“Everyone Believes” CM Punk Behind AEW Locker Room Separation
CM Punk seems to be the one behind the backstage separation in AEW.
CM Punk may have returned to AEW in June 2023 after a prolonged spell on the sidelines but it seems that time has not yet healed some of the backstage issues that have plagued his time in the company.
Punk was famously part of the infamous backstage fight involving The Elite after All Out in 2022 which led to the suspension of several AEW stars. CM Punk returned following that suspension and having recovered from an injury in June 2023 as the cornerstone of the new Saturday night Collision show.
With CM Punk on the show, The Elite have been kept on Dynamite to keep them separated. That extended to Adam Page being told to stay away from Collision in Greensboro after originally being brought in to record a pre-taped interview on the show.
It has since emerged the same thing happened to Ryan Nemeth, who appeared to take a shot at Punk before his return to AEW, and even Christopher Daniels which will come as a shock to many given Daniels’ role as AEW’s Head of Talent Relations.
Is CM Punk behind AEW locker room split?
Now speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has claimed that “everyone” is of the belief that CM Punk is behind the separations in the locker room and that Punk has again made things harder after taking shots at Adam Page in front of the live crowd after Collision went off the air:
“Obviously, The Young Bucks and FTR are wrestling at Wembley, and they’re fine. They may not be fine today but they are fine enough to work together, whatever it is. Because they are always going to be aligned with Punk there is always going to be issues, but they are fine, they are going to be fine for a while.
“But as far as Punk working with [The Elite], every time one of these things happens, it makes it harder not easier, it’s not going anywhere. It’s just what it is. It’s frustrating to watch. How it’s going to end I don’t know. The idea that they are keeping them apart because some people don’t want other people in the dressing room. Everyone believes that is Punk. I’m sure Tony won’t say it is Punk, just like he did before.
“It’s one thing when they are not booked, but when you are booked and you are in the city, and someone finds out you are at the hotel and you are told to not come to the building, it changed the whole dynamic of everything. I’m sure they are going to say everything it fine you are making it all up, but we saw that damn interview, and once that happened it opened everything up.”
Tony Khan will be hoping Wembley Stadium is big enough to hold all his stars with The Elite and CM Punk both sure to be part of All In on August 27th. Punk looks set for another showdown with Samoa Joe while The Young Bucks will challenge FTR for the AEW Tag Team Championship. Kenny Omega’s role on the show should become clear on Dynamite while Adam Page’s status remains unknown.
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