What happened to CM Punk? The star has not been seen for months, but could be set for a return to the company soon.
All Out 2022 was one of AEW’s biggest pay per views of the year.
A star-studded cast of superstars battled in countless matches, with championships changing hands and huge wrestling moments occurring.
The show ended with CM Punk pinning Jon Moxley for the three count, winning back his AEW Championship, before being interrupted by a returning MJF.
This looked to set up the rematch of the year, with MJF vs CM Punk being set up as the main event of Full Gear 2022.
However, that was the last time fans would see CM Punk on AEW TV. The next episode of AEW Dynamite, he was silently stripped of the AEW Championship, and has not been mentioned on TV since.
So, what happened to CM Punk after All Out 2022? Why did AEW strip CM Punk of the AEW Championship, and what does his future look like?
What Happened To CM Punk?
CM Punk was suspended by AEW, following his disastrous press conference after AEW All Out 2022.
At the event in his hometown of Chicago, Punk defeated Jon Moxley to win the AEW Championship, for the second time in his career.
However, after the event, he joined Tony Khan in the post show scrum, and began to badmouth his coworkers and the company to the press.
He started off by question a reporter over their perceived friendship with Colt Cabana and began to run his mouth about the situation between the two men that has lead to legal issues (you can read all about that here).
He also decided to call out The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. He claimed they were the ones who leaked information about his legal battle with Cabana and questioned their integrity in their roles as Executive Vice Presidents of AEW.
His final jab was toward Adam Page regarding the previously mentioned comments during this AEW Championship feud. He called him a “disgrace to this company” and accused him of jeopardising AEW’s first ever $1,000,000 gate for their match at Double or Nothing 2022.
When somebody [Page] who hasn’t done a damn thing in this business jeopardizes the first million-dollar house that this company has ever drawn off of my back and goes on national television and does that, it’s a disgrace to this industry.
It’s a disgrace to this company. Now, we’re far beyond apologies. I gave him a fucking chance. It did not get handled and you saw what I had to do, which is very regrettable, lowering myself to his fucking level, but that’s where we’re at right now.”
After the press conference caused a huge stir in the world of wrestling, CM Punk retired to his private locker room with his friend Ace Steel, his dog Larry and Steel’s wife. The injury suffered during the match with Moxley was clearly affecting his mood and he did not want to be bothered.
However, the three EVP’s of AEW has to get the situation straightened out. They had been accused of leaking things to the press to make Punk look bad and their integrity had been questioned.
So, to quell the situation and get to the bottom of his gripes, the three of them grabbed AEW’ legal advisor and confronted the then-AEW Champion.
The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and AEW Head of Legal Megha Parekh went to CM Punk’s locker room after the press conference, in order to discuss his comments pertaining to the “EVP’s”.
There were various versions claiming the Bucks kicked the door down, which didn’t happen. CM Punk fired a punch Matt Jackson while Ace Steel hit Nick Jackson with a steel chair and bit Kenny Omega on the arm.
During the fight, CM Punk’s dog Larry seemed to get distressed by it’s owners actions and would have been in danger.
However, Kenny Omega was said to have picked up the dog to get it out of danger, with Punk seemingly not caring about the safety of his pet.
It was said it was here where Steel bit Omega. According to some sources, Punk came accross as a “complete psycho”.
There were lawyers involved almost immediately from all sides, but as of right now, there has been no legal action and The Elite decided not to press charges. AEW did a thorough investigation and appear to have sided with The Elite on the matter.
Ace Steel has since been fired and CM Punk is in talks to have his contract bought out and be fired by the company.
Why Did CM Punk Lose The AEW Championship?
CM Punk was stripped of the AEW Championship after All Out 2022 for two reasons.
The first was that he was suspended for his post-show press conference, and subsequent fight with The Elite backstage.
Tony Khan made the choice to suspend all parties involved for the fight, vacating Punk’s AEW World Championship and The Elite’s Trios Championship, which they won for the first time at All Out.
The other reason why CM Punk lost the AEW Championship was due to an injury suffered in the match against Jon Moxley.
Punk suffered a torn left bicep during the title match, coming off a dive onto the outside onto Moxley.
He had surgery just days after the event, with doctors handing him the diagnosis of 8 months out of the ring.
CM Punk is expected to return for a match against Chris Jericho at AEW Double or Nothing 2023.
CM Punk’s Last Match In AEW
CM Punk’s last AEW match was in the main event of All Out 2022, in a battle against Jon Moxley for the AEW Championship.
This was the second time the pair had faced off in AEW. After CM Punk’s injury in May 2022, Moxley won the interim AEW Championship, with the pair unifying the belts with a match on Dynamite before All Out.
Moxley won that match in mere minutes, although there has been recent controversy surrounding Punk not being cleared to wrestle for that bout.
After Moxley became the AEW Champion, the rematch was set for All Out 2022, where CM Punk wrestled his last AEW match.
Punk won the match with a GTS, and was one of the few wrestlers to pin Moxley in AEW. It was lauded as a great match, one of CM Punk’s best in AEW, although he suffered an injury during it that kept him out of action for eight months.
AEW Brand Split
AEW are reportedly going to create a brand split, with rumours being that it will placate the return of CM Punk.
With some members of the AEW roster unwilling to work with CM Punk, it is rumoured that the new AEW Collision TV show will be used to showcase Punk upon his returned to the ring.
The working idea for the new show was that CM Punk would be the star of the show and the roster would be split to some degree.
However, PPVs and other big shows would need to have all hands on deck. Dave also notes that such roster or brand splits historically never last long.
With recent reports of The Elite being happy to work with CM Punk again, the AEW brand split may not be necessary.
The AEW brand split would be a way for Tony Khan to make use of the 100+ talent currently signed to the promotion.
With top stars like Lance Archer, Miro and Andrade constantly off TV, it would do them well to add another show on TV to feature these potential champions.
It would also give a show for CM Punk to be the top star of, without facing the tension of working with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks again.