Update on CM Punk/AEW investigation process, Ace Steel’s status

Some further details about the investigation process and fallout from CM Punk’s firing from AEW were revealed during the post-Collision edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.

Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez said the investigation over the past week involved talking to all eyewitnesses to the All In backstage skirmish between Punk and Jack Perry in addition to an outside investigation where “a lot” of wrestlers were interviewed on background and how things had changed/not changed over the last year. 

Meltzer did not have the names of those who are part of the disciplinary committee mentioned in the AEW press release about the situation. That committee, lawyers and the external investigators all came to the same conclusion about Punk and Khan then made the call to fire him.

Meltzer said that while Punk got fired over the All In incident, there is “so much more to it that hasn’t come out” that contributed to the decision, indicating more news is to come.

Additionally, Meltzer also said he was “far too kind” in his reporting in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter about Punk “lunging” in Khan’s direction after the Perry incident was broken up.

“If you saw the actual wording of what was said, lunging was…I was toning it down. It was more than lunging,” he said.

Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso added some additional context:

“Punk was not dismissed solely because of his backstage altercation with Jack Perry last week in London at All In, though that did not help his cause. His firing came after Khan felt physically threatened by Punk at All In during his attempt to get Punk refocused on the match. Unlike prior occasions, Khan was not able to effectively communicate or reason with Punk–and eyewitness accounts supporting Khan’s claim further ended any chance that Punk would return to AEW.

Khan’s legal team unanimously recommended that Punk’s contract be terminated, Sports Illustrated has learned, and Khan ultimately made the decision to fire him.”

Barrasso also reported that WBD head David Zaslav was made aware of the firing before the press release came out Saturday and that both sources from both AEW and the Punk side of things expect a Punk response.

Other notes:

• Alvarez said there was a meeting with the talent backstage prior to Collision about Punk’s firing.
• There is no update on the status of Ace Steel who Punk got re-hired as a remote worker after he was initially fired following the post-All Out brawl last September.