CM Punk hasn’t been seen since his press conference at the AEW All Out, where he ripped Colt Cabana, Hangman Adam Page, and the AEW EVPs. He was later involved in a backstage fight with Kenny Omega, Ace Steel, and The Young Bucks.
He also suffered a torn left triceps when performing a tope during his match with Jon Moxley earlier in the night to win the World Title. The typical recovery time is 6-8 months. Punk was stripped of the title by AEW President Tony Khan.
Everyone involved was suspended. As previously reported, Steel was released by AEW earlier this week.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that AEW is in talks with Punk about the future, but right now, it looks doubtful he will be back in the promotion.
Meltzer wrote, “Those with close knowledge of the situation said they are in talks with Punk about a buy-out of the remaining years of his contract, which tells you that they are not looking to bring him back.”
Wade Keller of the PWTorch previously reported that Punk wasn’t expected back in the promotion and a contract buyout was likely.
The report stated the hold-up is now the non-compete period of the buyout. Since there is a non-compete, that would be about WWE having an interest in him, as there wouldn’t be a need for such a clause as no other promotion would be able to afford to pay Punk what he was making in AEW.
Neither side has commented on Punk’s contract potentially being bought out, but they haven’t made any effort to deny this report either.
Regarding how the AEW locker room views Punk, the sentiment toward Punk was largely negative.
Meltzer wrote, “The sentiment of those in AEW among most talent, not all talent, was decidedly anti-Punk, between the television promo on Page, who is overall very popular with the talent, the scrum where he said Page had never done anything in the business which was taken as saying AEW means nothing in wrestling.”
Due to an ongoing third-party investigation into the fight, no one involved nor the promotion has publicly commented on the fight.
