More on CM Punk, Ace Steel, Young Bucks, & Kenny Omega Backstage Fight & WWE Reaction

AEW

Sep 6, 2022

More on Backstage Fight at AEW’s All Out 2022

As noted before, CM Punk, the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Ace Steel were involved in a backstage fight following AEW’s All Out 2022 event this past Sunday.

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that based on those spoken to, it is currently not known who actually started the fight. Some people spoken to stated that it was Punk who started it shortly after the Young Bucks entered the room while others stated that it was the Young Bucks who were the aggressors and Punk and Steel were simply defending themselves. Meltzer and Alvarez also reported that they have not been able to get confirmation over this issue due to all of those who were in the room during the fight have been prevented from speaking out due to legal issues over the incident. Meltzer speculated that should AEW fire Steel over his involvement in the brawl, it is possible Punk will want to walk out of the company due to Steel being his longtime friend and trainer.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Omega did not get physical with Punk during the fight and Steel’s wife was in the vicinity of the fight due to her taking care of Punk’s dog backstage at the time. Those same sources also stated that AEW CEO Tony Khan was not present backstage due to him still being involved in the post-show media scrum. Similar to Meltzer and Alvarez, Johnson reported that his sources also stated that the backstage reaction to the fight was mixed with some siding with Punk and others siding with the Young Bucks and Omega. Johnson also reported that neither FTR, who are friends with Punk, nor Hangman Adam Page, who is friends with the Young Bucks, were backstage during the fight due to they had left the venue shortly after the event ended.

Fightful Select reported that those spoken to stated that they currently expect Steel to be fired over his involvement in the fight and he is lucky to not be in jail over his actions. One source spoken to stated that while they were not sure what happened backstage “it couldn’t have possibly escalated to hitting someone with a chair.”

WWE Backstage Reaction Over Backstage Fight at AEW’s All Out 2022 Event

Fightful Select reported that at least one WWE talent spoken to initially felt that the CM Punk backstage fight incident was one of the most elaborate works they have ever seen and later was surprised to learn it was a real fight instead. One top WWE talent spoken to stated that they believe that the Punk they knew of from years ago is being highlighted over this incident. Both of these talents reportedly also stated that they were confused why Khan did not comment after Punk publicly bashed the EVPs nor provided clarity over the people who helped launch the company with him during the media scrum.

Another talent spoken to stated that “You can’t expect a lot of people here to have a lot of positive things to say about Punk, and I think he’s aware of that and has probably come to peace with it. I feel like he’s trying to run things there, and it looks like he’s doing it.” One longtime talent spoken to stated that they felt Punk’s actions were unprofessional and don’t believe he’s the company man or leader he makes himself out to be. This same person also called Punk “selfish and arrogant” which reportedly was a similar view by other WWE talents spoken to.

One WWE official spoken to stated that they agreed with Khan’s earlier statements about wrestlers not liking each other was not bad for wrestling. This same person reportedly also stated that in situations like Punk and The Elite’s backstage incident, power needed to have been asserted in order to let everyone know what is not tolerated. This same person reportedly also stated that similar backstage incidents did not happen as often in WWE due to talent knew that if they did it while Vince McMahon was there, they probably were not going to be welcomed back and instead be fired, as was the case with Alberto Del Rio.