WOR Video: CM Punk gone from AEW

The end of CM Punk’s tenure in AEW went down Saturday.

It was announced shortly before the start of Saturday’s Collision that CM Punk’s contracts with the company had been terminated with cause following an investigation conducted after Punk and Jack Perry got into an altercation following Punk’s match at All In last Sunday.

“They interviewed a lot of wrestlers who were not eyewitnesses just about the basic situation of what was going on there,” Meltzer said regarding the investigation. “He got fired over what happened Sunday. But the lawyers and everyone else talked a lot more than that.”

It was the final straw between AEW and Punk, who throughout his AEW run had a few confrontations with people backstage, most notably in a fight with The Elite following last year’s All Out.

“It wasn’t going to work. It didn’t work. It was a disaster, let’s be serious,” Meltzer said regarding Punk’s tenure with the company.

At the start of Collision on Saturday, Tony Khan gave a speech talking about why he decided to terminate Punk’s contract. At one point, he said he had feared for his safety during the altercation.

“Throughout this whole ordeal, you and I were too kind to him,” Meltzer said regarding Punk. “I always gave him the benefit of the doubt. I always tried to give his side when everyone didn’t want to hear it….lunging was again, far too kind…I was toning it down. It was more than lunging.”

Bryan Alvarez noted that there was a talent meeting before Collision regarding Punk’s firing. Khan also spoke to the audience before the start of Collision.