Update on CM Punk’s AEW departure, Elite turning down meeting
CM Punk’s final days with AEW were addressed in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Several reports came out last Saturday, the day of Punk’s release, that a meeting between The Young Bucks and Punk was planned to take place before All In. However, our own Dave Meltzer has confirmed that the Young Bucks were never approached about such a meeting due to the belief they would reject the idea.
“It is true that people in the company wanted Punk and the Young Bucks to meet, but it was never asked because of the belief it would be turned down by the Young Bucks,” Meltzer wrote.
The meeting was to have taken place on the August 23 show in Duluth, Georgia when Dynamite and Collision were being taped on the same night.
At the same time there were attempts to organize a meeting between the two sides, AEW informed The Elite of a legal letter sent to the company regarding skits on BTE. The letter alleged the skits violated the terms of a non-disparagement agreement The Elite and Punk signed which prohibits both sides from speaking negatively about the other.
“Evidently it was from a BTE skit that was a storyline that had started years earlier about Matt Jackson screwing up an endorsement deal,” Meltzer wrote.
Recent BTE episodes have featured Matt Jackson attempting to make up for messing up an endorsement deal the group was to get with either Chili’s or Wendy’s. The storyline involves the rest of the group being mad at Matt because they assumed the money was coming in and all made extravagant purchases.
“In the skit, they wanted Matt to apologize for screwing up. Punk’s name was never mentioned,” Meltzer continued.
At least one person “very close to the situation” is saying The Bucks were willing to meet with and even potentially work with Punk if a significant amount of time passed without incident. However, there continued to be issues following his return to the company this summer. These include Ryan Nemeth, Christopher Daniels and others being sent home from Collision tapings, an altercation with Jack Perry over the use of real glass, and the legal letter sent regarding BTE.
“One person very close to the situation said that the Bucks had said if six months went by without any issues, they would have been willing to sit down and work with him,” Meltzer continued.
Following Punk’s release, several of his supporters within the company were said to be upset, although they didn’t say so publicly. Others felt the backstage environment had improved.
“Many others talked about the backstage atmosphere as if a dark cloud had been lifted over their heads and how much fun it was on the weekend shows,” Meltzer wrote.
Cash Wheeler gave the “X” sign with his arms as he made his entrance on the September 2 Collision as a possible show of support to Punk. There is said to be no heat on Wheeler for this, as those Meltzer spoke with said they understood.
Meltzer also addressed the likelihood of Punk signing with WWE and even mentioned a return to AEW down the line is not out of the question.
“If WWE doesn’t sign him, I wouldn’t at all rule out AEW giving him another shot as crazy as that may sound today,” he wrote.
Meltzer’s full report on Punk’s AEW departure, altercation with Jack Perry, and more is available here.
