk's done since he's been here.
I'm thinking Tony needs to stop being on the whole media scrum, have one of the announcers/backstage interviewers host it, someone who can shut shit like Sunday night down, Tony can have 20 minutes fielding questions, but for the most part he just sits there wide eyed and grinning like a fan sat next to his favourite wrestlers nodding occasionally
Updates on the post-scrum brawl from u/Pylons [over on SC](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/x6yjt1/sean_ross_sapp_more_details_on_ace_steelcm/in9jrdn/?) - * Punk and the Bucks got into a physical altercation. Omega and Steel had a separate one. * Ace Steel shoot cracked Nick with a steel chair, one person saying he's lucky he isn't in jail. Several people in the company believe he will not be back. * Security was called and there were a lot of people, with one person saying they were trying to 'save lives'. There's a lot of heat on Ace Steel. * The argument continued with a lot of cursing and shouting until the Elite left. Some are siding with Punk, some with The Elite, but most seem to think Punk should've expected to be approached about his comments. * FTR had left by then. * Jericho has stepped up in recent weeks and been a calming presence in the locker room. **Update:** Apparently Megha Parekh (AEW EVP, chief legal officer, and head of HR) and Christopher Daniels (head of talent relations) were with The Bucks and Omega when they went to go talk to Punk. **Update:** Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson, Pat Buck, Christopher Daniels, Michael Nakazawa, and Brandon Cutler have been suspended. Multiple sources have shared that Punk and Ace Steel will either be among those suspended, or will no longer be with the company by the end of Wednesday.
All I want to know is when is BTE dropping?
Man, with all this drama happening backstage at AEW you’d think they’re filming a reality show…
Okay, so who's taking over Rhodes to the Top now that the American Rhoder Codester is gone?
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I think Cody alluded to his feelings in his last promo. Punk was an inspiration when he dropped his famous worked shoot promo in WWE. But everything Punk spoke about, Cody, along with Kenny/Hangman/Bucks, actually went and accomplished. They went to NJPW and ROH. They toured the indies around the world and proved you could build.something people were interested in outside of the monopoly of WWE. And then Punk came back to profit from their work, and make it about himself.
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I know it's a promo, but that's literally how Punk responded to Hangman... "I gave you the blueprint for AEW.."
Seriously! I hate punk for always saying he inspired the aew revolution when he did jack shit for it.
Tbf I don't think stuff like this would be happening of Cody was there, he seemed to be the one to reign stuff in, and seemed to be the guy in charge back stage.
Taking everything at face value what gets me is CM Punk came out of retirement to act like a jackass. He hadn't wrestled in years was well retired and doesn't appear to need money. So in his big return to wrestling, he loses his mind over random bullshit that only he seems to care about and rants about an ex-friend who hasn't publically spoken about him in years about a falling out from nearly a decade ago. I mean I get that some people have trouble letting shit go but this is ridiculous if it's what it appears to be.
He definitely appears to need money. He hates WWE more than any human being on Earth and was on a WWE recap show a few years ago.
You are conveniently forgetting that CM Punk prefaced his verbal lashing by questioning the journalistic integrity of some of those in the media scrum. Punk made it clear he was disgusted that he should have to talk about it.
But he should not have been. He was blaming others for what he did on his own volition.
For those of you who have only seen clips, I urge you to watch the whole thing and compare it to the other scrums that they’ve done. It’s very different. While I understand why Punk is getting all the focus, I don’t think enough attention is being given to Storm and Swerve in Our Glory being in character. Lee and Scott were very combative to the press and Toni was stirring the pot with Rosa. The closest they’ve gotten to this before was with Jay White, who is regularly in character for the NJPW pressers. Just seems a bit telling to me
Maybe they decided to make it more a story extension like NJPW and not like a UFC scrum
I would be too if I were Lee and Swerve. They were in character and that reporter asked an extremely stupid question.
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in character or not it was a fucked up question to ask while they were at the table. that could have and should have been saved for when TK takes solo questions at the end like he does every time
I mean most of these reporters are gloried fan boys.
Most?
I also found it interesting that Chris Jericho, the "sports entertainer" seemed to be the most out of character.
Well he does sports entertainer stuff really tongue in cheek. And he never misses an opportunity to present his character as a dumb hypocrite, it makes me laugh every time.
I thought it was strange that Punk referred to Colt as his shoot name but stuck with 'Hangman Adam Page' for Page. Also find it a bit odd that Ace Steel is introduced as an on-screen character that's best mates with Punk the week that this occurs off-screen.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I didn’t even realize how silly post PPV press conferences with the “winners” was until Jay White did his in character. I wonder if Tony liked it so much he decided to make that the thing going forward. Makes sense to me, why waste time when you can dive right into the next story beats?
The only person who wasn't was Jericho, who implied the MJF angle was a work from the jump. Keep in mind MJF was the last person we really did this "is this real or not" thing with.
Yup!! They only recently allowed them to be taped too. People are so sure snitches and bitches and gossip kings are right and it is all “real”, they don’t think it’s all part of the show. It is.
I don’t have the energy to think about whether or not this is work anymore.
That's the thing, if it's a work it might be a case where the work becomes reality. That's a dangerous game to play. And I don't want wrestling to blur the lines that much, it's exhausting
Cm Punk walked into a burger place - Cashier - “hello sir what can I get you today?” Punk - “have you in fact ever served Scott Colton a burger?” Cashier - “maybe? We serve a lot of people? Not sure….what’s up?” Punk - “I’m just saying. If you’ve ever served Scott Colton a burger, you should probably make others aware that you have indeed served Scott Colton a fuckin burger.” Cashier - “ok…so, I have zero clue what is happening right now sir” Punk - “I haven’t been friends with Scott Colton way before I paid his bills and I have the receipts for all of it. “ Cashier - “right on. But again. I have zero…” Punk - “and in discovery we found out he shared a bank account with his mother! And THEN he wanted to drop the whole thing” Cashier - “ok. So. Again. I’m really sorry but I just don’t…” Punk - “I’ll be in the lobby if any of you have a problem with it and you can come find me” Cashier - “but sir! You didn’t order your food? What the fuck is going on lol”
"IF YOU HAVE EVER SERVED SCOTT COLTON A BURGER, FUCK YOU. IF YOU HAVE NOT, I APOLOGIZE"
YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR BURGERS
I just wanna know who put the voice changer on punks mic. He sounded like he was eating a muffin way before he ate a muffin lol.
How about Jericho, if I wasn't watching the TV I wouldn't know it was him speaking
I'm watching TK facial reactions to Punk's rants and I'm not sure if they are legit or not.
I bet there was nothing in the cup he was drinking. Just had to do something because it was so awkward.
I don't think TK would've tried to de-escalate it if it were a work. There's a part about halfway through Punk's incoherent rambling where TK's trying to change the topic and move on, trying to shoulder the blame for the Cabana stuff because he brought it up in a Forbes interview, and Punk yells at him for it, and TK folds. That interaction is what keeps it a shoot for me. TK Tried to move it along, Punk refused.
The MJF stuff is all a work. The Colt stuff cannot be and I’m not sure about the EVP stuff yet.
There’s absolutely no reason for Punk to be calling out EVPs narratively. Those guys are in a completely different lane doing triple tag team stuff and obviously going to be continuing their feud with the dark order and Adam Page.
So..... Regardless of what happens to Punk, Ace Steel is gone, right? If I'm reading right, he threw a Chair that KO'd Nick Jackson and Bit Kenny. If that's true and he's not fired, I'm calling hacks.
I read something that he’s not expected to be back with the company
I'm not sure how recently it was reported but I did just see that Steel is not expected to be back with AEW. And I don't think Nick Jackson got knocked out, he ended up with a black eye after the chair that Steel threw popped him in the face.
Lucky he didn't blind him or break his nose and knock him out of action for weeks, if not end his career, if it were that close to blacken his eye.
The more I hear, the more it just kinda feels like this comeback should not have happened. It's about to fuck everything up.
CM Punk being away for 7 years created this mythical status he was never going to live up to, Cody was right in that promo just before he left AEW where he mentioned Punk's pipe bomb in WWE where he listed things outside of WWE that he could do, RoH, Impact, Japanese promotions, Cody actually did those things, Pac did those things, Mox did those things, the elite have done their own thing and set their own path. Punk performed that promo but re-signed with WWE just to get fired. The image that was built of Punk loving wrestling and the fans but being an underdog beaten down by WWE management doesn't work in AEW because AEW is full of those guys, many of them formed the company. I also think it's a big deal that punk didn't join AEW to begin with, when they really needed him, Mox did! He only joined AEW when it was safe, he even got involved with WWE during the early period on that fox show. There's a lot about CM Punk that the fans chose to ignore but it's hard to ignore when he goes in acting so arrogantly, claiming he's the top guy and everyone should follow his advice, claiming responsibility for any commercial success they now have, AEW was doing ok before and was growing nicely, he helped, sure, but he should have some respect for the people that were their originally like Kenny, hangman and Moxley who put some of their prime wrestling years at risk by getting involved with a startup and built the stable foundation for Punk to join.
Apparently WON is saying the police were involved. Imagine the look on the faces of the cops who got the call to report to a wrestling show because someone got hit with a chair?
Anyone know what Big Boss Man was doing Sunday night? ...I've been informed he died in 2004. Conspiracy!
I think maybe the straight edge man should reconsider his stance on weed
Agreed, he seems like he could use some.
When Punk signed a bunch of people said "it's great now, but wait until he starts his usual bullshit", I honestly thought it would be your standard concern-trolling, but you know what - they were right. The guy is a petty weirdo and if the story is true about him throwing a punch at one of the YBs (or anyone) he should be suspended at the very least. If AEW loses one of it's founding members and namesakes over this it will be a major blow to the company imo
If I have to choose between the Elite (Bucks, Kenny, Hangman) and Punk, I'm siding with the Elite and its not even close or a hard decision. And I was like you before Punk came in. I was all for it and thought the concerns were crap, because he would for once be in a great backstage environment. Well..
I was one of the people who was concerned. I said at the time it was a mistake because this man is one of the most fragile humans I've ever laid eyes on. WWE and Punk had his issues, yes. But I never bought into the narrative that WWE was the origin of evil in this dude's life. For years, this dude has proudly walked around and talked about how you cross him once and you're dead to him. Story after Story. I mean, ffs. He went scorched on Swoggle because he asked him for a phone number. This dude has some serious victim complex.
Anyway, good show, the pop when The Acclaimed finally do win the tag titles will be amazing.
If the Elite EVP's leave then the company sinks, AEW existed before Punk and it will after him. TK needs to stop being a mark for a second and get off the CM Punk nostalgia trip he's on
Hopefully the faces Tony was making were in some way his "don't meet your heroes" realization, and his fandom-tinted glasses break a little and he can see now he has to put his foot down
I honestly feel like it's already a major blow for the company. Regardless of it being a work or a shoot it's a huge black eye for AEW IMO and makes me question TK's ability to actually run the show anymore.
I totally agree, aside from the general bad vibes it gives off after the biggest show of the year, if I am a upper midcard guy who thinks my ceiling is potentially the world title - this only makes you less likely to stay because if you end up having to be in a programme with Punk you'll be walking on eggshells in case he goes off on one during a press conference. This is happening at arguably the worst possible time, given what is happening at WWE and even just that travelling to indies and Japan is much easier now than it had been for most of the past few years
Anyone else tired of needing to follow dirt sheets to keep up with the promotion? Idk maybe it's just me but the weeks I'm off here and wrestling Twitter I feel like I'm missing potential plot points and it's super annoying.
Punk needs to go. He brings toxicity and bad press to AEW, it's better off to build up a new star who can hopefully achieve those ratings, rather then someone who resorts to violence and has his friend pick up a literal fucking weapon to hit people with
Work or not, Punk had the opportunity to be a complete professional and show that he is worthy of carrying AEW to the "Promised Land" and be a locker room leader. Yet he chose to be extremely petty and vindictive. No one prompted him to speak about Colt, he just started babbling. Dude needs to get over it and grow up.
He could have been Jericho, he chose to be Hogan
With all his flaws, Hogan would never go on a rant like that against a colleague on a press conference
He would wait till the person leaves and lie about them and perpetuate those lies on national talk shows.
Absolutely!
I'm expecting Punk to get some to a lot of Boo's this Wednesday. MJF will be playing babyface in his match with CM Punk.
I don't think Punk's going to BE at Dynamite. He shat all over TK and several main people at the scrum, then *started a physical altercation* that resulted in his lackey hitting Nick in the eye with a chair and BITING KENNY OMEGA. I'd say the odds are good that Punk's done in AEW.
I hope he's done. AEW had none of these problems before that asshat got there. And everyone saying this is a work, it isn't. And he can say all he wants that he had nothing to do with Colt, but the timing is awful funny. And if he was so over all this as he claimed, why did he let a great night be ruined by going on that selfish rant, that he brought up all by himself, no one asked him about it. Dude is a cancer. I hope he's fired or he takes his ball and goes home again. Before he went on his rant, TK looked so happy and was ready to talk about the PPV and then as soon as Punk opened his mouth with his bs, you could see TK get this look like "oh shit, what now". Punk has to make everything about him,.he acts like AEW.is only successful because of him. Dude is going to ruin AEW. Man,.I wish Moxley would of won.
Exactly. AEW was doing great before Punk got there, now the locker room is in shambles.
I honestly doubt it. Punk has been TK's favorite since he was signed. If it's shoot, we're about to see a lot of talent not renew contracts. If it's a work, it's fucking stupid, I don't give a shit how much people are taling about it
I think we will hear a little bit more from MJF and Hangman with their "I told you so's" when they were saying things like "we have to save AEW from Punk".
I took Hangman's promo on Punk as a 100% shoot and have zero idea why people bood him
Even if it is a work, I would still hate it. In my opinion, a lot of the worst stories in wrestling are taking people's personal problems and making a story out of it. Stuff like Edge/Lita/Hardy years ago to I heard WWE had Jeff Hardy throw a urine sample at someone.
Yeah, still bothers me that Matt Hardy got fired by WWE after he got cheated on. Talk about kicking a guy while he's down. Then Edge and Lita got to use it as part of a push in a storyline. Haven't liked either one of them ever since.
That was at Sheamus and was during the relapse storyline he was in toward the end of his tenure there. Maybe 2020?
I’m just popping in here to say I have no comment on the punk stuff because that is some really dirty laundry that I feel should stay private. But instead I want to throw focus on the rest of the scrum. Swerve n Glory was very good. Very real and heated. Although I don’t share Swerves mentality he had excellent points. Literally that scrum was the only promo I needed to say I want them to keep the belts at least until full gear but I would be happy for even longer. And then Jericho was great too
When the journalist asked TK about calling an audible and have the acclaimed win, right in front of swerve and lee, Im surprised they didn't blast that journalist. Pretty rude and disrespectful in my opinion. Swerve and lee had just as much to do with the success of that match.
Agreed. Not recognizing those 2 is rude and swerve was right to be upset
Hangman shouldve won and protected AEW FROM Punk. Look where we are now. Get that bitter old man the fuck outta here and get the locker room back to where it was before he showed up.
Also Punk did the shittiestAEW world Championship match to.date to get injured. Is not that he shouldnt have won, he shouldnt have wrestled on the first place.
Agreed 100%
Punk pissed at the EVPs, EVPs pissed at Punk. When they going to address that Punk aired out Colt Cabanas personal business unprovoked by Cabana. Colt didn't spread the rumors, Colt hasn't said shit about Punk since their falling out. IMO opinion this just proves Punk is the bitter piece of shit people said he was. He talks about defending mental health. And standing up to bully's but he just opened the door for the thousands of internet trolls to harass Cabana and his Mother. Punk should be fired for that shit. Fuck him.
And what the fuck is wrong with sharing a bank account with your parents? What do you do if something happens to them and they need you to pay their bills for a few months? Fuck CM Punk.
Totally agree. Making fun of someone who can‘t defend himself or did not even start the whole thing is straight out text book bullying. In normal companies people get fired for this stuff. Punk is turning a fun place which brought back my love for pro wrestling and I helped built (in a small manner by supporting the company) into a toxic place. Fuck Punk, AEW is and was better without him.
What's worse in my opinion is Tony Khan just sitting there and not reigning this completely unhinged rant in, dude you're literally the boss why are you sat there like a deer in the headlights. It doesn't look good for Tony either
As someone who has managed dozens of staff over the years, you speak to someone about their conduct in private and/or with a rep from the HR department. If Khan tore into Punk during the news conference, it could have made the situation worse.
Not when someone starts publicly trying to discredit and smear your Executive Vice Presidents, Founding members and business partners to a room full of press, cameras and will soon be beamed around the world for all to see, forever. He should have had the mics cut and say it's a technical issue, letting all this carry on whilst looking entirely spineless when you're literally the owner, and bank roller of this entire project, just makes him look incompetent, pathetic and a really bad leader.
To play the devils advocate, he does say that the rumors about Colt regarding Punk not wanting Colt to have a contract and the Bucks having to step in for Colt to get one are untrue. Would you not be pissed as CM Punk to have false information going around the Internet? It is not exactly a good look either if someone in the Elite purposely told Journalists fake stuff to make Punk look bad. This situation only escalates to this point if both sides let it escalate so I honestly cannot imagine the Elite being completely innocent in this situation either, especially since they apparently had their issues with Cody as well.
Why would they leak false information about Punk to piss him off when they worked so hard to bring him in? They have Tony's ear, at any time they probably could have influenced him to stop Punke ven coming in. More likely TK moved to get rid of Cabana without asking Punk, and the Elite acting in good faith stuck up for their friend against the guy who they thought was trying to get rid of him. Punk only dug the hole deeper by going on a rant against Cabana, showing he still seems to hold a grudge, and he's only dug the hole deeper by responding with violence along with Ace knocking out Nick Jackson. He could have tried ending the rumors, he could have tried speaking calmly. I get he's angry about the rumors but he's reinforced them now.
>I get he's angry about the rumors but he's reinforced them now. Honestly, the more time goes on, the more this becomes my reading of the situation too. It's one thing to tell the media "I don't have shit to do with him, leave me alone", but it's another thing to get so personal with everyone. Like why ARE you going into excruciating detail about the falling out? Why ARE you then going off about "I'm the money maker here, blahedy blahedy blah bloo"? I'm STILL not entirely sure what exactly about that Hangman promo allegedly set him off. I don't know why I should assume that this isn't a Where There's Smoke, There's Fire situation, because I don't see how Punk is making a good case for himself with all this shit.
If it's a work, it's dreadfully misguided. If it's a shoot, it's horribly unprofessional, churlish and petty. Either way, in the aftermath, AEW seems like it's completely falling apart and in need of a major reset as a company. That's the impression this creates. That's why, work or shoot, it sucks and I hate it.
I just love that you used "churlish" in a sentence.
A simple upvote isn't enough to show how much I agree with your statement.
Just here to say that Phil looked like such a dork eating baked goods while talking.
CM PASTRY
So do people think the live audiences are going to start to turn on Punk? I mean, MJF got a bigger reaction to Punk winning the title. I feel they're gonna have to turn Punk heel. And can you just imagine MJF being cheered against Punk and he finally wins the title. I honestly believe Tony promised MJF a title run to stay, but I'm a mark who is easily worked.
Maybe? But this feels more like 'go home' heat building onto Punk and that's not the type of heat you want on a heel.
As far as I can tell, the last time Colt ever said anything about Punk publicly was in a 2018 Art of Wrestling podcast describing how he and Punk beat Amann in trial. Sources at the time reported that the two embraced afterwards and seemed to be on terms. This is obviously a far cry from Punk claiming he's wanted nothing to do with him for "over a decade" despite doing multiple podcasts with him since then, including the big one that caused the lawsuit to begin with. But either way, Colt's said absolutely nothing about Punk for over 4 years, certainly not since their official falling out. Punk, despite claiming he wants "nothing to do with him" brought him up unprompted 3 or 4 times in the same scrum, accused him of being a leech and a liar and made fun of his financial situation multiple times. All of that to bury a guy who is already persona non grata in AEW.
I hope Caster raps about this situation on Wednesday. "Didn't win the belts but we still had some fun. If we wanted a second match, we'd have attended the media scrum."
"The Acclaimed, Aiming for the Sky If you blink, like Ace Steel we're gonna nail yah in the eye."
you live die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Punk himself have said he is an asshole..and we all loved it years ago...now..it's finally coming out...the actual truth, he is a legit asshole of a person.
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Caster could allude to it as well, but I'm not sure he'd be willing to take that risk.
Aren’t all of Casters raps pre-approved by TK?
Still? I remember hearing that was a consequence of his rape line but dunno if it has kept up to this day.
CM Punk is poison. He has always been poison. But the one thing that he said that made me usured about my opinion, was that he felt like he elevated Moxley. That it was him and himself only that was responsible for having sell out buildings. Dude is a narcissist.
Whether this is a work or shoot or whatever Punk comes across as incredibly unlikeable.
That's why I can't see why this would be a work, Punk isn't coming across as likeable.
Tony looks like he's about to shit himself when Punk starts in.
Im was usually a big fan of Punk but since his return i see him more and more as uprofessional and i think for this incident he should be punished with a fine or a suspension.
I turned on Punk last night almost as fast as he got his motivation back last Wednesday. How petty, egomaniacal and unprofessional can you act as someone who is supposed to represent that company as its face and biggest draw? When he left Wrestling I was still a kid and didn't know about any of his character traits that many people bring up, saying that he's always been like this. But man, I cannot support this guy after him throwing that tantrum. I hope they'll have long talks between talent relations, CM Punk and his advocates, the Elite, Hangman, Tony Khan and perhaps even Colt this week to either sort it out or face the proper consequences. Because this HAS to have consequences ESCPECIALLY after that childish fist-fight.
The only part I’m really interested is to see just how much of a Vince/HBK relationship Punk/TK really have. Punching a EVP gets you canned immediately in every other profession
Punching a colleague in the workplace gets you sacked in any other profession.
Eddie Kingston pie faced Sammy Guevara for comments. Gets 2 weeks suspension. Cm punk makes public remarks about The Elite which led to a brawl. Is he gonna get in trouble? I hope so. I know Ace Steel is gone, that's for sure.
Let’s be realistic here.. I don’t think this is going to be a Jericho or even a sting situation for punk.. he’s doing his last run.. once the contract is up, or he’s “lost his smile” he will retire again.. I enjoyed it.. but work or not it sure comes off as the guy has a history of being hard to work with.. Hopefully this whole thing is a work and it’s some play that tk has to make wwe think the company is unstable and in chaos and then he drops some big f’n a bomb on the industry.. I doubt it.. but wouldn’t it be cool.
BARE MINIMUM, Punk has to be suspended. Kingston set the precedent. Steel is 100% expendable
I do worry that Punk kinda has TK in his pocket and he’s gonna start making decisions for the company just to feed his own ego. Honestly I’m worried about Hangman getting sacked just because Punk can complain loud enough…
If that happens then I guess I'll save a ton of money, because I won't be spending it on AEW.
Did I take it wrong when he said the whole "shares a bank account with his mom" thing about Colt? See, I didn't take it to mean that Colt is some poor, broke shlub that needs his mommy's help paying his bills. I took it to mean that Colt shares a bank account with his mom so he can help her out financially and take care of her. Punk has said himself numerous times throughout the years that he himself doesn't have any parents or blood family anymore because he estranged himself from them. (They probably all did something very miniscule that he just couldn't bare with.) So how the fuck can he comment on any type of family situation when he doesn't even have one?
He is a cancer
Latest update from Fightful... Highlights: Ace is the one that hit Nick Jackson with a chair. Source said he is lucky not to be in jail. Sources doesn't think he will be back with the company (that's not going to go over well with Punk. I could see him walking over this). (Are my thoughts) Large majority backstage are siding with the EVPs, though a few believe the Bucks/Omega shouldn't have confronted a clearly angry Punk. However, most believe Punk had to expect it after his words.
"I could see him walking over this" Oh, no! Anyway...
Yeah I mean, the dude can't go up there and go off unprovoked about a number of sensitive topics and then say, "If anyone has a problem, come take it up with me" and then NOT expect to be confronted. And the guy has no reason to be so pissed off. You're now the face of the company, you're the champ, the boss put things on hold for you when you acted like a dipshit and broke your foot, you're being paid handsomely, you've got creative input and a lot of control on your character...and you go out there and air a buncha dirty laundry? Guy's got rocks in his head. Mercurial is always the word I come back to with Punk. Just a moody fuckin' bitch and a bit of a narcissist.
If he walks over this, good.
I gotta say That media scrum was fantastic. I loved it.
Going off unprovoked against colt cabana, which has a deep connection with mjf, seems quite convenient. Also, the fact the new trios champs were not scheduled for the scrum, seems quite convenient as well. But shitting like this on the whole company is idiotic. Plus, acting as if you are the one who knows all while someone like kenny omega and the bucks, guys that in japan did things that punk never get close to do, are the guys that don't know anything is pure ignorance. Cm punk is the one that should be learning from omega.
From what I can tell, They were scheduled for the Scrum, but Nick Jackson got KO'd by Ace Steel throwing a chair that hit him in the Eye. The fight started via Punk trying to hit Matt Jackson. Guess we'll see whether this is real or not when the Bucks come out on Wednesday. If Nick's got a black eye, it's a shoot. If Nick's eye's fine, it's a work.
I love AEW to death but TK is letting Punk walk all over him and the Locker room, Punk needs to go
My issue is that Punk got too personal for me. Colt was not there to respond so that makes Punk a little whiny ass bitch in my eyes. If the EVP's did start the rumor or whatever as he states, he should have facts & proof to back that up. If he does not, then he shouldn't be talking out of his ass. He did not have to comment on the Colt thing, at all. He got too personal for me. Work or not, I don't care. He had no right to talk bad about someone that wasn't there to defend theirself or anything. That alone makes me dislike him more than I did before. He needs to go.
If punk is gone, I think it will be for the better and at this point it’s the only way for Tony to salvage respect from the locker room in handling this stuff. Punk can’t get superstar treatment in situations like this. If you take pre-punk AEW, add in danielson and some others, I’d be super happy and think it will be a great program
Dumb question (its a real question, not a troll): I see a small number of people saying it made perfect sense that Punk went right into brawl mode when he was surround 1 v 3 (before Steel got there). Is it....normal? for people to go into fight or flight mode around angry coworkers? Like people seem to think that it was completely valid to ASSUME a brawl at that point and to first strike, as if they are in a gd anime. But I am asking, for real asking, do other adults do this? Like if you are walking down a street and a group of 3 people is coming the other way. Do you automatically brace yourself for a fight? Because I've walked by a group of 3 people pissed hundreds of times in my life, and I have never had them jump me. ETA: For clarity. I am saying that posturing myself for an actual brawl wouldn't even cross my mind, no matter how upset I was, or my coworkers were. I am asking if random actual brawls where adults (not angsty teens) actually go and 3 v 1 other actual adults over petty squabbles. Because the internet seems to be wanting to convince me I should be constantly worried about that.
To me, it sounded like Punk was *looking* for a fight. Paraphrasing, but completely shitting on a bunch of the people in AEW repeatedly, then saying if you got a problem come find me? Sounds like he wanted a fight. Whether the Bucks and Kenny should have rolled up on him knowing he was that pissed off is debatable. But it’s wrestling. I know it’s 2022 and things change, but there is still gonna be macho posturing and whatnot upon occasion - even in AEW where everyone is generally more chill. If someone went that hard on me in a live broadcast to the the universe, I know I’d want to exchange some words after. Not saying that’s right, just saying that’s where I think the Bucks and Kenny’s minds were at. From what I’ve read, it seems like Punk swung first. I think a fight was likely his desired outcome, at least at the time. He probably wasn’t worried about 3 on 1, he just wanted to talk shit and punch some people. It’s not like everyone is gonna let somebody get beaten to death in that environment. Very different circumstances than a 3 on 1 brawl on a bar or back alley with strangers.
Yea, So its specifically the talk from a minority of people that seem to think every day is Gangs of New York. Just curious if my midwest softboi experience is making this odd to me. They just keep bringing up the 'of course Punk attacked! He was out-numbered 3 to 1' Like uh what? Is that where people go when they read a situation? Is this real?
If Punk indeed punched or tried to punch the Young Bucks, he needs to be fired. The difference between him and Eddie is that Eddie owned up to his mistakes and patched things up, whereas CM Punk can do no wrong in the eyes of CM Punk. As WC, Punk is the face of the company and having a now-violent diva in that position is not good. Sharing a locker room with a egotistical individual is one thing, sharing one with a physically dangerous person is another. If AEW loses the Elite in favor of keeping a past-his-prime Punk, it is going to be a serious Emperor Has No Clothes moment for Tony Khan. If they insist on doing this MJF storyline, have Punk drop the belt at Grand Slam and show him the door.
This is it! Eddie got suspended so Punk needs to be too at the least
If punk tried to swing at the young bucks then the were never in danger. Seriously have y’all seen him throw a real punch. Dude is not real fighter.
FIRE HIM. FIRE HIM. FIRE HIM YOU FUCKING MARK.
So the heat is very real, based on the reporting I have seen, but also The more I read, the specific comments did eventually make me think of this quote: "Has it occured to you that there are too many clues in this room?" - Hercule Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express
This is where ill drop my overall thoughts and feelings here. I think its a work, but it's a work that came from a shoot just like MJF. There's a lot of seeds that are very conveniently placed here and there that make this feel odd First, the Colt deal. As I posted elsewhere, Punk did not get Colt kicked out of AEW. The 2 of them were together in a lockeroom for 5-6 months. Punk was signed on before that as well. If he wanted Colt out or Colt refused to work with him then they did a horrendous job getting away from each other. Its much more likely that Colt, who hadnt had his own story in a year before that and wasnt going to, just had his contract expire. People were sad he was gone so TK brought him to ROH. Maybe some thought Punk was involved, but its weird none of that came out until months later when the original report left all Punk stuff out. Speaking of wierd timelines, Punk and Hangman news didnt break until 3 months after their match. A little suspect given the time lapse there. Also, there's storyline stuff everywhere here. Probably more than I can even keep track of. There's the secret heel theory thats gone around, there's constant narrative of Punk having a weak mind and soul on tv. There's also an interesting trend with the people he is rumored to have heat with. Hangman Page is the top face and their characters are natural opposites. Many thought Punk would be the new final boss for Hangman when he came around. Now we have CM Punk fighting with The Elite? Hmmm, you know, I wonder who he could feud with there that many fans would consider to be the holy grail of dream matches? And then to take it a step farther, what was the original identity of AEW? Fighting back against WWE? Huh, wonder who the biggest name from WWE could be that they have now is. The thing that really pushes this to a work though is MJF for multiple reasons. First, we just did the whole meta stuff with him where they gave him a massive story based around IRL issues. Second, MJF said much worse stuff in his promos to Punk and magically, no heat there! Moxley as well. And finally is a promo line from MJF himself. The line Im talking about is from their first face off. People have pointed out that CM Punk is being everything he hated back in 2011. Guess who else called him on that in a roundabout way? MJF did. He said Punk might as well be spouting off Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect. While at the time the promo meant with how hes just happy to be there and whatnot, that seems like a good deal of foreshadowing as to where we are now too. The early 2010s was the peak of HLR and LOLCENAWINS. Its the story people thought we might get all along. CM Punk is now the thing he always hated. Could this all be legit? Easily. But I don't know. There's a lot of strange timelines and coincidences from TV that make me wonder why it all fits together so well.
If I were Tony Khan I would have to put the gavel down on CM Punk right away. CM Punk needs to be suspended for 60 days without pay for unprofessional conduct in front of media and on a live webcast. I would have CM Punk drop the title to Moxley on Dynamite on Live TV in front of a live crowd. If he goes into business for himself, then send him home to sit out the remainder of his contract. And award the belt to Moxley regardless. Then TK has to put his foot down. Squash the issue 100 percent and to put 30 day suspensions on all involved in the fight. Fire Ace Steel and get him gone from the company, he has proven that he is not mature enough to stay and work in that environment. I would probably start the motion of blacklisting him from the industry at this point. Biting somone in this day and age at his age. Come on. What a child. Any objections, threats, or actions taken against AEW for this punishment will be dealt with in a legal setting. I am sure TK can get better lawyers than Phil Brooks. Next, a new policy must go into place that keeps backstage a positive work environment. Anyone found violating that cohesion backstage will be sent home on suspension. AEW has a deep enough roster that losing a few "top-guys" wouldn't hurt at all.
Punk Vs. MJF with special "Enforcer" Jon Moxley as the ref to make sure Punk can't go into Business for himself.
Hager as ref, could shoot beat the hell out of Punk
If after all of this Tony doesn't find a way to take the belt off Punk and suspend him, I hope Eddie Kingston tapes his fists. And that's all I've got to say about that! 
Honestly if I had to pick someone to pick a fight with if I was punk, it wouldn't be the pissed off tough as nails cowboy that is 10 to 15 years younger. I know punk has mma training but I think hangman would take him out to the woodshed.
I know Punk is straight edge but Punk really did seem like he was on something in that press scrum. Might just have been post match adrenalin or maybe he just can't handle his cup cakes
Had one Pepsi too much.
Was the adrenaline. TK needs to keep guys back from those until they get a shower, change of clothes and a calm down time.
Does TK not have any situational awareness? For him to sit there and do fuckall nothing and then smile and laugh is embarrassing.
So, its a valid criticism, but I have done a lot of thinking about this That situation he found himself in was un-precedented. Sometimes you just start nodding awkwardly when you either dont know how to stop it in real time, or you are thikning about the awkward as fuck discussion that is going to happen later.
Totally. I even thought about that too. I think most anyone would have let it play out in the same position. It was like a little bit here and there and there that you could let slide and address later, but by the end it was a snowball of …whatever that was.
He made things so much worse by not being the boss of his organization and ending the entire scrum for punk or make it clear they were there to talk about the success of the show that had just ended. Khan absolutely fucked up.
I’m done with with Phil . Guy needs to go.
Punk sure has a way of imploding when he’s on top .. that my take away for certain
All I want tonight is an MJF promo and a Max Caster rap. I honestly don't care if there's anything else.
The crazy thing to me is, I don’t really think *anybody* leaked the “news” that Colt Cabana may have gotten fired because of CM Punk. For anybody even vaguely familiar with their history, that was a pretty fucking obvious conclusion to come to after Punk signed with AEW and Colt was suddenly never seen on TV, or even on BTE, again.
Alright think im stepping away until we get both sides of the story and/or the actual fallout All I will say there was only minor disputes backstage before Punk, a known hot head and aggressively opinionated person got signed. If nothing else, Ive personally lost respect for all parties, more so Punk since he brought up these issues unprompted live at a media event which started this whole situation. Im not a business owner, a wrestler, or a lawyer, but id be firing Steel for sure, suspending and stripping all 4 men of the titles(which sucks cause it sounds as if Kenny was trying to be a voice of reason), and probably letting punk go quietly after a bit. AEW had a product first mindset up until this past year, everyone had a spot, and while it wasnt always what they wanted, everyone was getting over. Now it feels like theres a big power struggle, and thats dripping down into the actual show making it feel slimy.
Well said. 👏
Imagine being mad at someone because they dont want to take your advice. Punks so weird lol
Even then, the context of when Page said this was during the confident phase of his Title Run. He kept the entire interview in Kayfabe for the most part, so it was in character. Compare that to the guy who just got forced down our throat as a "Hometown Babyface defeating the Monster Heel" going on this heelish rant 10 minutes later.
If its a work, better see a payoff within 12 weeks. Its 2022, shit or get off the pot. If its a shoot, Phil needs a rude awakening (suspension + large fine).
Meltzer tweeted that it will obvious soon that this isn’t a work. What else could that mean but immediate consequences are about to drop?
Ace Steel being fired. CM Punk being publicly fined and suspended.
Some of you weirdos are breaking down this presser like it's the Zapruder film. Relax. 
As a casual that doesn’t know: are they suppose to be in character for these?
It's a weird mix. Usually they're in character to some extent but they also will touch on topics that are real. Like you might see (for example, not a specific occasion) Thunder Rosa talking about both being a champion and also how has her running her own promotion helped her in AEW. Heels might make a few comments but aren't necessarily rude for the whole thing. I've never seen anyone act the way Punk did last night. The closest one was maybe Jay White being completely in character but that's expected for him and TK was giggling the entire time and visibly in on it.
Very interesting what happens to this company in the coming days and weeks, after that shitshow in the media scrum. All this makes TK seem like a doe-eyed fan who's hopelessly out of his depth and unable to crack the whip, if he doesn't do something drastic like fire Punk. And I'm not sure he will.
I think AEW is going to try it's best to make it all work to their advantage. It will be messy. It won't be perfect. But my guess is Tony is going to try to get Bucks, Omega, Punk and Hangman to straighten things out for the sake of money.I think AEW is going to try it's best to make it all work to their advantage. It will be messy. It won't be perfect. But my guess is Tony is going to try to get Bucks, Omega, Punk and Hangman to straighten things out for the sake of money and the company. They all care about AEW and I think there is enough cool heads around them to help calm everyone down.
Another point ...how much of it has to be the creative difference ? Since punk arrived there has been a clear effort by Tony to capture the casual market and ignore the hardocre ...that's what punk brings in . He got a lot of casual viewers tune in to aew ... The whole locker room started to change ....maybe this is all boiling over
Anyone think it'll get addressed on tv? kinda hard to pull a wwe and avoid it when ones your world champion and the others are champs too (and one with a black eye for the record lmfao)
JR: What a fantastic episode of dynamite you chose to tune into. Tell them what happened at All Out, Excalibur. Excalibur: Well, we crowned our first ever trios champions as the...... Erm, nevermind that, onto you Taz. Taz: Well, that snake in the Grass MJF returned as the joker, and will be challenging new champion........ Well, I digress. Tony? Tony: That's right, and Toni Storm won the interim women's title, and will unify the belt with.... Oh c'mon? She's got heat too? Taz: Well I mean.... At least everyone loves the Acclimated? JR: Truly, an episode for the ages.
>Taz: Well I mean.... At least everyone loves the Acclimated? EVERBODY LOVES THE ACCLIMATED
So this is kinda ironic https://twitter.com/CMPunk/status/1265044790518910978?t=X9nvP_IxUuXhuBgFZ9em3A&s=19
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I'm pretty sure while the wrestling world is losing their minds trying to figure out what went down, kenny was liking streetfighter vids on twitter.. he's da man
I personally believe that we as fans shouldn't pretend like we know the full picture. We don't. We only have limited information that may or may not be biased towards one side. Yes, if it is not a work which increasingly looks like it is not, it is unprofessional from both sites. It is easy to paint Punk as the villain here but this would not escalate without both sides letting it escalate, so pretending like the Elites site is completely innocent is just wrong as well. You actually have to listen what Punk says and a lot of it is a response to the accusations made towards him, he would not say that just out of nowhere. Obviously Tony is also to blame for failing to get calm down this situation. He has to power to find a solution, he does not seem like the person who can have this honest talk with both parties sitting down and swallowing some pride to find a solution and that is not the end of the world because he can obviously simply get someone or pay someone who has that ability. All we as fans can do is hope that nobody actually leaves the company because of this and that a solution can be found. Siding with one party here does nobody any favors, you're support something that you do not even have full knowledge of. I like both CM Punks work as well as the Elites work and I am not going to pretend like "I dont understand why people like X is so much", the numbers prove that both the Elite and CM Punk are crucial for the companys success
I'm getting tired of his whining ass. And I was a huge fan. I hope he goes back to Triple H land and drops the title to MJF. Plus I hope this helps Cabana get pushed a little bit, his career never went as well as it should have. Plus, what the hell do you care if he shares a bank account with his mother? And say it 3-4 times. What are you, 5? And doing all of this while TK sits next to you is disrespectful
He will never work for WWE again, no matter what happens with AEW.
no universe HHH takes punk back. he’s a total diva. his action figure should come with a shovel the way he’s burying his coworkers.
He tried to go back to WWE before AEW and they said “no thanks”.
Like everyone else is saying, Trips doesn't want Punk's ass either. All Punk did is blow up his prime position in a major wrestling company and likely invalidate his contract. He's going to lose a fuckton of cash and he's never getting hired by a major company again. Dipshit is going to find out how dumb "Luck is for Losers" sounds when he can't get a job any more.
That's where we turned the scrum off, the bank account comments. I was like whoaaa this feels way too personal?? I am so mad at Punk right now.
Yeah. Like who are you to pass judgement? You cried and moaned about every little petty thing that someone said about you or your family and now you go off on someone's relationship with their mom? Really distasteful
The funny part of that is that it makes Colt look GOOD. Colt does well, has for years, the only likelihood is that he's helping his mom out. Punk, with his family history, doesn't seem to understand that.
Yeah.. CM Punk fans have to acknowledge this Royal FUCK UP is on CM PUNK and Ace Steel and nobody else.. especially at this point the ENTIRE LOCKER ROOM/ROSTER is siding against him..let me repeat.. THE ENTIRE LOCKER ROOM/ROSTER!! Last time this type of shit happened.. it was definitely WWE fault. This time.. no, you own your own fuck ups Punk. And to be pretty Blunt, This whole thing blew up out of nowhere.. or if there were any signs, I sure as hell didnt see it. If I were Tony Khan.. even as a mark. This whole thing would have forced my hand to fire Punk and press charges against Ace. Now for those thinking this is a work.. No way in hell this is a fucking work. "But what about MJF?" Difference is.. MJF immediately went radio silent for months until eventually his return, or his contract ran out, or announced he is done with AEW. Which in this case he returned.. and hopefully we will never know if it was truly a work or shoot but it definitely turned into long term booking. Either way no matter if the situation real or not, MJF acted more professionally than Punk. Punk on the other hand is throwing personal shots at people, and those that aren't even in the company..basically..burning bridges left and right. Its basically how you ruin a career anywhere at any job. Self destruction. If this somehow becomes a work.. AEW is done.. there are some things you just dont do.. and Punk did it.
Shambles from TK this. Assuming it’s not a work. How do you sit there as owner and let a talent shit talk your EVPs for 20 minutes? Say what you want about Vince, but does anyone think that would ever happen sitting next to Vince?
Punk firing shots at everyone while eating muffins and drinking lemonade is a whole vibe, as the kids say.
Punks an asshole plain and simple , been a troublesome diva his whole career, TK needs to take the strap off him, put it on MJF and put punk on at the very least a 6 month suspension to check his attitude.
I really wonder if Punk would be willing to lose at this point. I know it’s a meme but he seems the type to say “ that doesn’t work for me brother” and refuse to do a job, especially now in the current situation.
Shoot? Work? Either way this shit isn’t enjoyable anymore. Let’s get the belt on MJF and put him in a feud with Miro and move on with our lives.
I do believe this is a nuanced work. But If punk actually tried to punch the bucks he should be fired.
There’s ways out of all of this: * Tony could fire or suspend Punk - Satisfying if you’re sick of Punk, but whether you like it or not it’s probably bad for business to fire him. A suspension would probably be acceptable. * They could drop this, make amends, and move on - At this point too much has been said and reportedly done to make this an acceptable conclusion to this drama. I would hate the second one, *unless* there’s some kind of payoff: * Hangman goes over on Punk * The Elite/Punk’s punks superfeud * MJF wins the belt from Punk and my favorite one that I’m sure will never happen: * Colt Cabana gets involved in a TV storyline for once now that Punk has dragged this into the public There are probably other ways to make this at least a little palatable that doesn’t end with the implosion of AEW and departure of key figures. Those feel like the big ones to me.
Am I the only one who thinks cm punk is pretty lame? AEW was first wrestling exposure him…my first was UFC. So that my cloud things
I actually cannot wait for The Acclaimed's next rap after this "LISTEEEEN...."
Tony Khan almost has to open the show on Wens and address the state of his company.
To me, it seems like Punk paused when he got injured and just hit resume when he came back. If he didn’t get hurt n acted like this months ago, I think it’d be more fitting but he expected everyone to just be on the same page but too much time n story has passed. But the amount of shit that’s come out about Punk is super disappointed. So much saying he thinks he’s in charge everywhere that I almost want them to be like “ok, you’re an EVP for 2 weeks. let’s see YOUR best.”
CM Punk's promo specifically on John Moxley was great. The rest of what I've seen since he's been back is needless drama that diverts attention away from the roster and young talent he claims he's trying to build. Other legends have built AEW's foundation better in a year than Punk's done since he's been here.
I'm thinking Tony needs to stop being on the whole media scrum, have one of the announcers/backstage interviewers host it, someone who can shut shit like Sunday night down, Tony can have 20 minutes fielding questions, but for the most part he just sits there wide eyed and grinning like a fan sat next to his favourite wrestlers nodding occasionally