On September 2nd, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) dropped a bombshell announcement just hours before the Collision taping in Chicago. They revealed that Phil Brooks, famously known as C.M. Punk, had been terminated from the organization following a week-long internal investigation into an altercation that occurred at the All In event on August 27th in London involving Jack Perry.
In their official statement issued that afternoon, AEW stated: “All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has chosen to terminate the wrestler and employment agreements of Phillip Brooks, widely recognized as CM Punk, with immediate effect and for justifiable reasons. This decision was confirmed by Tony Khan, the CEO, General Manager, and Head of Creative at AEW.”
This termination followed an intensive internal inquiry spanning a week, investigating an incident that unfolded backstage during the AEW – All In London event on Sunday, August 27th. Following this investigation, the AEW Discipline Committee convened and sought the counsel of external legal experts before unanimously advising Khan to terminate CM Punk’s contract with just cause.
In response to this development, Tony Khan issued a personal statement, saying, “Phil played a significant role within AEW, and I’m appreciative of his contributions. The decision to terminate his AEW contracts with just cause ultimately rests with me. It is a decision I make reluctantly, one that might disappoint many of our fans. Nevertheless, I’m making this choice in the best interests of the countless remarkable individuals who collectively make AEW possible every week – our talented performers, dedicated staff, venue operators, and countless others whose tireless efforts often go unrecognized but are indispensable in delivering outstanding shows to our fans worldwide, both on television and in arenas and stadiums.”
The termination of CM Punk’s contract sent shockwaves through the wrestling community and raised questions about the details surrounding the backstage incident.
