CM Punk, AEW in talks about contract buyout

AEW and CM Punk are in talks to buyout the remaining years on his contract, according to Dave Meltzer in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The news comes less than two months after Punk, Ace Steel, the Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega were involved in a backstage fight following Punk’s comments about the Bucks, Omega, and others at September’s All Out post-event press conference.

Meltzer said neither Punk or AEW commented on, or denied, the story.

Meltzer wrote that AEW and Punk were talks about the future, but “it looks doubtful he will be back. Those with close knowledge of the situation said they are in talks with Punk about a buyout of the remaining years of his contract which tells you that they are not looking to bring him back. The holdup right now is said to be the non-compete period.”

He wrote that the non-compete is obviously because of WWE as they are the only other group that can pay him what he would ask for. Punk is currently injured from his All Out match with Jon Moxley, however, with no public timetable for when he could return.

The length of the disputed non-compete was not included.

Meltzer pointed out there is no lock WWE would want Punk back even with Paul Levesque on a streak of surprise returns, noting they turned down having Punk return before despite Fox wanting them to do so.

AEW has yet to publicly state anything related to the fight with Tony Khan refusing to answer questions when asked. It’s assumed that Omega and the Bucks were suspended following the fight while Punk is injured and can’t return to action anyway. It’s unclear if he is still suspended despite that.

Punk, Omega, and the Bucks were all stripped of their titles on the post-All Out edition of Dynamite without being mentioned by name or why the titles were stripped from them to begin with.

Steel, a backstage producer and close friend of Punk’s, was released earlier this week in the latest development in a situation that has been slow moving and without a lot of answers. 

Punk debuted for AEW in August 2021 at Chicago’s United Center after nearly eight years away from pro wrestling, returning to the ring a few weeks later against Darby Allin at that year’s All Out.