AEW: Brian Pillman Jr. Contract Reportedly Expired, CM Punk Backstage Rep Update, Darby Allin on Nick Wayne AEW Video

Brian Pillman Jr.’s AEW Contract Reportedly Recently Expired

Brian Pillman Jr.’s contract with AEW reportedly recently expired, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that AEW officials did not renew Pillman Jr.’s contract with the company and as a result it recently expired and he has left the company.

Pillman Jr.’s profile on AEW’s roster page on their official website was recently removed following his departure.

Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that AEW officials have kept the door open for Pillman Jr. for a potential return and work in the future.

Prior to his departure, Pillman Jr. last wrestled for AEW this past May and had been with the company since May of 2019.

---

Update on CM Punk’s Backstage Reputation in AEW Since His Return

CM Punk made his official return to AEW for their debut Collision show this past June. Prior to his return, Punk had been absent from AEW since this past September due to his suspension over his involvement in a backstage brawl incident at AEW’s All Out 2022 event and recovery from a triceps injury.

PWTorch’s Wade Keller reported that his sources stated that CM Punk has been taking his role as locker room leader for AEW’s Collision brand seriously and has been incentivized to repair his damaged reputation within the company.

Those spoken to reportedly stated that Punk has been taking seriously that Collision is “his show” and taking pride in putting “his stamp” on it both on-screen and off-screen.

Keller reported that the current positivity towards Punk since his return is not something that is shared by everyone within AEW but the overall vibe appears to be moving in the right direction. Keller also reported that there were some initial tensions involving Punk’s first week back related to his on-screen dig at The Young Bucks but there have been no “insider digs” in his promos since then and the tension between him and The Elite has lessen.

---

Darby Allin Comments on AEW’s Nick Wayne Debut Vignette was His Idea

A recent episode of the Lost Signals podcast had Darby Allin as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Allin revealing that he was the person who came up with the idea of putting together a vignette and narrating it for Nick Wayne’s upcoming official debut in AEW.

“A good example is Nick Wayne. Nobody really knew him that much from the national TV audience. How are you supposed to know a 16-year-old kid? I went up to Tony and said, ‘I have this idea and I want to present Nick in a way where I make a video package for him so people can get to know him before he wrestles, and just not throw him out there as a random guy, but have a backstory.’ I come up with a lot of stuff. That’s the beauty of it. Tony lets me take the ball and run with it. That’s all I’ve ever wanted in life. Not just wrestling, but life, just the opportunity to do something with myself. It’s cool when you have someone like Tony Khan, who has a national television company, and is letting you take the ball and run with it. A lot of it is from my mind, what you see out there, for good or bad.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com