Tony Khan has addressed the shocking news that AEW has fired CM Punk following the advisement of an independent disciplinary committee.
As AEW Collision took to the air, the show opened with Tony Khan addressing the audience at home, Khan would comment on the decision to fire CM Punk stating that the decision was made following the advisement of a disciplinary committee.
Khan would note than Punk’s actions backstage left him “fearing for his life” at a wrestling show for the first time in over thirty years.
“Today I had to make one of the toughest decisions of my professional career, today I terminated Phil Brooks, CM Punk, for cause.
This stems from a backstage incident at AEW All In last Sunday. The incident was regrettable and it endangered people backstage.
That includes the production staff, the people who put the show on every week. Innocent people who had nothing to do with it.
I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over thirty year, I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt, until Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life was in danger.
I don’t think anyone should feel that way at work”
Punk’s release has been met by mixed reactions backstage with some in the AEW locker room “really down” about the news and others “happy” to see the back of CM Punk.
Prior to AEW Collision going live, Khan would take to the stage to deliver this same message to the rampage Chicago crowd and was met by a rupture of boos.
This is INSANE
Tony Khan is getting booed out of the building💀#AEWCollisionpic.twitter.com/EkW7rNHIsp
— Ben🩸 (@Wr3stlePlace) September 2, 2023
Although Tony Khan’s decision has not been popular with the people of Chicago, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff has praised the AEW owner for his difficult decision making, calling the move to fire CM Punk the “right call.”
In recent news, Tony Khan refused to give details on whether or not CM Punk had a non-compete clause in his AEW contract.
When Did CM Punk Debut In AEW?
CM Punk made his AEW debut on the second ever episode of AEW Rampage on August 20th 2021 titled ‘The First Dance.’
CM Punk’s AEW in-ring debut would come the following month at AEW’s 2021 All Out PPV taking on Darby Allin.
Punk’s final match under Tony Khan’s management would take place at All In 2023, defeating long time rival Samoa Joe in the record breaking PPV’s opening contest.
In recent news, Jeff Jarrett has shared his thoughts on Tony Khan’s handling of CM Punk’s firing.
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