AEW: Eddie Kingston, Tony Schiavone, & Cody Rhodes Responds to CM Punk’s AEW Comments, Matt Cardona on AEW Surprise Appearance, More News

Apr 4, 2024

Eddie Kingston, Tony Schiavone, & Cody Rhodes Responds to CM Punk’s Very Negative Comments Towards AEW

As noted before, CM Punk gave very negative comments directed towards AEW during his interview on this past Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani show. Among the negative comments included Punk claiming that AEW is not a “real business” due to their focus towards in-ring wrestling and that Tony Khan is a nice guy but not a “real boss.”

In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Eddie Kingston was asked for his thoughts about CM Punk’s recent negative comments about AEW. Kingston stated:

“You know what I’m more concerned about? I’m not gonna front, are the people who lost their jobs (at AEW). Honestly. That’s what I’m more worried about. I’m more worried about Dasha (Kuret) and I’m more worried about Anthony Henry and Stu Grayson and others who got — sorry if I didn’t mention y’all names, no disrespect but I’m worried about them. My heart goes out to them, so I know how it feels to lose a job. Not just that, I mean a job. Either way you look at this, wrestling or not, it’s still a job and that’s how you feed yourself and your family. My heart goes out to them. That’s what I’m more concerned about, than what Phil said. Because the people that got let go, did work for us and now they have to find another way to make ends meet and that’s what concerns me more. Whether I knew them, because some I knew very well, some I didn’t. Still, my heart goes out to them. I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying it’s wrong. What I am saying, it’s the business. People get hired and fired daily. It’s just part of it but still, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t leave me heartbroken that some of the people like Dasha, that I won’t see every week, that I loved seeing every week, who put a smile on my face every week I saw her. That’s what I’m more concerned about… I care. I care about that more. That’s it.
And? (Kingston responded when asked for his thoughts about CM Punk’s remarks about AEW) He don’t work for us. I don’t give a f*ck. Honestly, honestly, he don’t work for AEW, so I don’t care. That’s it, I’m not even mad. If it sounds like I’m mad, it’s just the way I talk (he laughed). But no, I don’t care. I know other people do but I really don’t give a f*ck because he doesn’t work for AEW. That’s the way I look at it. If he worked for AEW and did that, then I might feel a certain way, for a little bit and then I would just let it go and go, welp, that’s Phil being Phil. Can’t control him, that’s his thing. He ain’t me and I ain’t him, so, but he doesn’t. So I don’t care what he does.”

In a recent episode of the What Happened When with Tony Schiavone podcast, co-host Schiavone also gave his thoughts about CM Punk’s recent comments.

“Did he have a couple of stories about me? Jungle Boy, right? [Thompson notes that Punk brought Schiavone up but not in a negative way.] You know what? I really don’t give a shit about it. I’m not gonna get into this. I know what he said, and let him continue to talk if he wants. That’s all I got. Look, okay, I don’t give a shit. That’s all I can say. I can’t get into that. It would be stupid for me to get into that. I had no idea what he said, with the exception of someone told me, ‘Oh, he brought up your name, and here’s what he said.’ I went, ‘So what?’ So fucking what? [Thompson says Punk was not critical of him] I know. That’s why I’m saying, ‘So what?’ If he was critical of me, people would say, ‘Oh, Schiavone on his podcast [wanted to] defend himself.’ I have nothing to defend. Let’s move on.”

Wednesday’s episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani show featured Cody Rhodes giving his thoughts about CM Punk’s comments and if he held a similar negative view of AEW during his time in the company.

That’s his assessment. It’s not my assessment. It’s important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me, Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie, Brandi, Dana, and Chris. I name all these people because I was in those meetings. As much as the internet will try to spin a narrative one way. If one of those people had not been at that start-up level, the company would not have happened. I am so proud of what was created. I am so insanely proud of what it does for the industry overall, for wrestlers and their well-being, and their ability to feed their families. I have an unbelievable love for so many people in that locker room, including the Bucks and Kenny. We’re bonded forever over this thing that we did. It’s not my assessment. In my time there, the infrastructure was just being built up. We were trying new things and doing new things. It was a start-up company. A big-time start-up company, but a start-up company. I wish them nothing but the best.
I don’t think I foresaw any of those issues. I did kind of predict, it was unrelated to those guys, but I do remember predicting that there were going to be certain guys who had been there, who wanted to wave the banner, ‘Hey, you’ve not been here,’ and then brand new guys, you always need fresh blood, like Punk coming back to WWE is a great call. I think those always would mesh. I just think what happened there is a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication. You will see on indies and wrestlers that aren’t properly trained. I’m not talking about bullying etiquette, but you do need to have a little old school in you to know the collaborativeness of what this is. I think they were ships in the night. I love Matt, Nick, and Kenny, and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m happy for everyone involved. I think it was a ships in the night thing. I wasn’t there though.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com, Fightful.com 1 & 2

Matt Cardona Comments on Process Leading to His Surprise Appearance at March 30th AEW Collision Show

As noted before, Matt Cardona made a surprise appearance at this past Saturday’s AEW Collision show in London, Ontario, Canada. Cardona was revealed to be the mystery challenger for Adam Copeland’s Cope Open match for his TNT Championship.

A recent episode of The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast featured co-host Cardona giving his thoughts about his recent AEW appearance and the process that led to it happening.

“I made my Collision debut this Saturday. I had to switch some things around. Originally, I was supposed to wrestle Ultimo Dragon on Saturday. Instead, I defended my Squared Circle Expo Title against Ziggler, aka Nemeth, on Friday. Lost the [title], Squared Circle Expo Screwjob. I said, ‘That’s it. I’m out of here. I’m taking a flight to Detroit to get a rental car to drive to London, Ontario,’ and that’s exactly what I did …
I heard there was a Cope Open. Adam Copeland, a mentor of mine. I’m a former Edgehead. I heard he had an open challenge, a Cope Open, defending that TNT Championship. I said, you know want? I’m Alwayz ready. I was leaving the Squared Circle Expo anyway because of the Screwjob. I said, ‘I think if I get on a flight from Indianapolis to Detroit, rent a car, even though nationals can’t drop it off in Canada, I’ll just like and say I’m dropping off in Detroit still, I’ll cross the border, drive to London, Ontario, sneak into the building, and then put a black tarp over my body and walk to Gorilla. I think that’s what I’m gonna do.’ That’s exactly what I did …
I got to have my dream match, my literal dream match, against Adam Copeland. Edge versus Edgehead, Rated-R Superstar versus Self-Made Superstar. Holy shit, it was a wild 24 hours, but one of my careee highlights. It’s crazy, it just happened like that, and it’s already up there on that list.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

AEW News & Notes

AEW recently released a new episode of their Johnny Loves Taya romcom series featuring Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie on their official YouTube channel.

As noted before, The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate) were among ten talents released by AEW this past Monday. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that The Boys had 16 months left in their contracts prior to their releases. Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that The Boys and other releases were not due to larger financial cutbacks but instead simply due to AEW officials wanting to do a reorganization of how they are utilizing the roster and not wanting to keep talents from other potential opportunities. Johnson reported that AEW officials have kept the door open for any of those released to potential be brought back in the future.

Besides The Boys, Gravity was also among the talents released by AEW this past Monday. Gravity recently reflected on Twitter about his time in AEW and his release from the company. Gravity stated “I just can said thank you @aew and thank you Mr. @tonyrkhan for this time in the company! I am grateful for the moments I was able to experience being within the company and for all the learning I took away! It’s time to continue my path and see what destiny has for me!“

Anthony Henry was also among those released by AEW this past Monday. Henry initially responded to his release teasing him potentially retiring from wrestling but provided an update on Wednesday on Twitter stating that he wants to wrestle in Japan. Henry stated “Maybe I’ll start a world tour myself upon returning. However, the number 1 goal is to go to Japan. It alwaus has been. There are numerous promotions doing great stuff, and I want in. @noahglobal @alljapan_pw @LIDET_ENT @ddtpro“

In a recent interview with The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani show, CM Punk gave his thoughts about his feud with MJF being the best thing he did during his time in AEW. Punk stated “I think it’s head and shoulders above everything else.” Punk also gave his thoughts about if MJF can become a major star in the wrestling industry. Punk stated “Yeah, the talent there is unbelievable. I just think it’s presentation and environment. I think MJF is great and where he wasn’t great is when he catered to that small niche internet audience. There is levels. If that’s their audience. Go for it.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a now deleted tweet, Trent Beretta stated this past Monday on Twitter that “unfortunately con men make great babyfaces.” This tweet was posted following CM Punk’s interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani show that featured Punk giving very negative comments directed at AEW in general, AEW CEO Tony Khan, and others in the company.

In a recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast, Bully Ray gave his thoughts about CM Punk’s recent interview that was very dismissive of AEW as a business and claimed that he also had interacted with Jack Perry backstage at AEW’s All In event and Perry was disrespectful towards him. Ray stated “This is a snot-nosed kid problem. This is a punk-ass kid problem, and I believe every single last word that (CM) Punk is saying about Jack Perry because I had my own incident with Jack Perry in England a year ago and there wasn’t really an incident because if there was an incident, Jack Perry wouldn’t be around anymore. Jack Perry, came off, to me, like a very disrespectful young wrestler. Especially when I went out of my way to introduce myself to him and extend my hand with a smile on my face and I was treated like a young boy by Jack Perry. Blown off, disregarded, and I see you (David LaGreca) shaking your head right now and as God is my witness, should the good Lord strike me down with lightning, I’m telling you the truth. So when I hear these stories about a Jack Perry, like Punk saying he carried himself and he disrespected when he wasn’t listening to an authority figure like the doctor or he wasn’t listening to an authority figure like Tony Schiavone or anybody else, I believe them, because I witnessed the disrespectful behavior myself.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)

AEW announced one new match for the card of their AEW Dynamite show on April 10th at the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia: