Modern wrestling has seen plenty of controversial stories, but few have been as dramatic as CM Punk’s time in All Elite Wrestling. His arrival was celebrated as one of the biggest signings in the company’s history, yet his run eventually ended with a backstage locker room fight and his firing. Even years later, fans are still trying to understand what really happened, why everything fell apart, and what this chapter revealed about both Punk and AEW.
In this article, we’ll break down the entire timeline step by step, explore the backstage politics behind each major controversy, and take a look at how AEW rebuilt itself and moved forward after CM Punk’s departure.
The Return Nobody Saw Coming
CM Punk walked away from WWE in January 2014 and stayed away from in-ring wrestling for almost seven years. During that time, he worked as a commentator, tried MMA in the UFC, and mostly kept his distance from the wrestling world. So, when rumors started spreading in 2021 that Tony Khan wanted to bring Punk to AEW, many fans did not take them seriously. After all, Punk had been away from wrestling for years, and there had already been plenty of rumors about his return that went nowhere. But this time, the rumors were actually true.
In August 2021, CM Punk finally made his long-awaited AEW debut at the sold-out NOW Arena in Chicago. The reaction from the crowd was absolutely massive. Fans had been waiting years to see Punk back in a wrestling ring, and Chicago gave him one of the loudest receptions of his career. At that point, AEW was still growing and trying to establish itself as a real alternative to WWE. Bringing in a superstar like CM Punk was a huge moment for the company. It also brought back a lot of longtime wrestling fans who still remembered Punk’s incredible 2011-2013 WWE run.
At first, everything looked perfect. Punk started his AEW run with a memorable feud against Darby Allin. He then worked with several of AEW’s biggest stars and eventually won the AEW World Championship in 2022. On paper, it looked like the perfect partnership. AEW had a huge name who could attract fans, while Punk had a major wrestling company willing to give him another big run. But as fans would soon find out, things were not going to stay this smooth forever.
Where the Cracks Started Showing
However, things backstage were not as smooth as they looked on TV. Tensions were slowly building behind the scenes, and they had been there almost from the start. CM Punk already had a history of disagreements with certain wrestlers and wrestling journalists going back to his WWE days. It seemed like some of that baggage followed him to AEW as well.
Throughout 2022, several reports suggested that small creative disagreements were slowly turning into bigger problems. A lot of it came down to how much influence Punk wanted over creative decisions and how some of AEW’s other top stars felt about his position in the company. The first major public turning point came in June 2022, when CM Punk suffered a torn triceps during a match. The injury was serious and required surgery, forcing him to stay out of action for several months.
Because of the injury, his AEW World Championship reign was put on hold and his comeback was pushed back. At the time, nobody could have known that Punk’s eventual return would lead to one of the most controversial and chaotic chapters in AEW history.
All Out 2022 and the Media Scrum
After months away from the ring, CM Punk returned at All Out in September 2022 and won the AEW World Championship again. Honestly, it looked like the perfect comeback story. But nobody knew that the same night would become the start of one of the biggest controversies in AEW history. During the post-show media scrum, Punk openly let his frustration out. He criticized several members of the roster and talked about backstage issues. He also called out people he believed had spoken against him while he was away dealing with his injury.
Punk’s comments quickly became a huge talking point. Instead of calming things down, they made the backstage situation even worse. Problems that had mostly stayed behind the scenes were now out in the open. But the night was not over yet. Later that same night, a physical altercation reportedly took place backstage involving CM Punk, several wrestlers, and AEW executives. According to multiple reports, the situation started after the comments made during the media scrum and continued to escalate backstage.
AEW quickly took action. CM Punk was stripped of the AEW World Championship, suspended without pay, and removed from television. For the next several months, AEW barely mentioned him on screen. Punk was simply gone, and fans were left wondering what would happen next. At that point, many fans honestly believed CM Punk’s AEW run was over—and that the whole thing might end without any real resolution.
The Quiet Return in 2023
Most fans believed that CM Punk and AEW would never be able to fix their relationship after everything that had happened. Honestly, I felt the same way. I never really thought we would see Punk back on AEW television again. But then, against all expectations, both sides managed to put their differences aside, and Punk returned to AEW television in the summer of 2023.
I still remember how shocked I was that night. My first reaction was basically, “Wait… how is CM Punk back?”
After everything that happened at All Out 2022, seeing Punk back in AEW felt almost unbelievable. This time, his return was presented as a redemption story, with Punk trying to prove himself again after spending months away from the ring. On paper, it was actually a pretty smart creative decision. AEW took the real-life controversy and used it to build Punk’s on-screen story. Instead of ignoring what happened, they presented him as a star who still had something to prove.
For a while, the plan worked really well. CM Punk feuded with different opponents, and AEW continued to present him as one of its biggest stars. Fans were excited to have him back, and his return created a lot of buzz across the wrestling world.
But unfortunately, that good feeling did not last forever. Slowly, the same backstage tensions started coming back, and once again, questions began to surround CM Punk’s future in AEW.
What Happened After
After parting ways with AEW, CM Punk did not stay a free agent for very long. By the end of 2023, he had made his shocking return to WWE—the same company he had left under difficult circumstances almost a decade earlier.
Punk’s WWE return created a lot of headlines, but this time, things felt different. It was a fresh chapter for him, with a new audience and a different environment. Most importantly, his WWE run has been much more stable than his time in AEW.
Honestly, when I look back at CM Punk’s AEW run, I have very mixed feelings about it. On one hand, signing Punk was a huge achievement for AEW. It proved that the company could attract a genuine A-list wrestling star and build major events around him. At a very important stage of AEW’s growth, having someone like Punk on the roster gave the company a major credibility boost.
But on the other hand, the backstage controversies often overshadowed the actual wrestling. Punk had some great matches and memorable moments in AEW, but the backstage drama became such a huge story that fans were often talking more about the controversy than the matches.
The entire situation also led to questions about AEW’s locker room culture and how the company handled problems backstage. Since Punk’s departure, AEW has also changed its approach in some ways. Instead of relying so heavily on major free-agent signings, the company has put more focus on developing and pushing its own homegrown talent.
In my opinion, the entire CM Punk saga was a huge learning experience for AEW. We may never know how much every decision was influenced by what happened with Punk, but one thing is certain:
CM Punk’s AEW run became one of the most talked-about chapters in modern wrestling—and probably one of the most complicated ones too.
Why This Story Still Gets Searched
Even today, wrestling fans still go back and search for the story of CM Punk and AEW, and there are several reasons for that.
First, it became one of the biggest real-life controversies in modern wrestling. Backstage politics usually stay behind the scenes, but in Punk’s case, many of those issues became public and turned into a major part of the story.
Another reason is that both CM Punk and AEW are still major names in professional wrestling. Because of that, the controversy never completely disappeared. Whenever something big happens with Punk or AEW, fans naturally start talking about the old story again.
But perhaps the most interesting part is the questions this whole saga raised. How much creative control should veteran stars have? How should wrestling promotions handle established names? And can a company avoid making the same mistakes when signing its next big superstar?
Honestly, fans can take either CM Punk’s side or AEW’s side, but I think most people can agree on one thing. The CM Punk and AEW story will remain one of the most talked-about chapters in modern wrestling for years to come. t was not just a story about a wrestler and a wrestling company. It was a saga filled with huge returns, championship wins, backstage drama, controversy, and eventually, a very bitter ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was CM Punk fired from AEW?
CM Punk was released from AEW in September 2023 after a backstage altercation at All In London, following a string of earlier controversies including the All Out 2022 media scrum incident.
Did CM Punk return to WWE after AEW?
Yes. By the end of 2023, CM Punk signed with WWE, marking his return to the company he had left nearly a decade earlier.
What happened at the AEW All Out 2022 media scrum?
CM Punk publicly criticized several AEW roster members during the post-show press conference, which led to a backstage physical altercation later that night and his subsequent suspension.
Gaurav Sharma
Founder & Lead Writer, Wrestling Nightmare
I’ve been hooked on wrestling since childhood—from the Attitude Era to today’s Bloodline saga, plus AEW and TNA. My favorite match of all time is The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002), and I’ll always stand by Bray Wyatt’s untapped potential.
At Wrestling Nightmare, I break down news, analyze matches, and drop verified recaps. Got a correction or wanna debate? Hit me up at contact@wrestlingnightmare.com
