Ryan Nemeth Claims AEW “Silently Fired” Him Over CM Punk Incident in 2023 & Also Claims AEW Didn’t Do Anything About Punk’s Harassment Towards Him

As noted before, former AEW talent Ryan Nemeth was involved in a backstage confrontation with CM Punk in June of 2023 revolving around a tweet by Nemeth calling Punk “softest man alive.” Nemeth’s comments was in response to Punk’s unscripted promo directed at Hangman Adam Page on a Collision show following Punk’s return from his suspension from the All Out 2022 backstage brawl incident.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported they they recently obtained a document from Nemeth revealing that he had filed a formal complaint to AEW officials against Punk. In his complaint, Nemeth alleges that Punk had abused, harassed, and threatened him during their time together in the company. Nemeth also claimed that his allegations against Punk went unaddressed by AEW management.

Nemeth also claimed that he was “silently fired” by AEW over his issues with Punk.

Sapp reported that Nemeth had provided an outline of the timeline of events with his interactions with Punk and AEW officials lack of an internal response over his concerns.

In the timeline, Nemeth stated that he first contacted AEW’s legal department in April of 2023 and told them that he feared he would be targeted by Punk. Nemeth also claimed that he was threatened by Punk during a backstage encounter in the locker room in June of 2023. Nemeth also claimed that despite support from several AEW talents, former AEW chief legal officer Megha Parekh, the Young Bucks, Tony Schiavone, and Jon Moxley, he felt ostracized by the company after not being booked for television shows for two months. Nemeth also stated that he believed that his contract would not be renewed and feared this would be as punishment for not keeping quiet about Punk.

Nemeth stated that his situation in the company became more serious in August of 2023 after he was removed from the lineup from an AEW show at Punk’s request. Nemeth claimed that he was told to cut a promo on Punk that was meant to antagonize Punk, who was AEW’s World Champion at the time. Nemeth also claimed that AEW took no action against Punk after he had reached out to their legal team and Human Resources department. Nemeth stated that Parekh’s departure from the company left him with having to deal with new representatives within the company who he claimed ignored his concerns.

Nemeth also stated that his concerns worsened following Punk’s backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW’s All In 2023 event in London and led to further discussions with AEW’s outside legal counsel. Nemeth stated that he continued to feel ignored by AEW.

Sapp reported that Nemeth worked his final match in AEW in November of 2023 and his contract expired this past March. Nemeth claimed that he feels that AEW holds him responsible for Punk’s termination of the company, which took place in September of 2023. Nemeth also claimed that AEW officials made an offer to settle his issues that was worth around three years of his salary but only if he agreed to sign a non-disclosure agreement in return. Nemeth stated that wanted to discuss this offer more before being told in response that it was pulled off the table for reasons unclear to him.

Nemeth also claimed that Christopher Peck, AEW’s current chief legal officer, had threatened to sue him after he submitted his timeline of events to the company. Nemeth also claimed that Peck told him that he would be placed in an “antagonistic position to Megha” if the situation went to arbitration.

Nemeth also claimed that other talent within AEW had voiced similar concerns regarding Punk, but they were also ignored by AEW officials.

Sapp reported that despite his issues, Nemeth did express his appreciation for his co-workers in AEW and stated that they all deserve a safe work environment.