During Rich Fann and Wade Keller’s audio show that was posted today on PWTorchVIP.com, Rich and Wade went into more detail on CM Punk and what is being said behind the scenes in regard to the ESPN interview that will premiere tomorrow.
Keller said, “From everybody I talked to in AEW [and] I’ve talked to a handful of people since last night in various positions of that company. Everyone’s bracing for this. But my understanding is that Tony Khan knows what was said and others do to. Maybe there’s gonna be some internal finessing of what happened but the impression I get is things aren’t better with Punk and The Elite and the satellite members of the anti-Punk group in AEW. Things are not at all better. Someone in AEW just said, ‘yeah, we’re keeping them apart for a while still. Punk’s gonna be on Saturdays and The Elite, etc. group of anti-Punk people will probably be kept away from him. Not everybody who dislikes Punk will be kept off Collision but like the core people, it sounds like, will be. It just isn’t better.”
Fightful Select noted that Punk was sent documents to sign to protect AEW, which would include non-disparagement agreements. Keller said that Punk did not say anything to breach the agreements.
Keller said, “Punk didn’t say anything he’s legally not allowed to say but he said other things that are being interpreted as needlessly inflammatory and it sounds like…Punk is thinking he was promoting the show and speaking honestly but not in an inflammatory way that should be causing drama. My interpretation of the framing of what I’ve heard is Punk’s reaction is if people react to this negatively that they’re overreacting. So we’ll see. I do not know what was said. I just know [that I] was told to brace for some drama leading into Saturday and depending on whose side you’re on, either Punk is at it again or the Elite group really needs to grow up and grow a thick skin. Different people looking at it through different lenses.”
Fightful Select reported today that Punk answered questions in a way that would make the audience wonder if he was shooting or angling for a story and that Punk was “very aware” that what he said could come across as polarizing. Also, it was said that he did so in a way to “blur the lines” and “create buzz for upcoming shows.” Furthermore, Hangman Page was brought up in a way that was “absolutely not confusing in a work-shoot perspective” and that was “clearly intentional.”
CM Punk makes his official AEW return this Saturday night on Collision. It was teased during Dynamite that Punk will have a live microphone during Collision with a lot of things to get off his chest. In addition to Punk’s promo segment, the following is scheduled for the show:
– CM Punk and FTR vs. Samoa Joe, Jay White and Juice Robinson
– Skye Blue and Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm and Ruby Soho
– Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo
– Wardlow vs. Luchasaurus
– Miro in action
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