Joey Janela Claims the CM Punk Incident Caused Tony Khan To Become ‘More of a Businessman’

During a recent interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, former AEW wrestler Joey Janela spoke about his time in AEW and not having any ill will after exiting the company in May 2022. Janela also explained that what took place with CM Punk in AEW caused Tony Khan to change his outlook on how he runs the company, becoming “more of a businessman.”

Joey Janela explained he has no hard feelings about his run in AEW, including CEO Tony Khan, who he said has changed and become more of a businessman compared to when AEW started. He stated, “It wasn’t a bad experience, it was a great experience, and I have no ill will towards anyone at AEW, I have no ill will towards Tony Khan, he was my good friend. Of course, we haven’t spoken in a few years; he’s kind of a different man since the whole… He’s a different man now. He’s more of a businessman.”

The wrestler then added, “But the only company I’ll outright trash is MLW. Because Court Bauer’s a carnie ****. I’m just kidding. I love Court Bauer. No, just kidding, **** him.”

Joey Janela later explained that after what took place in AEW regarding the backstage fight between CM Punk and The Elite at AEW All Out 2022, it made Tony Khan change course and take more of a more business-minded approach to AEW. Janela went on, “Well, that whole thing happened with the Punk and the fight and all that and the drama and all the bullshit and Tony’s like, ‘Alright, now I gotta be a businessman and stop getting involved in the bull****,’ you know?”

As previously noted, AEW terminated the employment and talent contract with CM Punk in September 2023, stemming from an incident that took place backstage with Punk and Jack Perry at AEW All In London on August 25 of that year. Punk later returned to WWE a short time later at Survivor Series: WarGames in November.