CM Punk fired from AEW

  • Welcome to "The New" Wrestling Smarks Forum!

    I see that you are not currently registered on our forum. It only takes a second, and you can even login with your Facebook! If you would like to register now, pease click here: Register

    Once registered please introduce yourself in our introduction thread which can be found here: Introduction Board


Comrade Khan

The Ace of WS
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
248,104
Reaction score
77,922
Points
118
Age
38
Favorite Wrestler
9yQJpez
Favorite Wrestler
9Cf16sP

CM Punk Is Not Suing Tony Khan Following Termination – Exclusive​

During Cage Fury Fighting Championships 125 this past Friday night, CM Punk returned to TV as one of the card’s commentators. Punk initially signed on as a commentator for the promotion in 2018 and, somewhat ironically, made his first public appearance following AEW: All Out 2022 around this time last year at CFFC 114.

Early in the program, Punk’s co-commentator John Morgan joked that The Second City Saint had returned to his duties for the promotion “with cause,” a subtle reference to his AEW termination. Later on in the show, when discussing doing possible post-shows for upcoming CFFC events, Punk was asked if he had time on his hands for something like that, to which he said he would for about the next two months.

The line about having the next two months free immediately sparked speculation that Punk could be making a big move back to WWE. In two months’ time, the sports entertainment juggernaut will return to Punk’s hometown of Chicago for their annual Survivor Series premium live event. On top of that, Fightful reported earlier this year that AEW plans to return to The Windy City the Wednesday before for their annual Thanksgiving week episode of Dynamite. With all of that in mind, it could set an appealing stage for Punk to return to the WWE fold.

Haus of Wrestling, unfortunately, has not been able to confirm whether or not Punk has a non-compete clause following his termination with AEW. While asking around about the possibility of one, however, I did learn that Punk does not have any litigation pending against Tony Khan following his termination. Considering how Khan said his life was in danger during Punk’s backstage altercation at AEW: All In London, many people asked me whether Punk could be considering action, and I am told that is not the case.

From what I gather, Punk is looking to avoid any further litigation and move on with his life. He was described to me as someone breathing a sign of relief now that he is away from the day-to-day drama that seemed to follow him at AEW.

We have not been able to gather whether any pending legal action on AEW or Tony Khan’s behalf towards Punk is pending, but things do seem quiet between the two sides.

Another question that has been looming is: Would WWE welcome CM Punk back into the fold?

I’ve done a lot of asking around about a possible WWE return since Punk’s termination, and I have yet to meet someone in WWE or with knowledge of the situation who has ruled it out. One WWE source I spoke with noted that the buzz internally about Punk as a potential free agent is not there like it was when Cody Rhodes was rumored to be on the market at the beginning of 2022. Another source told me that while there could be interest, timing is everything in the pro wrestling business, and at the moment, WWE’s product is hot and not necessarily in need of a big-name signing.

With that said, multiple sources made it clear to me that they saw WWE and Punk working together as a possibility if good business can be done. Especially with WWE and UFC merging to form TKO Group Holdings, the new publicly traded company will be looking for more ways to appease stockholders, whom it ultimately answers to. WWE President Nick Khan recently commented on Punk possibly returning and said they have nothing but respect for him.

 

Cwalker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
40,097
Reaction score
18,884
Points
118
Favorite Wrestler
randyorton
Favorite Wrestler
romanreigns
Favorite Wrestler
codyrhodes
Favorite Wrestler
adamcole2
Favorite Wrestler
ajstyles
Favorite Wrestler
jaylethal
Favorite Sports Team
BZw58qk
I think the whole “having free time for the next 2 months” kinda confirms a no-compete. Unless I’m reading too much into it
 

Comrade Khan

The Ace of WS
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
248,104
Reaction score
77,922
Points
118
Age
38
Favorite Wrestler
9yQJpez
Favorite Wrestler
9Cf16sP
I think it's just Phil knowing WWE has a show in Chicago in two months. nothing more nothing less
 

Sabretooth

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Messages
77,550
Reaction score
9,610
Points
113
Age
26
Walks out of WWE like a bitch
Gets fired from AEW for being a bitch
Gets rehired by WWE cause money

Gotta love how the world works
 

Comrade Khan

The Ace of WS
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
248,104
Reaction score
77,922
Points
118
Age
38
Favorite Wrestler
9yQJpez
Favorite Wrestler
9Cf16sP
Walks out of WWE like a bitch
Gets fired from AEW for being a bitch
Gets rehired by WWE cause money

Gotta love how the world works
yeah it is kind of why I am flabbergasted at parts of the fandom who still want him to be rewarded for his bad behavior because their entertainment is the most important thing. We can't even have SOME standards :cry
 

Hoss

HELL IS NOT A MYTH
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
83,184
Reaction score
30,494
Points
138
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
sting
Favorite Wrestler
stonecold
Favorite Wrestler
chrisjericho
Favorite Wrestler
danielbryan3
yeah it is kind of why I am flabbergasted at parts of the fandom who still want him to be rewarded for his bad behavior because their entertainment is the most important thing. We can't even have SOME standards :cry
While I am firmly in the camp of not caring to see Punk again (and have been since before he ever debuted in AEW, check the record)...

I don't think it's that people want him to be rewarded. I think some people just care less about the backstage stuff than they do about the product they're getting on-screen. However, as his AEW run displayed, those behind the scenes issues can quickly spill over and start affecting the product, even if it's only in the form of a guy who is a big centerpiece of programming one week suddenly being gone the next week, and shit having to be reshuffled to make up for that absence.

I do think people are 100% kidding themselves if they think any future Punk runs in whichever company will be peaches and cream. But hey, if a fan is down with taking the risk for a few months of high level entertainment, then more power to them. Personally, I have no use for it.
 

Comrade Khan

The Ace of WS
Joined
Dec 2, 2019
Messages
248,104
Reaction score
77,922
Points
118
Age
38
Favorite Wrestler
9yQJpez
Favorite Wrestler
9Cf16sP
Yeah I can't disagree with any of that. I guess maybe I just feel burned personally and feel like people are gonna shocked pikachu pretty hard when he inevitably self-frags himself publicly again. I guess from a more practical pov as well - how can you ever trust this guy with a mic?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brandon Blaze

Toilet

That's Me!
Joined
Feb 13, 2021
Messages
119,803
Reaction score
42,885
Points
138
He's only gonna be pretaped segments from here on out.
 

Samoa Looch

Peace, Love & Fuck You
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Messages
135,151
Reaction score
54,146
Points
118
Age
36
Favorite Wrestler
undertaker
Favorite Wrestler
arnanderson
Favorite Wrestler
braywyatt
Favorite Wrestler
vader2
Favorite Wrestler
yujinagata
Favorite Wrestler
bethphoenix
Just you guys wait... he'll do that WWE run now, which ends with his retirement Match at Mania the day after his induction into the HOF.