On Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, The Young Bucks showcased footage of the backstage confrontation involving CM Punk and Jack Perry at the “All In” event in September.
The footage capturing Punk shoving Perry resulted in Punk’s termination from the company for cause, according to an AEW statement issued at the time. The AEW Discipline Committee, after conducting an investigation and consulting with external legal counsel, unanimously recommended to AEW owner Tony Khan that Punk be terminated with cause.
In early April, Punk, who has since returned to WWE and was scheduled to headline Wrestlemania before sustaining a triceps injury at Royal Rumble, appeared on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast. He openly shared his sentiments regarding AEW and Tony Khan’s decision to keep him and The Young Bucks on separate shows.
During the podcast, Punk revealed that Khan’s plan to separate everyone into different shows was not feasible. He expressed a desire to leave AEW and emphasized that the company did not want him there. Punk criticized AEW, stating that it did not prioritize making money or conducting business effectively, contrary to what he had been led to believe.
Regarding the incident with Perry, Punk explained that the issue arose when Perry wanted to smash a rental car window with a bat at a “Collision” match, despite objections from the on-site doctor and other individuals in the promotion. When Punk intervened and advised against the idea, Perry complied. However, during “All In,” Perry slammed Hook into a car windshield and taunted the camera with “Real glass, cry me a river,” which Punk interpreted as a provocation. Punk approached Khan to address the situation, but Khan did not respond. Consequently, Punk confronted Perry directly, questioning his decision to incorporate such actions into the show.
Reportedly, Perry responded, “If you have a problem, take action,” and the rest unfolded as history.
“I believed I handled it responsibly,” Punk shared with Helwani. “I didn’t resort to violence. I just restrained him momentarily. I turned to Tony (Khan) and said, ‘This organization is a mess. You’re a joke. I resign.'”
While Punk’s discontent with AEW and The Young Bucks was widely known, “All In” marked the definitive breaking point.