Why Did AEW Fire CM Punk? Ugly Exit Resurfaces Ahead of WWE Worlds Collide

CM Punk is heading back to Chicago, and this time, he will be competing directly against his former employer.

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Punk is set to appear at WWE and AAA’s Worlds Collide on September 26 at Allstate Arena, the same night AEW presents All Out from NOW Arena in nearby Hoffman Estates.

The scheduling adds another fascinating chapter to Punk’s complicated history with AEW. Once arguably the company’s biggest star, Punk’s run ended abruptly in September 2023 when AEW fired him following a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In.

But that fight was only the final chapter of a relationship that had been unraveling for more than a year.

So, why exactly did AEW fire CM Punk?

Why Did AEW Fire CM Punk?

AEW officially terminated Punk’s wrestler and employment agreements “with cause” on September 2, 2023, less than a week after All In at London’s Wembley Stadium.

The decision followed a backstage confrontation between Punk and Perry at the August 27 event.

AEW conducted a weeklong internal investigation into the incident. According to the company’s statement, its disciplinary committee then met with outside legal counsel and unanimously recommended to AEW President Tony Khan that Punk be terminated with cause.

Khan ultimately made the decision to fire him.

The AEW president later addressed the situation on Collision, saying the incident endangered people backstage and that he personally felt his safety was at risk.

It was a stunning ending to a run that began with one of the loudest ovations in AEW history.

CM Punk’s Problems With AEW Started Long Before All In

Punk made his highly anticipated return to professional wrestling with AEW in August 2021, more than seven years after his final WWE match.

By 2022, however, backstage tensions were becoming part of the story.

Punk took issue with comments “Hangman” Adam Page made during a televised promo ahead of their AEW World Championship match. Punk later told ESPN that he believed Page had gone off script and referenced backstage rumors surrounding Punk and his former friend Colt Cabana.

Those tensions exploded following AEW All Out in September 2022.

After winning the AEW World Championship, Punk used his post-show media scrum to publicly criticize Page, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, among others.

Things then became physical backstage.

Punk was involved in an altercation with Omega and The Young Bucks, who were also AEW executive vice presidents. Punk and the three members of The Elite were subsequently suspended.

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Nearly nine months later, Punk returned as the centerpiece of AEW’s new Saturday night show, Collision.

The comeback wouldn’t last long.

What Happened Between CM Punk and Jack Perry?

Another backstage disagreement eventually developed between Punk and Perry, reportedly stemming from Perry’s desire to use real glass for an angle.

At All In 2023, Perry wrestled HOOK on the pre-show and made a pointed comment about using “real glass” while looking into the camera, adding, “cry me a river.”

The situation escalated when Perry returned backstage.

Punk and Perry confronted each other and became physical shortly before Punk was scheduled to open the main card against Samoa Joe.

Both men were suspended following the incident.

For Punk, however, there would be no return this time.

Less than a week later, AEW announced that his contracts had been terminated with cause.

Footage of the confrontation eventually became public when The Young Bucks aired the security video during an April 2024 episode of Dynamite, months after Punk had already returned to WWE.

CM Punk Returns to Chicago Opposite AEW All Out

Three years later, Punk’s history with AEW has become relevant again.

WWE has confirmed Punk for Worlds Collide on September 26 at Allstate Arena, while the venue is advertising Punk, Rey Mysterio and El Grande Americano against Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Omos.

AEW, meanwhile, will hold All Out at NOW Arena that same night, putting the two major events roughly 20 miles apart in the Chicago area.

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The location only makes the situation more interesting.

Chicago has been synonymous with Punk throughout his career. It was where he made his famous AEW debut in 2021, where he returned to the company on the first episode of Collision in 2023 and where AEW had to announce his firing just days before All Out.

Now, Punk will be back in the Chicago area wearing a WWE logo while AEW runs one of its biggest events of the year just down the road.

It is quite the full-circle moment for a relationship that once seemed capable of changing the wrestling industry.

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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 3:17 PM.