CM Punk on AEW Not Being a “Real Business”, Backstage Incident with Jack Perry at AEW All In, Tony Khan’s Leadership, All Out 2022 Backstage Brawl, Hangman Page

Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani show featured CM Punk as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Punk’s thoughts about his experience at last year’s AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium.

“There’s nobody there to pick me up, and it’s not a big deal. I just got on the tube and I was like, ‘adventure.’

That part was fun but it’s completely irresponsible as a company to leave somebody stranded at the airport.”

Punk also gave his thoughts about Jack Perry’s “Cry Me a River” line directed towards him at AEW’s All In event.

“There’s all these rumors about NDAs. There’s a big difference between not being allowed to talk about some shit or just not wanting to talk about some shit. I don’t necessarily want to litigate this again.

Tony’s big idea was (a) separate show, we’re going to separate everybody and I said that’ll never work, just let me go, just get me out of here.”

Punk also gave his thoughts about asking for his release from AEW after his backstage incident with The Elite at All Out 2022 and his claims that AEW is not a “real business” in wrestling. Punk also gave his thoughts about his backstage incident with Jack Perry over the use of glass for a spot Perry wanted.

“These guys don’t want me here, this isn’t a real business, this isn’t a business predicated on making money, drawing money, selling tickets you know. It’s not what it was sold to me as, so let me go. ‘Oh, I can’t let you go, I’m going to do a new show.’

And then the second day we have this show, I’m sitting in catering minding my own business, Tony Schiavone comes and gets me and he’s like, ‘Hey, I really need your help.’ I was like, ‘What?’ And he’s like, ‘Jack is cussing me out, and he’s cussed out Mike Mansury, and cussing out Darryl from production, and he’s cussing out the doctor right now.’

I was immediately like, the dude isn’t supposed to be here. I was told people are getting separated so there’s not problems and you don’t want me involved in this.

It’s very much who he is friends with an things never got squashed, nobody’s in charge and it turned into what it turned into.”

Punk went back to his thoughts about Perry’s “Cry Me A River” line stating:

“I went to Tony (Khan) and was like, ‘Please handle that. Like, please.’ And he was like, ‘What do you want me to do?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not telling you what to do, just be the boss, please.'”

Punk also gave his thoughts about his backstage incident with Perry at AEW’s All In event.

“I thought i was doing a responsible thing. I didn’t punch anybody, I just choked somebody a little bit. Samoa Joe was there, told me to stop, and then I quit. I turned to Tony (Khan) and said this place is a fucking joke man, you’re a clown, I quit. Went to my room, then Joe and Jerry Lynn came and got me and were like ‘lets juts go and kill it'”

Punk also gave his thoughts about AEW CEO Tony Khan’s comments about fearing for his life over Punk’s backstage incident at All In.

“I can’t tell you what Tony felt or what he was thinking but I never did anything to make him fear for his life but he’s who he is.

There was a concerted effort to, I guess, slander me and try to ruin my character. And that’s kind of the genesis of all the drama. Like, don’t do that, why are you doing that to a guy who works for your company? Why are you lying? Why are you spreading lies and rumors and bullshit about your top guy?”

Punk also gave his thoughts about what it was like to work for Khan in AEW.

“Man, that’s a loaded question because I don’t want this to be… I don’t like the drama but the truth is the truth, he is not a boss, he’s a nice guy and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company.”

Punk also gave his thoughts about Hangman Adam Page’s shoot promo that was directed towards him over his issues with Punk being responsible for Colt Cabana being taken off of AEW television and backstage job.

“He thinks that I got one of his friends who hasn’t been fired, fired. I went to Tony and the lawyer and I said, ‘You need to fix that because if I do you’re not going to like the way I fix it.’ And I thought I was being professionally by not just murdering him on television.

With me, respect is the default. I resepect everybody until you do something that makes me lose my respect for you. I had never done anything to any of those guys. If they are basing how their attitude is towards me based on some bullshit their friend told them, well, I can’t help you. But I’ve got plenty of friends who don’t like certain people and I keep relationships business. And everything fell off the rails from there, it’s a shame, it’s really a shame.”

Punk also confirmed that he did sign an NDA following his backstage incident with The Elite at AEW’s All Out 2022 event.

“I didn’t have to sign an NDA for anything I ever did wrong (laughs).”

Punk also stated that he did not talk to anyone from AEW for six months after his backstage incident at All Out 2022.

“I think the positives definitely out weigh the negatives. I thought I was coming in to help, to help business, if I could teach something great and I think I was just brought in for other reasons. There business, and I know a lot of people are going to be upset, it’s not a real business. It’s not about selling tickets, it’s not about drawing money, it’s not about making money, it’s just not.”

On the topic of AEW itself, Punk stated that the company is just a company that likes to have good matches.

“I don’t know. I think just having good matches, maybe? And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

On the topic of if he will ever “bury the hatchet” with his former longtime friend Colt Cabana, Punk stated:

“I was at the curtain watching the show and he came up to me and he was, ‘hey can we talk so it’s not weird between us,’ and I just said, ‘I will never talk to you without a lawyer present.”

On the topic of if he regrets his time in AEW, Punk stated:

“When it comes to AEW and all that, I genuinely don’t regret my time there, I’m just brutally honest about some things. And you ask questions and you’re a real journalist so I’ll gleefully go ahead and answer it.

It’s done. I hope they’re happy, I known I am and I would like to leave it at that.

I understand fans and the tribalism, because I’m a Blackhawks fan, I’m a Chicago Cubs fan, so I will always troll and needle White Sox fans, or Blues fans, or Predators fans you know? But some of the shit was so outlandish, talking about my dog and all this awful stuff.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com