As is typically the case following one of AEW’s four major annual PPVs, Tong Khan held a post-show press conference following this Sunday’s All Out from Chicago, Illinois. During the press conference, new AEW World Champion CM Punk had harsh words for Colt Cabana and Hangman Adam Page, as well as seemingly taking shots at AEW EVPs The Elite.
Reports emerged following the press conference revealing that Punk, along with his friend and backstage producer Ace Steel, got into an altercation with The Elite, with Steel reportedly throwing a chair at Nick Jackson, and Punk allegedly swinging for the inaugural Trios Champions.
Multiple sources are now beginning to report on the aftermath of this situation, with Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN reporting that AEW President Tony Khan now sees leading commentator Tony Schiavone as his “right-hand man”, with his experiences during his tenure in WCW likely to be crucial in navigating this ongoing situation.
Sources: Not formally an update but news on Tony Khan. Hes really leaned on Tony Schiavone and been told hes now Khan's "right-hand man". Schiavone knows all about chaos when he was in WCW and should be a great person to lean on and be a sounding board on Punk/Elite altercation
— Steven Muehlhausen (@SMuehlhausenJr) September 6, 2022
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com then took to twitter in order to address rumours regarding AEW’s response to the situation, noting that no official word has been given to talent as of yet. Sapp also notes that Punk would need to make major amends in order to remain with the company, with the heat on the current AEW World Champion said to be “unreal”.
Right now AEW talent have not been told anything official. Almost all I've spoken to believe CM Punk will have to go or make major amends to remain with the company.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 6, 2022
A lot of the talent haven't arrived where Dynamite broadcasting from yet, but the heat on Punk is unreal.
Sapp also stated that Fightful are yet to hear anything regarding AEW suspending those involved, despite rumours circulating on social media. Tony Khan, as well as the talent involved have all refrained from commenting thus far, likely due to the looming threat of legal action being taken.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has also provided an update of his own, reporting that those involved in the backstage incident are unlikely to be present during the AEW Dynamite taping tomorrow night, as well as clarifying that reports circulating regarding suspensions are unconfirmed at this time.
The belief is that nobody involved in the fracas will be at TV tomorrow and that other top stars not booked originally for Wednesday will be there. A lot of talk of it as suspensions but that isn't official.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) September 6, 2022
Time will tell as to how AEW move forward following this situation, and as always, we’ll aim to provide any updates on the matter as soon as we hear more.
