Pro Wrestling Discussion

[Love Buzz]

Punk could have no sold him instead of exasperating the situation. I get defending yourself but apparently Punk was the aggressor over some stupid glass line Perry said during the before show which stemmed from something else a week or two before. Perry got what he deserved there and then during the spot. He got cut up on an arm from the glass and was clearly a bit worried about it as he was checking it multiple times. If Perry is adamant about being a tough guy to prove whatever then let him cut himself up. Presumably Punk is trying to be the leader as the veteran attempting to let him know we're not actually trying to hurt ourselves or others.

If Tony knew they were going back next year, why the heck not give Saraya the title win then, after making us give a darn first.

[Lonewolf]

I don't want to get into a pissing contest, but I tend (slightly) to side with Punk.

Perry is a nothing and never will be. You don't need real glass (and the risk of injury... ask Bill Goldberg about what glass can do to the human body) to tell a story, even in the puzzle palace that is AEW.

Clearly, Tony Khan has no clue how to deal with his employees.

Then again, Punk's not the easiest or friendliest guy out there, and he IS the common denominator in the interpersonal conflicts in AEW.

But I only slightly side with Punk, as his best days are behind him, and he does get (seemingly) that his role these days is that of a gatekeeper, to get other guys over... which Perry and Adam Page are the polar opposite of... they are trying to get themselves over.

At the end of the day, whose side you're on is not as much of an issue as that Tony is incapable of playing Whack-a-Mole with these conflicts, and if he doesn't take decisive action, regardless of who pays the price, AEW will implode under its collective stupidity.

[Lonewolf]

AEW terminates CM Punk's contract with cause

The company has terminated its relationship with Punk effective immediately.

AEW has terminated CM Punk's contract following a week-long investigation over an altercation with Jack Perry last weekend at All In.

The company released the following statement Saturday afternoon:

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has terminated the wrestler and employment agreements between Phillip Brooks (CM Punk) and AEW with cause, effective immediately. The termination was confirmed today by Tony Khan, CEO, General Manager, and Head of Creative of AEW.

The termination follows a weeklong internal investigation of an incident occurring back stage at AEW - All In London on Sunday, August 27. Following the investigation, the AEW Discipline Committee met and later convened with outside legal counsel before making a unanimous recommendation to Khan that CM Punk be terminated with cause.

Khan offered the following statement:

“Phil played an important role within AEW and I thank him for his contributions. The termination of his AEW contracts with cause was ultimately my decision, and mine alone. Of course, I wish I did not have to share this news, which may come as a disappointment to many of our fans. Nevertheless, I am making the decision in the best interests of the many amazing people who make AEW possible every week - our talent, staff, venue operators, and others whose efforts are unsung but essential to bringing our great shows on television and at arena and stadiums throughout the world.”

Punk and Perry had an altercation shortly after Punk wrestled Samoa Joe at All In in Wembley Stadium. The two reportedly had the altercation over a comment Perry made during the match about the limo he and Hook were wrestling around having real glass, something Punk and Perry had previously had a conversation over after Punk rejected Perry using real glass during a segment for AEW Collision.

Signing with AEW in 2021, Punk held the AEW World Championship twice during his run with the company. After being gone since September 2022 following both a triceps injury and a backstage altercation with The Elite, Punk returned to AEW in June for the debut episode of Collision, a show he regularly appeared on.

source: f4wonline.com

[Love Buzz]

Khan has some committee who decide for him but then he decides based on their decision? Sounds like clown world and a bunch of pointless jobs. They had security footage, it's pretty obvious Perry took aim at Punk with the remark, despite claiming not. The two are at equal blame but because Punk presumably went too far, with far not really being described properly, he goes and Perry gets let off despite knowing exactly what he was doing. The altercation isn't being accurately described as everyone apparently had blurred jet lag red eye vision and the security cameras are 144p res. Heck someone else may have told Perry it'd be funny or cool to even spout the remark and even Punk having to take public transport to the stadium. Everything feels like he was set up. While that sounds far-fetched, I wouldn't entirely rule it out.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Love Buzz

Khan has some committee who decide for him but then he decides based on their decision? Sounds like clown world and a bunch of pointless jobs.

I wonder if "the committee" consisted of the EVPs?

Originally Posted by Love Buzz

Heck someone else may have told Perry it'd be funny or cool to even spout the remark and even Punk having to take public transport to the stadium. Everything feels like he was set up. While that sounds far-fetched, I wouldn't entirely rule it out.

Was thinking the same thing.

In the end, Tony sided with the children, costing the company any chance to overtake the WWE (like they were going to anyway), and increase their TV ratings. IMO, TK's decision reaffirmed my belief that AEW is simply a vanity project, and not a contender. When we look back, that after AEW is dead and buried, this is where the end began.

In fact, if one looks hard enough, we can see some parallels to what brought WCW down... a guy in charge throwing money at people, lots of backstage drama, a guy who wants to be buddies with the talent, and giving talent too much power... and even some with TNA, and where Dixie Carter failed.

AEW, long ago, became the Roller Jam of pro wrestling, and this episode confirmed it. I'm done with them.

[Love Buzz]

The fact that there are about five different versions of what happened circulating is completely ridiculous. Journalistic integrity got replaced with publish this as quick as you can so we beat our competitors to it.

If Tony was directly involved, why did he need a committee to tell him anything. I guess it's possible he had a headset on, maybe his back was turned so he was blind to the whole altercation, and only was made aware when Punk charged over catching him off guard. So then it seemed he was being more aggressive than he actually was than if Tony had seen the entire thing. Vaguely mentioning that he was scared for his safety though, does he get satisfaction from those speculating, why not give the explanation. Seems he values any publicity at all for his promotion except when wrestlers get injured or they ask to be released.

I can see Punk possibly showing up at Survivor Series in Chicago to challenge Roman at the Rumble, heck might be even quicker and they have a match there, or maybe just as a surprise entrant in the Rumble match.

I wonder if Edge will find his way there to be the new Saturday guy. EVPs will probably like him since they worship the Hardys or will this all put him off since he's veteran status and he might accidentally give someone some legit advice.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Love Buzz

I can see Punk possibly showing up at Survivor Series in Chicago to challenge Roman at the Rumble, heck might be even quicker and they have a match there, or maybe just as a surprise entrant in the Rumble match.

Everybody seems to think that's his next stop, but I don't see it... not with the heat he has with HHH (and Vince, to a lesser extent). He doesn't need the money, so he says, so does he need the headache?

[Love Buzz]

I can see it. Triple H has a pacemaker, if that doesn't keep him level and thinking only for the company, I don't know what will. Vince is hardly gonna be there as far as I can tell with all the shit that's happened to him and will likely be more reserved.

Punk will likely have the part time easier schedule and already has connections with Endeavor. He was already there for ages and I don't recall any altercations other than towards the end when he clearly was overly frustrated. I don't see that frustration this time with time off and presumably whatever opponents he wants. Heck even Cornette said he thinks Punk will go there for two years.

edit-

Even found a 2019 article on it.

http://ibtimes.com/wwe-rumors-triple-h-willing-bury-hatchet-cm-punk-if-needed-2839236

http://fightful.com/wrestling/triple-h-reveals-he-talked-cm-punk-less-two-years-ago-says-punk-has-have-desire-return

And apparently they shook hands backstage at a Raw in Chicago not too long ago at all.

CM Punk was backstage at last night’s RAW at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.

Punk reportedly asked if he could stay backstage for a few minutes and he wanted to speak to Triple H privately.

According to Fightful Select, Triple H was shocked to see Punk at a WWE event after 9 years.

HHH said he’d have to ask Vince McMahon to see if Punk could stay backstage, and soon he was informed that isn’t possible. Punk then shook Triple H’s hand before leaving.

That last bit sounds a bit eh but at least they're willing to look at each other.

[talltrekkie]

I feel like I said this 3 years ago, but a big question on WWE's side is can they make money off it. The change now is it would just be a return to WWE and not to wrestling in general so the dynamic is different.

There are almost certainly are WWE fans who know nothing about AEW and could get hyped on a CM Punk return but it's equally likely those fans don't know who CM Punk is in the first place.

And based on crowd reactions from this weekend, I'm not sure how many of the 'lapsed WWE fans' like me they would draw back in.

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by talltrekkie

I feel like I said this 3 years ago, but a big question on WWE's side is can they make money off it. The change now is it would just be a return to WWE and not to wrestling in general so the dynamic is different.

Cornette (I think) has already speculated about a possible Punk / Cody Rhodes feud...

Punk is 44, has become injury-prone in the last few years, and has burned bridges with the two big feds (although, as seen above, the WWE is a possibility)... does he WANT to do this anymore? Maybe he goes to MLW to put some of their guys over, or maybe he does some one-shots for NJPW. But Punk / HHH I see as a Bischoff / McMahon type thing... and look what happened with that.

My guess is he's done as an active wrestler. I'm probably wrong, but if I'm looking at the end of his tenure in AEW, would I want to go back to a big fed again?