The latest on CM Punk being terminated by AEW (Patreon)

AEW announced that CM Punk was terminated – both as a wrestler and an employee. AEW founder Tony Khan said the decision was one he didn't want to have to make, but needed to for the safety of the AEW team. 

While it was noted the termination was with cause, thus far we do not know if there is a non-compete attached, or a severance or severance period. As a result, we don’t know when Punk would be eligible for a move to another wrestling company. He still has major heat with numerous top names in WWE, and was asked to leave earlier this year when he showed up. There had been no real expectations or plans of Punk heading to WWE, and most people we spoke to there didn’t think he was going to be fired.

The AEW roster, including several that were close to Punk, did not know as of Saturday that Punk was set to be fired. There was an investigation throughout the week in which saw a disciplinary committee informed of the findings. We don’t know who comprised that committee, but we’d heard of many people within the company being interviewed.

Tony Khan spoke about the situation before AEW Collision to the live crowd, in a manner in which had many people questioning things. He appeared sitting a chair, and said many things that he would go on to say in a pre-recorded statement at the top of the show. Notably that outside legal counsel and the disciplinary committee both recommended he terminate CM Punk’s contract. Khan said he feared for his safety and life in the situation, which matches up with word that he was in plain sight of the Jack Perry and Punk confrontation. There was also word that Punk lunged his direction. When Fightful asked Tony Khan this week about whether or not Punk had a confrontation with Tony earlier that day as rumored, he largely avoided the question and defended the booking. The crowd booed Tony Khan heavily at the start, and much of the crowd turned to his side by the end.

Regarding the Miro vs. CM Punk aspect, Punk had seemed genuinely confused regarding that making the rounds. Miro and Punk supposedly spoke about it mid-week and had a laugh about the word that they had issues. Punk and Miro had maintained a good relationship, with Punk pushing for Miro to be on Collision.

Punk had expressed unhappiness verbally numerous times–  from the All Out post-show scrum, to saying “I hate this place” ahead of AEW Collision’s debut and even after his fight with Jack Perry.

Punk had been slated to main event AEW All Out in a strap match with Ricky Starks. That was adjusted to Bryan Danielson in a huge surprise that was kept very secret within the company up until just before the show. PWTorch reported that AEW was confident that their alternative plan would work out really well.

We’ve heard that there were also ongoing discussions between AEW and WBD about the on-screen direction of AEW Collision. Security was confiscating CM Punk signs ahead of the show, which was to be expected.

Up until the end, we’d heard no real progress on Punk working with the Elite, though he’d claimed to Fightful and others backstage that he still wanted to get into a room and talk with them and make something work.

We’ve reached out to CM Punk, but haven’t heard back, and haven’t heard of him reaching out to others as of yet. Jack Perry is not slated for any Chicago-week shows. Perry has not been fired, or informed of a firing at least as of Punk’s firing.

For those asking if it’s a work, the numerous AEW sources we’ve spoken to claim it isn’t. AEW hasn’t commented on that specific question in an official capacity.

We will have a lot more on this.