Tony Khan Disagrees With Criticism From CM Punk

Tony Khan has calmed the tension with CM Punk.

Back in April 2024, CM Punk gave an explosive interview to Ariel Helwani where he discussed his return to WWE, his firing by AEW, and personal feelings about company boss Tony Khan.

Punk claimed that while Khan was a nice guy, he wasn’t a good boss, and AEW isn’t a real business. The now-WWE star added that he felt there was a deliberate attempt to slander him by AEW following his departure from the company.

During this period, AEW decided to air the backstage CCTV footage of Punk’s backstage confrontation with Jack Perry at All In, including the argument with Khan that followed.

Tony Khan Wanted Peace With CM Punk

In his own interview with Ariel Helwani, Tony Khan has now given his reaction to those comments from Punk. Khan said that he initially wanted to reconcile with Punk around the time that Collision launched in June 2023, following his altercation with The Elite months earlier.

However, he conceded that in the end, this wasn’t possible.

“If you look at the time before Phil came to AEW, we had a great run and we were having great times together. We’re having a great year right now with this roster and this is the best roster and the best AEW locker room. It feels like in and out of the ring, the combination, this is the best we’ve been. We also had great times together.

It was clear when we started doing Collision, I wanted to reconcile and find a way to still do those things, I guess that wasn’t possible. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything (he said).”

Khan went on to say that he disagreed with Punk’s comments, but at the same time, accepted his side of the story. Expanding further, he said that everyone involved appears to be happier now that the situation has been resolved.

“I don’t agree with that, but everybody is entitled to their opinion. That’s feedback and fair if that’s how he feels. I didn’t agree with the description of the way things played out, and that’s okay. That’s all in the eye of the beholder, just like the whole situation.

AEW is doing really well right now and I’m really happy with what the people on the shows are doing and it wasn’t the first time he and I disagreed, and it may not be the last, and that’s okay. I tried to reconcile, and I wanted to find a way for everybody to work together, it didn’t work, and that’s okay. It seems like everybody is happier and doing better right now.

In AEW, everybody is really happy and this is the best the locker room has been since the Jacksonville lockdown days.”

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