The latest on CM Punk, Ace Steel, Young Bucks and Kenny Omega.
It was confirmed to us that Ace Steel bit Kenny Omega, CM Punk threw punches, and a chair hit Nick Jackson in the eye. However, there are conflicting views on who started it. Some we spoke with believed that Punk should have expected to be confronted after the things he said. Another person said that Omega and Young Bucks aggressively approached the locker room in what Punk could have construed as a 3-on-1 attack. We're told that the situation went on for "about six minutes," with Brandon Cutler, Christopher Daniels and Pat Buck trying to diffuse the situation.
Thus far, none of the roster or media we've reached out to have admitted to hearing from Tony Khan since the melee happened. We were told by another person high up in the company to not expect to hear much officially in the day that followed due to possible legal issues. Fightful heard back from Hoffman Estates Police Department, who said "Hoffman States Police Department does not have any police reports, nor any documentation that police were requested, during AEW All Out event for anything that allegedly occurred backstage. The only police response at the event was regarding a family issue in the audience."
Almost unanimously, the talent that we've spoken to haven't been in favor of the way CM Punk handled things at all that evening. Even talent that typically would back Punk up either said that's not what they would have done, or haven't commented to us.
We have heard the rumors of Punk sustaining an injury during the melee. The rumor has been echoed as "heard of" from people in the company, but we've not confirmed this.
There are several wrestlers who are not sure of their creative for Wednesday's AEW Dynamite as a result of this. Several longtime AEW stars said they don't understand how Punk couldn't be let go after this.
After we spoke on the Fightful post show about talent taking issue in the past about Hangman Page for working stiff, several readers tried to tie the two situations. We haven't heard of any connection, and we were told last year that Arn Anderson spoke with Page and let him know to lighten up. Page, even then, was generally well liked outside of that situation that saw a couple of wrestlers end up injured. We're told that wasn't connected to this, and that most thought Hangman Page and CM Punk got along well until this Spring.
There is some sympathy as it relates to MJF's return for some, but everyone was generally left in the dark regarding MJF's status for months and said it mirrored that of Punk winning the title in Vegas, and Wardlow beating him, but everyone speaking about MJF. Those we spoke to had not heard of any heat between MJF and Punk prior to Punk basically mentioning MJF as one of the stubborn kids he had to work with.
Fightful Select will have a live show this afternoon to discuss the situation and answer questions
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