WWE Legend Makes Surprising Claim About CM Punk’s AEW Run

A WWE veteran made some shocking claims about CM Punk’s time in AEW. The legend in question is Matt Hardy.

Back in 2014, CM Punk suddenly left the WWE after an amazing run. Over seven years after his time away from pro wrestling, Punk made his return to the ring by joining All Elite Wrestling. The Second City Saint went on to become one of the biggest stars on the AEW roster, but his run was riddled with controversies as well.

After the All Out 2022 pay-per-view, CM Punk got into an alleged backstage brawl with The Elite. After months of suspension, Punk returned on TV only to get fired from AEW weeks later following his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023. The Best in the World later returned to the WWE and is one of the top stars in the company right now.

WWE legend on the difference in CM Punk’s behaviour in AEW and WWE

Speaking on his Extreme Life podcast, the WWE legend Matt Hardy claimed that CM Punk had a hold on Tony Khan to get what he wanted during his time in AEW:

I feel like when Punk was in AEW, he knew he had a hold on Tony Khan to a degree, that he could kind of get away with what he wanted. If he had something he was dead set on wanting to do, that he could kind of flex his muscles and he could get away with it. I think he could sniff that out of Tony, from Tony not being around and running a wrestling company for decades or years, whatever.”

Matt Hardy further claimed that CM Punk’s backstage behaviour changed after returning to the WWE, as he couldn’t get away with controversy or conflict there:

I think when he [Punk] came back to WWE, I think he knew he couldn’t get away with that same type of attitude or mentality. It is what it is. He came back there and a lot of people thought he was going to stir up some sort of controversy or conflict, and he didn’t. He was a by-the-book guy, and it seemed like he was a model company employee. I think it’s hard to dispute that,” Hardy said. [H/T Ringside News]

Matt Hardy has shared his thoughts about CM Punk's run in AEW.

"I feel like when Punk was in AEW, he knew he had a hold on Tony Khan to a degree, that he could kind of get away with what he wanted. If he had something he was dead set on wanting to do, that he could kind of flex… pic.twitter.com/0lbOZKihup

— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) June 16, 2026

Meanwhile, CM Punk has been out of action since losing his World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania 42.

Also read: CM Punk To Ruin AEW Star’s Potential WWE Move Due To Real-Life Heat?