Tony Khan Shoots Down CM Punk Ownership Rumor

Tony Khan says there’s no truth to the rumor that CM Punk owns a portion of All Elite Wrestling.

Back in April, it was reported that CM Punk was on his way back to AEW for the first time since his participation in the now-infamous brawl following All Out. While his return hit a speed bump when it came to the conditions of Ace Steel’s return to the company, Punk made his re-debut on the debut episode of Collision on June 17th, delivering a scathing promo and taking a thinly-veiled shot at The Elite with a reference to “counterfeit Bucks.”

Punk also made a surprise appearance on the June 21st episode of Dynamite, providing backup for Ricky Starks and FTR as they attempted to save The Hardys from a beatdown from Bullet Club Gold and the Gunns.

Speaking on a media call ahead of Forbidden Door, Tony Khan was asked about a persistent rumor that Punk has a partial ownership stake in the company. Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that Khan shot down the rumor.

“He also shot down a rumor that C.M. Punk had an ownership stake in the company. No talent has any ownership stake in the company.”

Punk’s longtime friend Dax Harwood recently hit out at claims of division in the AEW locker room surrounding Punk’s return, and also took a top AEW star to task for speaking to Meltzer instead of addressing issues with Punk directly. Meltzer hit back at this last criticism, asking Harwood to remember what happened the last time Punk was confronted, a clear allusion to the post-All Out brawl.

Punk will be in action at Forbidden Door, competing against Satoshi Kojima in the first round of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

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