CM Punk’s AEW story has everything: a hometown debut, a world title, a media scrum that blew up and a backstage fight. It ended with a firing. This CM Punk AEW timeline walks through how it all happened, one step at a time.
Fans still argue about who was right and what really went wrong. We’ll look at each major moment, what led to it, and what it meant for AEW and for Punk.
CM Punk in AEW at a Glance
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2021 | Debuts at the United Center in Chicago on Rampage |
| May 29, 2022 | Beats Hangman Page at Double or Nothing to win the AEW World Championship |
| June 2022 | Foot injury forces him out, and Jon Moxley wins the interim title |
| Sept 4, 2022 | Beats Moxley at All Out, tears his triceps, then the media scrum and backstage fight follow |
| June 17, 2023 | Returns on the premiere of AEW Collision |
| Aug 27, 2023 | Backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In London |
| Sept 2, 2023 | AEW terminates his contract with cause |
| Nov 25, 2023 | Returns to WWE at Survivor Series |
A Return Few Fans Expected
Punk walked out of WWE in January 2014 and spent the next several years away from the ring. He worked as an analyst on WWE Backstage and tried MMA in the UFC. When AEW rumors surfaced in 2021, many fans shrugged them off. Wrestling had cried wolf about Punk before.
This time the rumors were true. On August 20, 2021, Punk opened a special episode of Rampage at the sold-out United Center in his hometown of Chicago. He had not wrestled in more than seven years. The crowd gave him a deafening ovation, and he used the moment to challenge Darby Allin for All Out.
AEW needed a moment like that. The company was still proving it could be a real alternative to WWE, and Punk brought lapsed fans back with him.
Also Read-:Who Are the AEW Death Riders? Members, History & Titles
The Good Times
The run started well. Punk beat Allin at All Out 2021, then feuded with Eddie Kingston, MJF, Jon Moxley and Hangman Page. The Page feud led to Double or Nothing on May 29, 2022, where Punk beat Page for the AEW World Championship. On paper, it was a perfect fit: AEW had a huge name, and Punk had a big stage again.
The good feeling lasted days. Four days after the title win, Punk broke his foot on Dynamite. He announced on Rampage that he needed surgery, and AEW crowned Jon Moxley interim champion at Forbidden Door on June 26. Punk returned in August 2022 and set up a unification match with Moxley.
All Out 2022: The Media Scrum and the Brawl
Punk beat Moxley at All Out on September 4, 2022, to become the undisputed champion for the second time. During the match he tore his triceps on a suicide dive.
The night did not end with the match. In the post-show media scrum, sitting next to Tony Khan, Punk criticized Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Colt Cabana. Minutes later, a fight broke out backstage. Punk and his friend Ace Steel fought with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, who were also AEW’s Executive Vice Presidents.
Days later on Dynamite, Khan vacated the World and Trios titles. Reports said those involved were suspended pending an independent investigation. For nine months, Punk disappeared from AEW television.
Also Read-: Why AEW Allows Blood When WWE Usually Doesn’t
The 2023 Return
Most fans thought Punk and AEW were finished. I thought so too. Then AEW announced his return for the premiere of Collision on June 17, 2023, again in Chicago.
My first reaction was simple: “Wait, how is CM Punk back?” Seeing him on AEW TV after All Out felt almost unreal. AEW’s official results show Punk opening the show to a huge reaction and winning the trios main event with FTR. AEW also leaned into the real story. Punk carried the vacated title belt and claimed he had never lost it, which gave his comeback a built-in redemption angle.
For a while, it worked. Then the same tensions came back.
All In London and the Firing
On August 27, 2023, backstage at All In at Wembley Stadium, Punk got into a physical altercation with Jack Perry. Reports differ on who started it, so I will not guess.
On September 2, AEW announced Punk’s termination with cause. According to AEW’s statement, a week-long internal investigation was followed by a unanimous recommendation from the AEW Discipline Committee after consulting outside counsel. Khan said the final decision was his alone. NESN’s report covers the details. The firing came one day before All Out in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, where many fans had expected him to appear.
What Happened Next
Punk did not stay a free agent for long. On November 25, 2023, he returned to WWE at Survivor Series in Chicago, walking out after the WarGames main event. It was his first WWE appearance since the 2014 Royal Rumble. The WarGames winners that night included Cody Rhodes, whose own AEW story we cover in our Cody Rhodes AEW run breakdown. Punk has remained one of WWE’s top stars since.
My Take on the Punk Era
I have mixed feelings about it. Signing Punk proved AEW could land a genuine A-list star and build big events around him. He won the world title twice, and he gave the company credibility at a key stage of its growth. But the backstage drama often drowned out the wrestling. Fans talked more about the brawls than the matches, and the story raised hard questions about locker room culture and how AEW handled conflict. I think the saga showed how difficult it is to fit a megastar into a locker room that already has its own power structure.
Why People Still Search This Story
The story stays popular for three reasons. It was one of the biggest real-life controversies in modern wrestling. Both Punk and AEW are still major names, so every new headline brings the old story back. And it raises questions every promotion faces: how much creative control should a veteran star get, and how do you avoid repeating the same mistakes with the next big signing?
Fans can take Punk’s side or AEW’s side. Most agree it was a saga of huge returns, title wins, backstage fights and a very bitter ending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was CM Punk fired from AEW?
AEW terminated his contract with cause on September 2, 2023, after a week-long investigation into a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In London. It followed earlier controversy, including the All Out 2022 media scrum and brawl.
Did CM Punk return to WWE after AEW?
Yes. He returned at Survivor Series on November 25, 2023, nearly ten years after leaving the company.
What happened at the AEW All Out 2022 media scrum?
After winning the world title, Punk criticized Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Colt Cabana in the post-show press conference. A backstage fight with Omega and The Young Bucks followed, and Khan vacated the titles days later.
How many times was CM Punk AEW World Champion?
Twice: first by beating Hangman Page at Double or Nothing 2022, then by beating Jon Moxley at All Out 2022.
Sources: AEW official Rampage results (Aug 20, 2021) · AEW official Collision results (June 17, 2023) · CBS Sports · F4WOnline · NESN · ESPN
About Gaurav Sharma
I am Gaurav Sharma, founder and the only writer at Wrestling Nightmare. I live in Punjab, India. I have watched professional wrestling since 2000, and for the last 15 years I have followed dirtsheet reporting and the difference between what is shown on screen and what is reported from backstage. I write explainers and labeled opinion on WWE, AEW, and TNA. I credit the outlet that broke a story, and I do not publish unsourced salary figures or private family pieces.
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