CM Punk seemingly wanted to leave AEW after The Elite announced they had re-signed with the company.
Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Hangman Adam Page broke the news on August 4th that they would be remaining in AEW for many years to come. The group made the decision together, although there was a real possibility of them heading elsewhere.
One man who may not have been happy with the news is CM Punk. The star infamously went on a tirade about members of The Elite during the press conference after the 2022 edition of All Out. This led to a backstage brawl between him, The Elite, and others.
While a recent attempt was made to bring the two camps together, the meeting was ultimately cancelled, and the bad blood between the parties remained unadressed.
On September 2nd, AEW announced that they had terminated Punk’s contract due to another physical altercation, this time with Jack Perry, backstage at All In.
“Something was going to happen” – Dave Meltzer on CM Punk wanting out of AEW
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Punk’s departure may have been inevitable, as “a lot of people” thought he wanted out after The Elite signed new deals.
“I can’t say because I can’t get into his brain, but yes, there were a lot of people that thought that when the contract was signed with The Young Bucks, Omega and Page that he wanted out and that something was going to happen.”
The low ratings for Collision may have compounded matters for Punk, with Adam Cole and MJF proving to be bigger draws.
“He thought that because the ratings for Collision were so much lower, I think the one was the bad one was when Cole and MJF came the ratings skyrocketed and when they weren’t back they went back down.
“That was the one that established that Max and Adam Cole are the draws in the company. It’s going to go down without him, he was the biggest draw on that show.
During the same episode, Meltzer claimed his initial reporting had been too soft on Punk, and that there was more to his attempt to “lunge” at Tony Khan.
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