Ex-AEW Legend Denies Claims Of Leaking Info About CM Punk Backstage Fight
A wrestling legend is speaking out about claims that he was involved in an infamous CM Punk AEW fight.
CM Punk appears to be very happy as a WWE superstar in 2026 after returning to the company in November 2023. Before that WWE return, Punk had a tumultuous two-year run in AEW.
After spending a year in AEW, where things were seemingly going well, CM Punk won the AEW World Title at All Out in September 2022. He also tore his triceps that same night.
The bigger story is what happened after CM Punk’s post-show press conference, where he called out certain people on the AEW roster, including Executive Vice Presidents. It led to Punk being confronted by the EVPs Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks in Punk’s locker room.
In a story that was nicknamed “Brawl Out,” Punk and his friend Ace Steel got into a fight with The Bucks and Omega. There was even a story that Steel bit Omega’s arm at one point. Steel was even fired for it, then rehired, and then he left in the future.
After Punk returned to the AEW ring in the spring/summer of 2023, he was kept apart from the Bucks and Omega, with AEW building Collision around Punk.
There were more backstage incidents with Punk, including a fight with Jack Perry at All In 2023 in England, which led to Punk getting fired by AEW. After Punk was fired, he was in WWE about three months later.
When CM Punk spoke about it in June 2023 while he was still working for WWE, Punk insisted the story wasn’t a big deal.
“I don’t think what happened was a big deal. This has happened in the last 10 months in hockey, in basketball, in baseball, in just about every sport. And it’s covered and it’s gone the next day.
I think because I have injured my tricep and I’ve been out for so long, I think it has been exacerbated. I think it’s been exacerbated by people spreading lies about the whole thing. And when, in reality, my attitude is, well, s— happens.”
Matt Hardy Denies Leaking Info About CM Punk’s AEW Fight
While speaking to The Mack Down Report, legendary wrestler Matt Hardy addressed rumors that he may have leaked information about the CM Punk fight with The Elite in AEW.
Hardy worked for AEW at the time of the fight and has known everyone involved for a long time, but he claims he had nothing to do with the information leaking out.
“I think this is a misconception that people online seem to have—especially from that time when AEW and the CM Punk situation and the whole ‘Brawl Out’ deal happened with him and The Young Bucks.
I’ve always been great buddies with the Bucks, and I’ve always liked them a lot. But when all that happened, people were like, ‘Well, Matt Hardy’s the one leaking all this. He’s leaking it to the dirt sheets.’
And it’s funny, because I’m actually an advocate for not doing that. I’m an advocate for protecting everything in the business. I’ll give my opinions when there’s something I can talk about, but when people leak stuff to the dirt sheets that hurts or damages the product—I don’t believe in that at all.”
As he continued, the 30+ year wrestling pro Matt Hardy spoke about protecting the business.
“I think we have to protect our industry. That’s kind of the old-school side of me. I understand that all this stuff is relevant now—the internet, coverage, everything—it’s a constantly evolving world.
But as far as me trying to bury someone or leak something—I don’t do that. I’m not that guy. But that’s what a lot of the sickos said, because they weren’t fans of me.”
CM Punk has been away from WWE TV since losing the World Heavyweight Title to Roman Reigns in a great match at WrestleMania 42. However, Punk should be returning to television soon.
Also Read: CM Punk Addresses If He Thinks About WWE Retirement