CM Punk hasn’t been seen in AEW since September, and one star doesn’t seem happy about reports that he could be on his way back to the company.
Minutes after winning the AEW World Championship in the main event of All Out, Punk took part in a media scrum where he launched into a verbal tirade against former friend Colt Cabana, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, and though he didn’t call them out by name, the AEW EVP’s, who he said “couldn’t manage a Target.”
Enraged, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega confronted Punk in his dressing room, and the brawl that ensued has now become the stuff of legend. Not only were punches thrown, Punk’s trainer and friend Ace Steel threw a chair at Nick Jackson as well as biting Omega. Everyone involved in the melee was suspended, and Punk and The Elite were stripped of the title’s they’d won just hours before.
While The Elite returned at Full Gear in November, Punk’s future has remained in doubt. While the two sides were reportedly in talks to reconcile and have Punk come back, a now-deleted Instagram tirade blasting Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho furthered tensions.
However, according to recent reports, Punk wants to return to All Elite Wrestling and is even willing to work with The Elite upon his return, though Omega and The Young Bucks are reportedly less keen to work with Punk after such a public falling out. Fightful Select noted yesterday that plans are in the works for Punk to return, and that the company has a date and location in mind. The report also noted that Punk was pushing to meet with both The Elite and Chris Jericho to attempt to smooth tensions between them.
Brandon Cutler Deleted His Tweet Indicating CM Punk Is “Gaslighting” AEW
While recent reports point to a softened CM Punk who’s looking for reconciliation, not everyone is convinced. Sam Fels of Deadspin recently wrote an opinion piece accusing the star of gaslighting his way to an AEW as he’s not apologized for his actions. In a quote tweet of the article, Brandon Cutler, who is good friends with The Elite and appears with the faction on television, made it clear that he agrees. A screenshot of the since-deleted tweet can be seen below.
Cutler was last in action on the April 12th episode of Dynamite, teaming with Michael Nakazawa to take on Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli. Cutler’s face was left a bloody mess after the bout, and he and Nakazawa were eventually aided by Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, who made surprise appearances inside the arena to confront the Blackpool Combat Club.