CM Punk’s brief two-year run with All Elite Wrestling ended in controversy. The former WWE champion explained his side by ripping into AEW founder Tony Khan.
Then, all hell broke loose behind the scenes.
Punk reportedly had several backstage incidents while with AEW. He had a physical altercation withJack Perryand even beefed with the company’s co-founder, Tony Khan.
Khan claimed that he “feared for his life” over comments made by Punk, to which Punk has vehemently denied making any threats of that nature.
These run-ins eventually led to a less-than-amicable split between the two parties.
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani onThe MMA Hour, Punk pulled back the curtains and explained his side of things.
CM Punk says AEW is “not a real business” and explains why.▶️https://t.co/blBMtV599e#TheMMAHourpic.twitter.com/4TWBv61htA
“I know a lot of people are going to be upset; it’s just not a real business,” Punk said.
“It’s not about selling tickets; it’s not about drawing money. It’s not about making money, it’s just not.”
Punk thenwent at Khan’s leadership, “He’s not a boss. He’s a nice guy. And I think, ultimately, that is a detriment to the company.”
Helwani then asked about thefuture of AEW. Punk claims it will always exist “as long as Tony [Khan] wants to put money into it.”
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It was an eye-opening interview for professional wrestling fans, as the details of Punk’s abrupt departure from AEW were largely kept under wraps.
Punk has since returned to the WWE to much acclaim. He is currently recovering from a torn triceps suffered during this year’s Royal Rumble match.
But Punk haspromised the WWE Universethat he will appear in some capacity at Wrestlemania XL, even though doctors will not clear him to compete.
Hunter Haas was a Senior Sports Writer at Dexerto. Over the last two years he has worked as a writer and editor for FanSided at NFLMocks. He also served as an editor at The Raider Ramble and The Blue Stable. Hunter is an expert in all things MMA, WWE, and NFL.
You can email him here: hunter.haas@dexerto.com
