Tony Khan defends decision to air CM Punk AEW backstage altercation footage
Airing backstage footage of CM Punk’s altercation with Jack Perry from AEW All In 2023 is a decision that Tony Khan stands by.
The footage aired on an episode of Dynamite in April 2024 in response to comments Punk had made on The Ariel Helwani Show. During his own interview with Helwani today, Khan addressed the decision to show the footage on television and explained why he thought it made sense to do so.
“I didn’t necessarily agree with the description of how it all happened,” Khan said about how Punk described the altercation. “I didn’t necessarily agree with everything that was said in that interview about how things happened.
“But also, it’s a TV show and it did a very strong number. So, for many reasons, I think that it made sense. And it was a thing that was advertised, and it got a lot of attention that did a very strong number. And also, it’s in the eye of the beholder.”
Helwani asked Khan if there’s anything specific he wants to refute about what Punk said.
“I think the tape spoke for itself,” Khan responded. “And I think that I didn’t agree with how it happened. And obviously, it was a major part of why things were no longer able to continue with us, even though I would have liked to have been able to and it’s clear that I wanted to reconcile and do those things.”
Khan said AEW had some great times while Punk was there, but he believes AEW was on a great run before Punk debuted and is on a great run now. At this moment in time, Khan believes the AEW roster is better than it has ever been.
The altercation with Perry led to Punk being terminated from his AEW contract and then returning to WWE shortly after. He’s once again become one of the top stars in WWE, currently holding the World Heavyweight Championship.
“I think AEW’s doing really well right now, and I’m really happy with what the people on the shows are doing. It wasn’t the first time that [Punk] and I disagreed about something, and it may not ever be the last. And that’s okay,” Khan said.
“But I had tried to reconcile and I wanted to find a way for everybody to be able to work together, and that didn’t work. And that’s okay. It seems like everybody is happier and doing better right now. I know in AEW right now everybody is really happy.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.