Latest On CM Punk’s Injury Status & AEW Relationship, Reportedly Had Heat With Jon Moxley

CM Punk is back in the news after his deleted Instagram story refuting a report by Dave Meltzer, and a new report has lots of updates on Punk’s AEW relationship and more. As reported yesterday, CM Punk posted and then deleted a post to his Instagram Stories in which he said he had not been cleared to compete when he came back to lose the AEW World Title to Jon Moxley on August 24th, 2022 in a squash match. He alleged that Moxley said he wouldn’t lose to Punk and that he ultimately went along with it because it was what Tony Khan wanted. Punk called Chris Jericho and Meltzer liars and Jericho a “stooge.”

* Fightful Select, who had reported back in the fall that Moxley pitched Punk losing in a quick match, was already working on an update to Punk but noted that had “more to ask about” after that post. As such, they have posted a lengthy update on Punk. The report notes that according to those in the know in AEW, Punk has said he wasn’t comfortable competing in any capacity without being cleared. There were some issues around the creative regarding the build to the match, and there had been concerns that Punk may not show but special travel arrangements had been made for Punk on the day of the match. Punk had apparently at least mentioned the idea of some additional payment for the match since he was working without being cleared.

CM Punk and Moxley are said to have appeared to have heat with each other, according to those whom Moxley has spoken to since All Out. Moxley was one of the people who lead a meeting for the locker room after the All Out Brawl along with Jericho and Bryan Danielson. There’s been no word of heat between Danielson and Punk, though it has been reported Jericho and Punk shouted at each other after the All Out altercation. It is noted that Punk is very much aware of the heat on him, and the possibility that talent could potentially walk out if he returned. There are those in AEW who believe if things came down to either Moxley or Punk, AEW would pick Moxley. At least some of the heat is believed to have died down since All Out, though there’s still a fair amount.

* As for Punk’s relationship with AEW, there has been contact between the two sides, and some close to Punk say that he has spoken to or had a couple of meetings with Tony Khan, though there’s no word on whether anything came from them. There was a planned meeting for the middle of February that got delayed due, purportedly to Jerry Jarrett’s funeral.

While it had been said at one point that Punk wanted out of his contract without any sort of non-compete clause, sources believed in recent weeks that Punk was open to an AEW return and even wanted to do so. At least one person told the outlet that Punk was willing to apologize for his comments during the post-All Out media scrum, though it is not clear to who he was willing to apologize to or whether it would be public or private. Punk had expressed regret for aspects of that night according to several people. There’s been no word of anything regarding legal action from Punk being broached, and those spoken with believed there had been “productive progression” away from that. However, following the Instagram Story, sources in AEW said they’d lost confidence in the idea of Punk returning.

* Regarding Punk’s heat with Hangman Page over the promo that Punk believed referenced Colt Cabana, which Punk referenced during his All Out rant, those the site has spoken two say that Page had tried to take himself out of the whole situation and move past it.

* As to Punk’s injury, he tore his tricep during his match at All Out and those in the know said he was hopeful that he’d be back to health by late January. They believe that he would be able to be cleared now or very soon.

* Some additional context on the All Out brawl was reported, noting that thwaswere other talent present at the time who did not get involved and weren’t suspended. There was also another production employee who got hit with a chair that hadn’t been previously reported on. There’s no word on which employee or who was responsible for the chair.

* The report debunks a rumor that Punk and Kenny Omega spoke a few days after the brawl, noting that Punk was getting set for surgery and that Omega had other things taking his time. However, the report notes the two did have a brief talk right after the brawl, and Punk is said to have told Omega that his issue wasn’t with him. Those near the conversation said that they were going to keep talking, but Ace Steel was still being dealt with. Even people close to Punk state that Omega was very composed in the aftermath.

* As noted last month Punk attended NJPW Battle in the Valley. Sources in NJPW say they didn’t know Punk was going to be there but would have welcomed him anyway, and just didn’t want AEW to think they were conspiring against them. Any notion of that was said to be quickly made clear. The only people who knew Punk would be at the show were Lars Frederiksen (who he attended the show with), his close friend Lou D’Angeli, who is Anthem’s VP of Marketing, and Rob Naylor. Frederiksen had asked Rocky Romero in January if he could attend with a friend, and it was all set up without NJPW being aware that the friend was Punk. Punk is said to have wanted to support Mercedes Mone for her NJPW debut.

CM Punk is still under contract with AEW and the site has reached out to both Punk and AEW, but has not heard back from either in any sort of official capacity.