Jim Cornette on AEW Turmoil And The Aftermath Of CM Punk's Confrontation With AEW EVPs

[@maceomaceo11]

Punk has been called a lot of things, a majority of them true, one thing nobody has called him is a liar.

[@ChadVital]

Great point. Well I think that doctor guy who Punk buried on Colt's show called him that lol.

[@decepticonxhunter4850]

HHH and John Cena basically called him a liar.

[@dansokulski4039]

@@decepticonxhunter4850 when did Cena say that?

[@Ryanonfire03]

@@decepticonxhunter4850 HHH said he’s all about himself and what benefits him but don’t think he called him a liar.

[@jmswillow5969]

Doesn't matter it's childish to do it the way it was done and then had a fist fight after. Adults and business minds would have called a meeting and squashed it. It put Tony khan in a bad spot too. He had a look of wtf do I do. Because he clearly has never had to deal with an outburst live like this.

[@johnnygrind77]

The part that really stuck with me with the media scrum is: "I'm old, I'm hurt, I'm tired, and I work with fucking children." I'm sure many of us can identify with this quote, too.

[@kingofhuecomundo9394]

while eating muffins 🧁🧁 CLASSIC 😂 CM Punk STILL the Best in the World!!!!!!!!!

[@waldorfsalad2307]

Punk is just disillusioned with the whole experience of working in AEW. He thought these guys were serious, and that he'd be looked up to and respected as a veteran. He was an optimist.

[@justoneguy2487]

"I'm old, I'm hurt, I'm tired." Meanwhile AJ Styles, Billy Gunn, Bobby Lashley, Edge, R-Truth, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Sheamus are all either his age or older, yet look better and are still operating at a full time schedule. (granted most have been on the juice (edit: or some form of PE supplements) while Punk is straight edge but still)

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

@@waldorfsalad2307 Nah, I’m sure he knew he would stand out with his talent and attitude. Didn’t count that they would get under his skin that deep which has never truly been all that hard just ask hornswogle and Randy Orton

[@WeNeedMorePositivityInTheWorld]

@@justoneguy2487 why would they take the juice? It would make them slower in the ring even edge took the juice and said he stopped because he didnt like how it was making him feel in the ring

[@ThymeKeeper]

Brian's rant about AEW executives making bad decisions is SPOT ON.

[@RationalGaze.BingChillin]

100%

[@Masutora]

I felt that rant.

[@DreamStepper]

Sad that punk isn't on TV, but it's great that he took Kenny Omega and The Bucks out with him, truly the best champion in AEW history.

[@KC-vx5wo]

it was his parting gift to FTR

[@suddendarknessgaming4791]

@@KC-vx5wo yeah to bad it's not really changing anything with FTR

[@carolynbuckley8733]

Lol in prison when the opposition gets too many numbers we send two or three guys to attack a group of 15 to 20. The two or three guys will obviously lose the physical fight but will win the battle as all parties involved will be rolled up and sent to the hole thus evening out the numbers on the yard. I don't know why your comment reminding me of that. But good job punk. Lol now the numbers are more even

[@vicdaful]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheMollyman420]

Nah

[@richardpreston7333]

You know it's gotten crazy when Jim is calming Brian down

[@pezzz182]

Haaa I cant wait. I'm only 20 minutes in.

[@jasonsears6879]

No shit haha. I love me some Cornette

[@GiGiVoxx]

Facts

[@dennismuk5809]

Yet it would've been the other way round 😅

[@brodyjames4126]

Brian is the real MVP... No wonder Corny needs him level headed.

[@andrew8168]

Tony Khan shares a bank account with his dad. Thats why Tony cringed so hard when Punk said Colt shared a bank account with his mother.

[@khathide22nd]

😳...🤣🤣🤣

[@Everson33]

To be fair tiny does function a little more independently than colty

[@Candies69]

💀

[@Leaf-CS2]

Actually loled

[@Tkrds]

😂🤣ima go back n see his face reaction

[@brettperry3737]

Hell... here was Ricky Starks on July 19th. _"Punk is leadership in the truest form. I've asked him countless times about advice and things like that backstage and he's always willing and open to it. And so I do miss him. I feel his absence, for sure, in the locker room. I'm counting the days until he makes his return."_

[@markbradley9907]

And Starks is another talented lad who is being sidelined. Interesting.

[@tahaelghrib1622]

Yeah but the "wrestling media" are only interested in what the other side leaks.

[@natedizzle106]

Just because Omega, the Bucks and Khan are lame ass marks doesn't mean Punk isn't an egomaniac asshole. His reputation has preceded him everywhere he has gone. I respect none of them.

[@conanlindsay4679]

@@natedizzle106 wtf are you talking about? What did he do in WWE except get treated terribly and forced to work while having a serious injury Talking absolute nonsense

[@Z2KR]

@@markbradley9907 The fact that youngbucks dropped the titles to SIOG rather than Starks and hobbs pissed me off. These guys don’t hesitate to push their friends but people that actually are interesting and have the fans behind him it’s like their blind or something.

[@mickeymojito]

Astonishing that Tony got CM Punk to comeback after 7 years, 3/4 of Undisputed, Malakai Black, Bryan Danielson , only to completely drop the ball with all of them

[@jthom0027]

It really is shocking how badly they were all screwed up.

[@xavierwilliams2228]

man I dislike aew but damn that hurts!!

[@donmeyers2631]

Right? I can imagine how punk must feel after all those years. He finally gave in, came back and this is what was waiting???? Fuuuuuuuuuck

[@yotambirinbaum6159]

100% accurate. The better the talent, the less AEW knows what to do with them, or at least how to handle them WELL. Samoa joe and Saraya. Like seriously, both are some of the BEST (not to mention underated) talent if the last two generations, and AEW made HOT GARBAGE out of them.

[@jesterr7133]

Uncle Dave's reporting on this situation has been so openly biased that it honestly shocked me, despite knowing his affinity for the Bucks. He spent thirty minutes just trashing Punk, without saying anything negative about the Elite. Brian was exactly right.

[@Gurziak]

And Corny and Brian did the same thing from the other side. Theres your side there's my side and in between there's the truth

[@Yoni123]

@@Gurziak no, corny is right

[@kingaqua908]

@@Gurziak Cornette literally said Punk should be disciplined as well. He can actually be objective unlike Meltzer

[@Gurziak]

@@kingaqua908 he's injured for the next 8 months. Hardly seems like a punishment

[@kingaqua908]

@@Gurziak What do you want Tony to do? Suspend him? He's gonna be out for 8 months like you said and he had the title stripped off him. I don't know what type of punishment you're looking for lmao

[@ScammerPayback]

Ugh it’s like Christmas Day. Thank you. I hate the young bucks.

[@dansheldon1762]

Pierogie! Huge fan of your KZbin channel and really excited to see you on Jim Cornette's channel! Then to see you say you hate the Young Bucks? I'm officially your biggest fan now LOL!

[@jdm6413]

@@dansheldon1762 Same lmao

[@aspectra]

Delete they're files, Pierogie!

[@rj5822]

FTE, fck the elite

[@PaulDaHeadBanger]

@@dansheldon1762 the cross over I didn't know I needed

[@NAustin518]

There’s only one person to blame here: Tony Khan. He let it get this far. He has the power to shut down whatever bs is going on, backstage, and never did. Instead of being proactive he was reactive. When you are doing the latter, instead of the former, you already lost the plot.

[@dimedraweriv258]

Should have never hired those 3 goobers as VPs to begin with so yep ultimately his own fault .

[@daedaethomas47]

Punk is a j0bbeR tbh

[@theconnected7234]

He's only proactive when it comes to smoking out the wrestlers' weed.

[@dimedraweriv258]

@The Connected I think he's more a powder guy

[@insertnamehere5387]

He messed up from the start allowing kenny and the young bums to be EVPs

[@SSJ2Phenom]

Man this discussion about this incident is exactly what I needed. I was starting to think that all the wrestling fans in the world had lost, as Jim would say, their rabbid-ass minds. All I've been hearing from fans or reading on Twitter and on message boards and in forums and on Reddit and in KZbin comments is how it's all Punk's fault and how the Elite are innocent. Now you can piss on my head but don't tell me it's raining while you do it. Every major incident of backstage drama that AEW has had has involved the Elite in one way or another. They have refused to put people over, they have conspired to get other people to lose their positions and ultimately nixed from the company, and they whine and cry to the so-called "wrestling journalists" so that their fanboys can look at them as heroes. I'll never say that CM Punk is an angel but what I will tell you is that he is by far the biggest star THAT company has and has ever had and in the illustrious history of professional wrestling a promoter that is worth anything is going to always side with their biggest star that makes them the most money and gets them the most eyes on their product. This past year from September 2021 to September 2022 has been AEW's most successful and profitable year to date and it is all because of CM Punk. The problem though Is that Tony Khan is not a promoter that is worth anything. If he were he would have handled this as soon as Page walked back through the curtains from that promo where he went into business for himself or he would have handled it when he first heard the rumors going around that Punki got Colt Cabanna fired or he would have handled it when Punk came back and did his shoot promo or he would have stopped Punk at the media scrum. So this failure is just as much on him as it is the principles involved. Make no mistake though, I'm blaming the Elite. They are executives in the company and their power and management comes with a larger set of responsibility and accountability. Now the AEW fanboys will tell everyone that Punk disrespected Tony Khan by saying what he said at the media scrum. I guess there's a kernel of truth in that. But what about the disrespect that Hangman Page showed TK when he went into business for himself before the pay-per-view against Punk? What about the disrespect that the Elite showed him when they tried to confront Punk without speaking to Tony first? What about the disrespect they've showed him with all of the issues they've caused backstage? Punk was and has been hailed as a hero by both the fans AND the locker room in AEW. That is UNTIL he started his program with Page. Go figure. Once is happen stance, twice is coincidence, but beyond that it's a damn pattern. This as been going on regarding the Elite since even before AEW was a thing. How are current fans this jaded and able to be so worked? Smart fans used to be, ya know, SMART!!!

[@burnsyboy2007]

Totally agree with everything you said here. It fucking winds me up when all the niche Buck/Omega online fans comment on Twitter etc. blaming Punk, saying he's "a cancer in the locker room", when they haven't got a fucking clue. They just listen to biased cunts like Meltzer......

[@jaybaybay2705]

Amen brother !! God damn man that was the best shit I’ve read in a long damn time and 100% the got damn truth !! You need your own pod cast to bring these AEW dumb ass smart marks back up to speed. ! Someone’s gotta be the light in their oh so dark tunnel !! Good job bro

[@Copperstoned]

It felt cathartic to read your thoughts on this matter. Really well put and you maintained the chronological order of the events too. It has been a pattern with the Elite (mostly the Bucks) dating back to when they were released by TNA, giving about a week’s notice to ROH to book them in their upcoming shows and then having the temerity to complain about being jobbed out by well-built talent to these so called “dirt sheets” who *love* printing any comment that is controversial. The marks read these articles and offer their fake sympathies to these jobbers. The jobbers think they’re over and well, the rest is history as they say. If the Bucks are talented in one thing then it’s their Twitter game. They know how to rile up the marks. Peace! ✌️

[@theelectricbastards9472]

Thank you very much. I sometimes would look at comment sections and felt like I was the only sane one in the room. As far as I'm concerned 'The Elite' stormed into Punk's locker room looking for a fight. With a guy who wouldn't even back down from Vince fucking McMahon. Punk has stood up to anyone whom he feels (wether you think it's valid or not) had slighted him, especially in front of others. I may be an asshole for thinking it or maybe someone can say I'm a bitchboy for Punk but when I heard that Punk was the first one to throw the punch, my first thought was... "Well, what did they say to cause that response?" Out of all the years Punk has been in the business and has had issues with guys backstage, has he ever thrown the first punch? Has it even gotten to that point before? Correct me if it has.

[@d.a.blankenship366]

Best comment I’ve read and I’ve said the same stuff to many. The simping for the Elite has been unreal and strange to watch. Great comment.

[@undefeateddynasty7974]

I know cornette is going to have his bias in his takes, but THANK YOU for being one of the only outlets that aren't acting like The Elite are innocent.. Only other guy I've seen do it was Dutch Mantel

[@stnr247]

Pwinsider has the same stance as Jim and Dutch. The first article I read about this was on pwi and they said if Punk or Steel are fired then The Elite needs to be fired as well.

[@WhipDarling]

Thank god for JC, Brian Last and Dutch Mantell actually talking some truths.

[@reece1341]

Punk and The Elite are both equally to blame for it plus Tony Khan

[@undefeateddynasty7974]

@@reece1341 true . we aren't going to get that true unbiased take, but sensible fans know they are all garbage

[@undefeateddynasty7974]

@@WhipDarling it's refreshing man I love it

[@trafficosrs]

this media scrum has been the gift that keeps on giving thank you very much Jim and Brian!

[@exilhamburger4802]

Please remember, as Jim Cornette compares the current AEW mess with the cliq. They didn't have official roles in WWE and there were a number of influential people around Vince (Patterson, 'Brother Love' etc.), who were able to voice their opinions. And the major difference: Across the locker room were other veteran wrestlers, whom the cliq didn'T want to fuck with (most important the BSK)

[@christhornycroft3686]

Let’s not forget, last Wednesday was the first time (to my recollection) that Tony Khan has been booed by an AEW crowd. He usually gets good pops. He gave them CM Punk back. They seemed to love him. On Dynamite, they treated him like he was Gary Bettman in Canada.

[@PhillyLeotardo25]

Yeah well Canada like CM Punk they hate Jews

[@3ShotTGK]

They booed him worse than Hebner in Montreal

[@MrSircharles05]

He probably knew he'd get booed, which was why that announcement was prerecorded. Doesn't he usually do announcements live?

[@ShaneTumminello]

He also read that entire announcement off of a teleprompter which I thought was hilarious.

[@caligulalauren9071]

The boss nodded in agreement every 3-5 minutes sitting next to punk and didn’t stop him. There should be some booes for the evp’s as well cause it doesn’t seem like lies were told. Unprofessional yes, but there’s a lot of that to spread around and it seems like it’s only going to punk and the boss

[@mattglass9979]

Brian kills it at 24:05 ... never work for adults who act like children

[@SuRoFo]

@Matt Glass Rarely have I seen Brian this heated. Even Jim had to simmer him down.

[@aerodynamicsalamander]

Not fair to punk though, he wanted to come back and try to take this company to the top, he’s under a giant money contract and he didn’t know they acted like children until recently.

[@dankelly5150]

@@aerodynamicsalamander And if they were dumb enough to fire him, I'm sure he wouldn't care and just retire again !! 🙄

[@nickhughes8179]

If they fire Punk, get him on the Experience. Punk and Corny exposing and dumping ass on The Elite and their brony neck beard fanboys would be solid gold!

[@meowskiss4475]

Thats because Brian lovesssss cm punk

[@khathide22nd]

1:06:41 I like how, despite being totally on Punk's side, they still admit that Punk also needs to be disciplined.

[@ISetYourFaceOnFire]

Agreed. Cornette and brian takes on this. Despite them liking him, they still address this objectively.

[@tommyscavetta3153]

Cody came up with the idea for all in back then

[@hoozle]

Like Punk, Jim is always brutally honest.

[@saief3213]

The fact that this is an hour long plus and he only takes like 5 minutes to complain about punk just shows the level of bias in Cornette

[@edwardknox9269]

@@saief3213 It only took 5 mins thats why. This just shows how much more needed to be talked about.

[@billsiebert2758]

I love how all the young guys who took advice from Punk have seen their gig get better while the younger guys who bad mouth him and blow him off have basically watched their careers get worse! Great stuff!

[@abcsin6526]

I want those guys to go down and their career still haven't got worse

[@keepnitredneck5578]

I agree with you 110%

[@saief3213]

@@keepnitredneck5578 this interaction is so sad. Both you guys wishing for the failure of the company just shows how you don’t really care about this, you just like seeing the things burn

[@Yoni123]

@@saief3213 wanting the elite gone IS caring about the companys success

[@saief3213]

@@Yoni123 the company wouldn’t exist without the elite. It’s literally aEw

[@WhipDarling]

As soon as Omega came back I knew this shit would happen. In his first promo back he spoke about himself and the Bucks being unique and no one being like them. He then mentioned they don’t copy other wrestlers (a dig at Punk/FTR) and then after his match at All Out he said to the camera “follow that” and something about the boys in the back. Now we hear in the meeting a couple of weeks ago he pointed at the wrestlers and said he wouldn’t hire 8-10 of the wrestlers if he ran a company which didn’t go down well. The Bucks have done nothing since Omega was injured apart from running from FTR and seeing all this anti-Punk propaganda from Solomoster, JDfromNY and Meltzer/Alvarez just shows you how out of touch these morons are.

[@nickhughes8179]

Molly Meltzer Magoo I’m not surprised. Solomonster. That was disappointing to hear he sided with Camp Cucamonga. JDfromNY206 is just a cosplay Russo.

[@ameliastencil6058]

Ditto

[@markcampbell2702]

Punk did what other wrestlers were afraid to do (risking their jobs if they did)....exposing the EVP's for being the 2020's version of The KIiq and holding back talent. Even though the outcome was suspensions on both sides, I'm glad he stepped up and told the public what's been going on. I think Corny and Brian said it best last week....Punk is a star and a ratings draw, whether you like him or not, and he has enough money for a lifetime so the EVP's can't use their influence on him. Tony Khan fucked this up from the start.

[@rleonardgreen78]

@@markcampbell2702 if Punk was a ratings draw, then AEW would be able to beat the 1st show ratings. AEW tv ratings were better prior to Punks arrival.

[@Syfcobra8549]

Omega said "follow that"?? LOL The Acclaimed vs Swerve and Keith was 100000 times better than Omega match

[@TakerKaneanite619]

Tony Khan is the "This is fine" meme, in human form.

[@kimymarie596]

Oh thank god, someone is finally talking sense. Uncle Dave and his minions have been insufferable. They actually said that Punk has hurt his own legacy because now he will never make the wrestling observer hall of fame like Kenny. I almost spit out my drink.

[@Ted_Bell]

The observer hall of lame is a joke.

[@nickhughes8179]

Observer Hall of Fame is a work and a cosplay award

[@davidjsaul]

Uncle Dave is deluded if he thinks Punk gives even a nugget of a shit about not making that crappy HoF 😂

[@ScottRen14]

Ha, I forgot they have their own HOF 😂😂😂😂

[@imre456]

The Bucks and Omega have cosplayed as Hogan and the Outsiders for so long they actually became them, turning AEW into WCW. Too sweet indeed.

[@kazar_redbull1]

I’ve been saying this before

[@northleedspoppa]

Inoki sent Omega to take AEW down from inside -IWC bell ends 2035

[@adamcummings4060]

Uh no, hogan and the outsiders drew huge numbers and money. Totally different thing.

[@ice8259]

Rewatching this again after Ace Steel eluded that Jim's summary and depiction of the brawl is basically how it ACCURATELY went down

[@alyssahanna1139]

wait really?

[@rif5556]

I was debating the topic of Megah being there with my buddy, he doesn't see it as an issue but my point is exactly what Jim and Brian said. If that's your head of Legal, and she didn't think to advise 3 EVP's against barging into an employees room while he is clearly disgruntled then it's probably time to look into a new head of the legal department.

[@RobCrowley85]

Absolutely right, spot on

[@mattypaul87]

Tony was too busy focusing on what WWE was doing that he didn't see what was happening in his own company. I hope this is an eye-opener for him and that he makes legit changes if he wants AEW to still be around in 5 years.

[@anthonyrousseau8050]

Try 2 years. Once MJF leaves the company in 2024, they're dead.

[@TheTalk23]

Exactly.

[@welowee7610]

Absolutely

[@MrRjh63]

Hell even after all this shit was done in the back he was up there declaring how he will spend the WWE into the ground as if money is a cure all.

[@Lolp821]

Watch out guys, Matty Paul knows the score somehow.

[@joelwashko6572]

Man, you guys nailed it here. How many opportunities did Tony Khan have to shut this stuff down? I see all these wrestling reporters talking about the incident and they give Tony Khan a complete pass(most just outright blame Punk). When you're the owner of a major business, the environment is a direct reflection of you. Tony sounds like a nice guy who loves wrestling, but now that the company has grown to what it is now, it shows even more so how much in over his head he is.

[@GreyLeo]

It's sad because TK even said that he should of handled it in the media scrum.

[@jamesteegardner2273]

@@GreyLeo He should've handled it right after Page got back into the locker room after he went into business on Punk in that promo. TK is a child and that's the problem here. I think Jim actually feels for him because I'm sure he can identify with being a fan who actually got to be in the business they loved. But you gotta grow the hell up if you want to run a successful business, especially at that level! If you're too childish and as a result afraid of confrontation then you shouldn't be running a business.

[@tonyclifton2230]

Yeah vince would know what to do. When dynamite got his teeth knocked out. He really showed his leadership by doing nothing. Our bret v shawn. He showed how great he was there. Do nothing and scroo one of them over 6 months later.

[@omegamark9178]

@@tonyclifton2230 at least he was what,30-40 years in before his company turned into a you-know-what show,,this is only year 3!🤣🤣🤣 I'll bet when the retrospective comes out after aew goes down(2 years at best),and everything comes out Aew will make dixie carter's tna look like wwe's golden years by comparison!

[@bootneyfarnsworth2844]

Its obvious that Tony Khan doesn't like confrontation of any kind

[@NoName-cz3wn]

If my wife was on crutches, its just me and 1 friend, and 8 ppl whos intentions seem even remotely ill, I'm throwing chairs. Im biting. Im kicking below the belt. I am going thru as many of those 8 as possible, no matter the outcome. I assume the only reason Ace didn't sue AEW is Punk told him "this didn't go well for my other best friend, let me just pay you out of my own pocket".

[@Nediablo]

Coming back to this and knowing it happened AGAIN in AEW and knowing they've learnt NOTHING blows my mind even more than when this first happened!

[@frank-bmtz]

Regardless on Punk’s lack of success in the UFC, no one can disagree with Jim here. Punk is a legit former pro fighter with training and the Bucks don’t have any training, Punk can easily take them.

[@TheTalk23]

Tony is all tough when talking about WWE. When it comes to stepping up to his talent. He gets all shy.

[@lastsinnersa8002]

Travis is back with a vengeance! Savage, golden, hilarious!

[@bigglilwayne7050]

Can we say for certain that he never left?? I only say that because as different as everything is, the face on the tee shirt is eye mfk'n dentical lol....

[@heelfan3450]

These other artists are talented as hell but Travis’ art is just so great!

[@nerdocalypse7466]

bro the mishmash of carr and punk is spooky

[@JGilbert11]

Travis perfectly demonstrates "Less is more" with his artwork. The other artists were talented but Travis is so damn good with the small things

[@harrylumley2851]

Only he gets tonys crazed coke eyes right lol

[@SSJ2Phenom]

This video went from great to all time classic when Jim said, "We've got the Hardly Boys, Twinkle Toes, Cutlet, Noka Noka "Knock It The F*** Off!" 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Outstanding.

[@mrmarcus200525]

LMAO!!!!

[@southpaw933]

Thank you Jim ! It’s baffled me all week that people are giving punk 90% of the blame .

[@Emily-yg4vv]

Yes but there was a time and place for everything.if I was Punk I would of told TK, fire hangman and get rids of all these EVPs titles or I’m going to sue for unprofessional behavior and under management and misbehavior assault

[@mayson9817]

There still blaming him lmao

[@luisortiz1203]

Apparently Kenny Omega said he wouldn't have hired 80% of the talent in AEW yet he brought in That Michael Nakazawa guy. Who was putting baby oil all over himself. He completely turned me off to AEW early when they 1st came out. Why was Nakazawa ever given a job??? Trash Beta shit.

[@joelatkins5365]

Just out of curiosity... Are we all just pretending that Omega and Nakazawa aren't in a ❤ relationship ❤ ? Everything you see regarding the two of them seems to hint at this, in my humble opinion...

[@thtsnico]

the best part of the media scrum was after punk buried the evp’s, and got up to go to his locker room, the first thing out of tony’s mouth was “he’s such a sweetheart.” tony is obviously on punk’s side, but i can see how making that obvious would make the locker room lose their shit

[@Lolp821]

Any time Tony is on camera in front of press he's going to come across as non-aggressive. You can't be a boss and be publicly contentious that causes even more talking in the media. As you said too, he has to show as being on his side with themselves as a team.

[@cameochris]

Cause Tony even realises he has been taken for a ride, Boss Mode Tony is coming out now after the WB takeover happened you gonna see a leaner roster as well as all the edicts WBD send down no more jobs for friends just pure business TYBs and Kenny are the dumbest people in the business they have just worked themselves out of EVP positions and given Tony full dictatorship control

[@shindean]

The bucks basically got reminded at that moment why they could never succeed in an industry that they could never make money for.

[@gregkottler5736]

Yea, now we know Punks role, he's Tony's cleaner.

[@CS-ms9td]

he was nodding his head in agreement the whole time. watch the end and see how he was smiling at punk. I would bet that Tony knew punk was going to do this. he let punk say what he couldn't.

[@dimedraweriv258]

It seems to me there was two sides fighting for the soul of the locker room , and Punk was quickly gaining more influence, and the Elite didn't like it. Kinda like Tobias vs Barnes in Platoon.

[@codyzempel5506]

I couldn't agree more..I think it's a battle over locker room influence and who has more pull. Yes Kenny and the bucks are EVP's but let's be honest I think Tony kinda bowed down to whatever Punk said and felt because of his star power and ability to draw. It's a power struggle for sure, I think the three feel Punk had nothing to do with building the company he wasn't there off the get but jumped in when it was already red hot

[@christhornycroft3686]

@@codyzempel5506 I’d side with Punk too. It’s about money. It’s a business. When those idiots start drawing, then I’d listen to them.

[@Fozzie420]

Excellent Platoon reference 7.5 🌟

[@xSKYKILLAx]

Platoon…….damn good movie

[@toddkonrad2407]

When The Machine Breaks Down, WE Break Down!

[@Lembardi]

"The owner of a company should never come off as a cosplaying mark" 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@PhillyLeotardo25]

Exactly only someone mentally deranged would support Omega,Young Bucks or CM Punk

[@BrickFighter13]

24:08 I’ve never heard Brian get this heated, but he is right though.

[@dansokulski4039]

Any Chicagoans who go to Blackhawks games and know who he is can tell you Punk is cool and patient as shit with fans. He signs and says Hey to peeps the whole game from what I’ve seen personally. He was frustrated and had a rare moment of unfiltered honesty. I still blame Tony for his poor leadership

[@adamcummings4060]

Leave the dude alone at the hockey game bro. It’s cool to say what’s up, but then move right on. Just because he doesn’t curse you out doesn’t mean he wants to do it. Bro is trying to watch the game not entertain you.

[@Elixir111]

39:00 “they were looking to go where, the hospital!?” Jim Cornette is an absolute gem

[@benespinosa6725]

I hope Tony Khan grows a set of balls and acts like a boss and fires Twinkletoes Mcfingerbang and the cucamonga Kids As EVP'S and put Jerry lynn dean malenko and Arn Anderson in that role instead of having the inmates running the asylum so to speak this AEW Situation is making WWE look like the babyfaces in this scenario.

[@dodesskiy1]

That's the idiotic part to me. They have the real vets that could have plain recreated the 1996 WCW/ECW. It'd bring millions back to watching. Instead they've let 3 morons do things other promotions stopped them from doing, well most of the time. Omega needs to be separated from those 2, he might still be OK. But he can't be in charge of anything.

[@theconnected7234]

It'll take one of the EVP's screwing him over financially or on screen worse than MJF did for him to finally grow that pair. its like that kid at the playground who wont hit anyone until someone hits them first

[@bryan-still-a-poker-player]

My wildest fantasy for all this is: the elite get fired and we get 8 months of MJF and Danielson leading the show only for a PPV to close with MJF doing his dastardly best to keep the title....again....and then that ROH punk video plays again, and then his music hits. And we get Punk vs MJF leading right into the bidding war of 2024.

[@spacecloude3013]

@@bryan-still-a-poker-player I think Punk's done. He's turning 44 and he is injured after just coming back from injury. His body is breaking down. He needs to not do anything fancy if he does come back.

[@kenrickkahn]

He's not going to fire Kenny Omega even though he do need to lay down some rules.. and I agree with hiring agents to keep guys in line while he stay his ass in the office and do office things.. Hire a person to get the agents in line as well..

[@indiesongwriter5474]

Punk is an aggressive prick and The Elite are passive aggressive pricks and TK is just passive, but Punk is right when it comes to wrestling. Those indie guys don't want to hear the truth, and Punk is too petty and brutal a truth teller. But at least someone is trying to speak up there. The problem is, The Elite and the culture there is still toxic, it's just the toxic culture of a sinking ship that a lot of those guys are comfortable with. Oh well. I might just switch to WWE at this point

[@myherosandwich2683]

I didn’t realize at all how off the rails some AEW fans were until this happened. There’s a place to blame Punk here for sure, but the amount of 100% blind Punk hate I’ve seen after literal execs of AEW essentially jumped him or walked up on him, is complete and utter bullcrap. The counterclaim any Elite fan has made to anything about them being execs, Punk being injured, the implications of firing someone for an incident in which you beat him up, has essentially boiled down to some high school level “He’s a bitch, fire him”. These people aren’t teens, either lol. It’s wack how some people think the world works.

[@GMPGMP-jp5ut]

As someone who only tuned into AEW to watch CM Punk wrestle again, I never understood why the Young Bucks and Adam Page were booked as top tier talent. The only reason AEW is known is because of former WWE talent like Cody Rhodes, Sting, Chris Jericho, Brodie Lee, CM Punk and Bryan Danielson

[@Ash-cu4ni]

Awesome stuff, keep it up boys, better than watching wrestling

[@superintelligentapefromthe121]

so fucking true

[@markfroman738]

Podcasting changed the game for consuming modern wrestling

[@joshuajohnson9170]

Agreeed

[@OldsmobileSBRocket]

Especially AEW.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

True, I listen to a few wrestling podcasts. Most of the people they talk about. Including bucks and Kenny I have absolutely no idea what they look like, never seen em. Or any of their tv. Couldn’t tell you what Roman reigns looks like either. But I can recite jimmy cornette and bischoff and foley and nash about different things.

[@MortimerZabi]

After finding out that there was an injured wife on the premises, I TOTALLY understand why there was biting involved. If it were my spouse stuck innocently in the middle of a violent affray I'd do no less.

[@joshportie]

I'm thinking something along the lines of Ace was put in a headlock like Goldberg and Jericho. At that point if you are defending your wife and best friend from what appears to be a gang attack you bite to get out of the hold or whatever it takes. Omega didn't know what he was grabbing clearly. And I don't mean he didn't know who Ace was so much as an angry protective husband.

[@jaredbrady5566]

It's telling that the dirt sheets don't mention anything about the good that Punk has done.

[@christhornycroft3686]

Agreed. Classless. If you’re going to pick a fight with a guy, at least make sure the lady and the dog are out of the room. Are these guys psychopaths? What if the dog gets injured or worse? If you can be that angry with a little dog in the room or you can hear him barking, you have no soul. I don’t cry very often, but over an animal in distress, absolutely.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

That’s pretty much it, if it was my wife, daughter what ever, I’d be jamming my thumb in eyeballs no need to worry about being bit. Seeing again would be the start of their issues.

[@jeffmac9642]

​@@christhornycroft3686 Dude . I don't want you to cry but it just got reported that Twinkle toes hit puppy with the V - trigger

[@cryforthemoon]

CM Punk is coming back as a heel and you're all gonna love it.

[@kevinhewitt8043]

Just started listening to this podcast and I can say without a doubt in my mind that Jim Cornette is my spirit animal. It's not something I aspire to, it simply is what it is.

[@joehanley8322]

Which EVP did they always put forwards when they needed a face for something that required talking to adults? The one guy always in a suit and looked like an adult - Cody. Also the 1 likable evp of the bunch!

[@michaellee8816]

The most anticipated clip since the last one

[@TheTalk23]

Actually this one was bonus. Jim giving us more content.

[@exiaR2x78]

Cant remember where I heard this but found it funny af, if Punk is gone after this what a way to go out. Wins the title in his home town, trashes the evp's in front of the boss and in public, calls out hangman as being a dumb fuck, knocking out one of the young bucks. Im glad Corny brought up all the positive stuff people have been saying publicly about Punk and how hes been helping them. Anthony Bowens was another one that said Punk will go out of his way to watch his matches back with him and offer up advice. But the dirt sheets have the unnamed sources saying hes a locker room cancer

[@joelwashko6572]

I'm glad they read that article because I never saw it. At the start of this earlier last week I thought places like the Observer's reporting on it was a little suspect. Now, when you hear Meltzer saying "a lot of people want Punk gone," it makes it sound even more reckless and flippant after hearing an excerpt from that ESPN article. I wonder who Dave's sources are and who they're friends with? The talent that probably gets along w/Punk and looks to him as a leader, probably aren't the type of guys talking to reporters like Dave.

[@ziamarie]

@@joelwashko6572 Unka Dave's sources are the Elite. Hes on their d soooo much it's gross. I have no doubt when the version of the story that came out where the Bucks kicked the door in, he was furiously typing an article about how it was a 7 star super kick to the door, an instant classic. It's one big circle jerk with him and the elite

[@naturallawman2965]

@@joelwashko6572 Meltzer's sources are the obvious ones -- The Bucks. They could walk out, take a dump in the ring, and they'd immediately get 8 stars in the Observer.

[@heidisymonds4382]

C'mon nobody believes Phil Brooks knocked anyone out! 🤣

[@exiaR2x78]

@@heidisymonds4382 Any of the bucks id believe hahaha

[@TheSteveo1984]

I fully agree with you, Jim. AEW currently is starting to feel like TNA as it was run under Hogan/Bischoff and what’s-her-face. WWE is unlikely to pick up the Cucamonga boys, or have punk return. But to punk’s credit at least this time he didn’t high jack the title belt. Dutch Mantell made a point a point in his podcast, when he said they should have all been fired. No questions asked

[@theboxingboy7422]

WWE won't bring punk in. He's to much drama for them and they rather just have the guys they know will just do what they need to be done plus triple H an punk woudnt work well together. Woudnt be shocked if this is it for punk now the guy came back got so much love when he did and had a somewhat good year some decent feuds and a great one with MJF

[@huskyswordsman95]

Dixie Carter was her name. And incidents like this predate TNA. It was Bischoff, Hogan, Hall, and Nash doing the exact same thing. Allowing the top stars in the company to call the shots and run the company with no consequences when they did wrong

[@childofreason6691]

TNA was much more professional than AEW.

[@chunky9791]

That's a great a point a point.

[@Rodshark75]

@@huskyswordsman95 And even before that, Vince was allowing it to happen with the Kliq, Hart, Warrior, and Hogan, . You never let the actors tell the director and producer what to do in a movie.

[@johnaaron37]

What is AEWs legal liability if their EVPs are attacking talent?

[@adammeyer347128]

Almost universally, it’s been reported that Punk threw the first punch. Just because a group of angry people come up to you doesn’t mean you can punch them first and then claim you’re innocent.

[@johnaaron37]

@@adammeyer347128 it would be interesting to see how a court might see it. 6 people bursting into a room in an aggressive fashion, it sounds like self defense to most normal people.

[@josephmatthews7698]

@@johnaaron37 just because someone's angry with you doesn't justify violence. Any half decent lawyer would wreck self defense in a heartbeat.

[@johnaaron37]

@@josephmatthews7698 it's obvious you aren't a lawyer, so I'll take your comment with a lol a grain of salt.

[@ashleyvanheuklon7661]

That female lawyer should be reported to the bar association and have her license taken away because she clearly lacks common sense to know this was a bad idea.

[@InsignificantNick]

Imma save this to listen to at work tomorrow, thank you kind sirs.

[@fearhungerpride]

If this whole drama means that I get to see more of Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs, MJF, Serena Deeb and FTR; then I'm all for it continuing.

[@tonimaestre96]

Ricky starks is a jobber and doesnt even appear on intro

[@CorneliusPRhoades]

@@tonimaestre96 literally how he has been booked. Making Hobbs a monster at Starks expense was a 0 brain move.

[@brianparker5592]

@@CorneliusPRhoades it’s a seems like a Vince move 100%, which is ironic.

[@CorneliusPRhoades]

@@brianparker5592 they have like 20+ wrestlers that can job to him. Incredible that they did that.

[@sneevegastv7606]

And danhausen

[@mr._muji]

Vice preparing the new season of Dark Side of the Ring: All Ego Wrestling.

[@smarkslowplay3512]

All EliteGo Wrasslin

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

"No, no drugs. They were all just idiots."

[@anthonyrousseau8050]

@@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma "All the drugs went to the boss. You never forget eyes like these."

[@TheTalk23]

All friends wrestling

[@R0binah00d]

EVERYTHING Cornette has done on this controversy since the scrum with Punk has been some of the all time Greatest Content in the history of content. I can’t get enough of him talking about this entire situation.

[@hurleyjoe]

When AEW was first announced I was so excited to hear a new wrestling promotion was being created. I bought every PPV and watched every Dynamite for the first nine months of the company. Right away I noticed that the shows felt disjointed, the tone wasn’t consistent, the stories made no sense, and the in ring action didn’t tell much of a story. At first, I thought it was just growing pains of a new company, because there definitely were some good matches and stories, they were just few and far between. They started getting fewer and farther in between, and that’s when it dawned on me, this is intentional. They want the show to feel like the indies. They don’t care about having a consistent tone, stories that make sense, wrestlers following rules in the ring, they don’t care if someone does the same five fake looking moves all night. It’s meant to be there. It’s baked in. Fuck that company. I’m okay that it’s on fire. It should be.

[@pyropapi2470]

Fuk the company because they don’t do what you like? 😂 just watch wwe.. you’ll be ok

[@royalty843]

I won't say fuck aew because there is potential there. TK need to grow some balls and make his product great for the network otherwise it'll be just KZbin shows and KZbin doesn't pay as much.

[@adrianalog]

Spot on

[@AcornSmokes420]

@@pyropapi2470 I can’t wait when impact wrestling buys aew!!! Anthem sports is a 120billion dollar company

[@pyropapi2470]

@@AcornSmokes420 cool

[@donna1175]

Tony calling out WWE is like the Titanic crew challenging a nearby ship to a race, after they hit the iceberg.

[@thomasgodfrey7587]

Hmmmm...this clip has aged quite nicely after recent events with the Punk interview, Omega's audio and the whole debacle surrounding surrounding the backstage footage.

[@Tim85-y2q]

Jim hit the nail on the head that the issue really goes well beyond Punk. If The Elite are allowed to remain the bottleneck that gets to determine who "fits in" to the locker room something like this will just happen again with someone else.

[@NICH0LASW0LFF]

Jim thanks for the shout out and reading my email

[@darksword4726]

Chicago was AEW biggest market with Punk. They killed their own business and can’t draw flies to poop now. Punk got back to top position in the worldwide leader. Tony is losing his inheritance on play wrestlers

[@frostedbutts4340]

Sadly Tony's Daddy has billions more to waste. At least it gives Corny good material lmao

[@SomiariTobin]

I need a three act play based on this altercation . Act one is from punks POV , Act two is the other side and act three is the truth from Larry’s (the truth)

[@harrylumley2851]

Book it pal lol. I'd definitely watch that

[@justinsayswtf]

The Elite’s account is so hilarious that I really truly want to see it re-enacted. Three guys politely walking into a room hoping to have a civil conversation when Punk and Ace Steel went insane. Punk started swinging punches everywhere and Steel ran up and bit Kenny as Kenny was desperately trying to save Punk’s dog.

[@nalday2534]

Modern Day Rashomon

[@CornPopodopolis]

I like how Punk said he shares a bank account with his mom while sitting next to his boss who shares one with his daddy 😂

[@ArmandoOriz_]

Colt cabana*

[@drillosophy1012]

Lmao

[@bloodeagle6458]

Winner winner chicken dinner

[@thomascone5236]

🤣🤣

[@Loanwolf387]

People can argue that the guy known for pipe bombs maybe should not have dropped his most recent pipe bomb, but the locker room fight is pretty cut and dry. The EVPs were in the wrong as soon as they went into Punks locker room. No matter what story you hear, they didn’t go in there for tea 🍵

[@volodymyrbilyk555]

Both are in the wrong because that's not how adults handle things

[@MrSircharles05]

@@volodymyrbilyk555 Kenny and the Bucks are EVP's. More responsibility, more accountability.

[@TheFanaticsPlay]

One did what a wrestler does, and generated heat and attention and the boss was right there and not stopping him. But he did it as a wrestler so you can always write it off as an act The EVPs gave them heat because they handled it badly. And this was not as a wrestler but as EVPs. One is far worse and causes more damage jn the long run

[@yonugG23]

@@MrSircharles05 hella nah. Just because you hate the flippy buck doesn’t mean punk is excused. The idiot buried the company with cuck khan standing there doing nothing. He said if anyone had a problem to find him. That’s what they did. Can’t have employees swinging on EVPS. 🤷‍♀️

[@NotMyName78]

@@volodymyrbilyk555 imagine your bosses hear that you said they are idiots who don't know what they're doing and instead of ignoring it or talking to you about it they start a physical fight with you. That's what the evps did.

[@EmmettXIV]

Great advice by Cornette at the end. The real way to absolve all this chaos in leadership roles is to give these roles to qualified people that aren't the wrestlers who create division. Tony really needs some help from people that actually know how to handle business. If not, networks are not going to deal with this same bs much longer.

[@mikedire9]

You guys are the only ones giving Punk a fair shot . Thank you for that. All the online reporters are just dragging Punk through the mud.

[@iamthedave3]

If by 'fair' you mean 'completely biased in the other direction in a hypocritical manner since Jim would lay into any other wrestler who acted this way and is only covering for Punk because he despises the Bucks and Omega despite everyone INCLUDING Punk saying he threw the first punch' then sure.

[@96mrjones]

@@iamthedave3 lol please don't act like you have any love for the elite because I don't believe you.

[@nickhughes8179]

@@iamthedave3 ok Meltzer.

[@iamthedave3]

@@nickhughes8179 I find it impressive it took you three months to come up with this epic own. Do you need to sit down now? You must feel light headed after all the effort that took.

[@nabinkhadka788]

Scott Steiner promo 14 years ago still applicable to bucks and omega

[@theconnected7234]

You mean they've got a 75 and 2/3rds percents chance of beating him?

[@robertlawrence4719]

@@theconnected7234 I think he meant “your fat “. 😂😂😂. Steiner is the greatest .

[@livingw7423]

Link?

[@MrSircharles05]

@@robertlawrence4719 "Threats are a part of wrestling, but you got to look at the person that's making the threats."

[@JaculaDudek]

"They worried about star ratings, ASK USK! and we will tell you that you suck!" - that one fits too xd

[@REVIVALFitness]

I really want someone to leak the security camera footage to see who threw the first punch. (Or super kick.)

[@kelvinwilliams4651]

Don't forget the leg slap.

[@kelvinwilliams4651]

Don't forget the leg slap.

[@mikez2322]

I heard Larry the Dog hit Cutler with a Tiger Driver 98.

[@rizkyanandita8227]

With the amount of blogger, how can there are no video?

[@Frekiwolf]

@@rizkyanandita8227 Cutler had it covered, but Megah conviscated the cam (after Larry the dog took him down). 😉

[@sama2903]

Bruiser Brody....just from that example, anybody who strives to enter a locker room without permission would be dealt with out of self defense.

[@mike7683]

You think kenny and young bucks even know who Bruiser Brody is?

[@electricebb3337]

the defamation again Punk is so obvious right now is so infuriating, glad you guys can see it

[@Barfbagdontsag]

“How can we Fuck with people who outdraw them?“. Pretty sure that’s why we don’t see FTR, Miro, or Claudio too often.

[@M.Escalante360]

“Harpo McFinger-Bang and the Cucamunga Kids” 🤣

[@realsociedadla]

Thank you!! Having Brian fired up already puts this up as one of my top favorite episodes!

[@XainEisenhart]

I like how Brian is more worked up and angry than Jim. Also, even from Kenny's side of the story, he claims he was taking the dog. And Steel's wife was taking care of the dog, which is why she was in there. So Kenny forced his way in, and stole Punk's dog out of Steel's wifes hands. No wonder Steel starting biting Kenny.

[@TheSaltySeaman]

He was a real executive for Sony and he's always had an issue with BS "EVP" titles cause they generally don't do shit. In this case, they def don't get in fights with the employees on the work site lol.

[@allisoncox7243]

whatever biting a person?? Steel needs to be fired period! no excuse for that behavior again period

[@christian6455]

I don't understand why he Even was in this situation in the first place

[@TheSaltySeaman]

@@allisoncox7243 if he did. Newest rumor is the dog bit him, and they all at least agreed the dog shouldn’t go to the hoosegow under chicago dog biting laws

[@georgeasimakos1744]

If I were Punk and Kenny had even touched my dog, the first thing I’d think is “he’s going to hurt my dog” and then understandably lose it.

[@ThymeKeeper]

They don't know how to deal with Punk because he's a PROFESSIONAL. Bottom line. If he's a "cancer" it's because he refuses to play their games and instead insists on being professional and setting a professional standard. Part of being a professional is that you don't have to LIKE everyone to WORK with them. Punk did business with Jon Moxley, which says more about his professionalism than the scrum situation.

[@14traits]

Jim and Brian were the ones pointing out the cracks in AEW, years ago. And Tony, instead of patching up the leaks, did nothing, and now has to live with a broken dam and dealing with the catastrophe.

[@WallyHays]

Imagine being an attorney for the Khans. One year you're dealing with the fallout of a grossly under qualified NFL coach grabbing a young woman's tush and the next year you're going full vigilante with the Elite 6 in the lamest reenactment if the shootout at the OK Corral.

[@jeanlambert5613]

Lol. I’m sure their lawyers are giddy thinking about how close that 50ft yacht is becoming off the Khans.

[@WallyHays]

@@jeanlambert5613 not that anyone has or should ever feel bad for a lawyer (unless they're about to get absolutely mauled by Stephen P. New in a jury trial in West Virginia) but the folks that work for the family are on salary. Big bucks are made off of the Young Bucks by outside council who get to charge $2.5k an hour for taking a dump while entertaining the idea of doing some work on the case.

[@battlemole8233]

@@jeanlambert5613 like you said. Attorneys are dancing with the paycheck in pocket all the way to the bank

[@CaptLoquaLacon]

It's OK, their previous coach was hauled over the coals for trying to force players to show up for voluntary sessions... Their whole ownership is not a great example!

[@carloscolon3331]

You talking about Clowntown

[@MilMaska]

"I pride myself on being a jerk, because I'm brutally honest all the time." - CM Punk

[@mramos1126]

Because he wants the world to revolve around him...

[@MuggsyTM]

@@mramos1126 Explain to me how being fed up with false reports being leaked and people going into business for themselves = Punk wants the world to revolve around him. I'm genuinely curious.

[@nickhughes8179]

Muggsy Don’t expect a logical response from any Camp Cucamonga fantard. The Cucamonga kids are Trump supporters, they don’t operate on logic.

[@GordonSlamsay]

"tell me when I'm telling lies" -CM Punk

[@mramos1126]

@@MuggsyTMSimple. CM Punk could have spoken to the VP closed doors. He did more harm to AEW with tha just one media scrum. Optics unfortunately matter.

[@Krendall2]

This is an interesting change with McMahon stepping down. The biggest selling point for AEW was being able to be an indie wrestler on a big stage and not having to bend to McMahon's style. Now, with Triple H in charge, everything can be different. Anyone who watched NXT during its heyday knows that Trips loves athletic indie wrestlers, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him start to push those types more and more on the main roster.

[@IslandGoMTG]

I've been a fan since Wrestlemania 4, and was a hard-core fan. I watched your Smoky Mountain promotion on the regular. I recently started tuning in again,, and thought I'd check out AEW...after 2 shows I stopped taking it seriously...when I saw that jackass with the dinosaur gimmick (idk the name) I was done. Idk why you cover them. Much respect for your contribution to the business...its come a long way and back a few times since the scaffold matches! Glad you're still a voice for it.

[@matthewsmith2308]

The thing I remember is AEW was built because of the All In PPV, and that PPV was built based on Cody Rhodes chasing the NWA World Title.

[@dooodooo3474]

“Cucamunga kids” never fails to make me laugh

[@keithyw]

I think this situation marks a pivotal point where AEW/Tony Khan needs to realize that in order to sustain or grow, they must change philosophies on their direction. Before, I think Tony believed he could get a bunch of matches he wanted to see and do all the stuff he liked from the mid 90s. What he missed on was that there are lots of egos in that equation. People who would join would want to see themselves on top, etc. Those that he put on top wanted to stay on top. He probably got a lot of bad advice on what the WWE at the time was missing that would attract more talent towards them (i.e. creative freedom). So now, he had this huge mixing bowl with tons of explosive content that inevitably would self-destruct. The biggest thing Tony can do at this moment is to remove himself as the booker and being involved at all these operational level activities and focus on the money and high level strategy. He needs to start treating himself as a VC rather than "one of the boys." Next, he should take his veteran talent and/or hire people capable of running the show. JC mentioned Jim Ross but I don't know if Jim Ross would want to deal with it at this stage of his life. I think he would be good to pair up with someone else and act as a consultant and mentor someone in that spot. Also, they need a solid booker. Too bad Heyman isn't available because I think he's one of the few that could salvage this mess. But he would be smart enough to demand a huge amount of money to go over. And if Tony was smart, he'd pay Heyman. Now, I've heard that people from the inside were saying things like, "I'm surprised Punk wasn't fired for what he did." Well, I think his situation is more complicated. He's probably got a pretty nice contract because he's a top star and has a good lawyer to boot in case someone tried to screw him over. Also, because of the amount of money he demands and the business he generates (which Tony has admitted), Punk isn't someone they can just readily fire. It would be a huge blow against AEW since Punk's loyal fans would disappear. In addition, it just shows that people inside that company either are part of the Bucks/Omega click possibly trying to get Punk fired and/or don't understand business and don't care. The Bucks/Omega though are becoming a liability. The style that they are promoting not only is causing AEW to lose revenue (because it's not drawing the way they think they want) but it's causing injuries left and right. Tony Khan is basically paying people to sit at home and recover while trying to fill in those spots. But I'm starting to believe that they're responsible for key talent being held back. FTR is an obvious one, but what about people like Ruby Soho who came in with tons of fanfare? Why is she so low on the totem pole at this point? Or why is Malakai Black, despite all his bad ideas, now asking for his contract release besides mental/physical health issues, citing in addition being unhappy with his character push/development? If he was given creative freedom, which would make someone like that happy, why is he unhappy? Or how come Brian Pillman Jr have nothing despite all the potential to be a huge babyface after that Dark Side documentary was released? Something else that I question is why that lawyer/#2 in the company was brought to the locker room when all this erupted? Why didn't someone go in and grab Tony Khan while the scrum was occurring so that he could do something? #2 or not, the Bucks/Omega sounded like they were trying to plant ideas into that lawyer or perhaps set Punk up. I mean, you bring a lawyer into a locker room like that and you're effectively asking for a fight because it feels threatening. This whole thing just feels insane. Tony really should just get rid of Colt Cabana if his presence is causing this much issue and suspend Adam Page or fine him since he's been causing a lot of problems on the side. Also, he should really stop doing these media scrums. The reporters aren't real reporters imo. They're marks trying to push their own agenda and get close to the boys. Tony needs to close the door on the locker room and fine people who are leaking to the public for a while. No more outside interviews. You have to be a professional and be trusted to deliver them. And I think these days, since kayfabe is in a weird spot, some people just don't know how they should respond while the reporters don't know how to ask the right questions without hurting the business. Can't help but feel HHH is just smirking at home going, "See? I was right."

[@fart7505]

too short; read twice

[@MrSircharles05]

@@Kalbuir66 I actually read it. Lot of good points and I agree with it. That being said, I think you're right too. There a lot of consequences that should take place as a result of this, but Tony won't actually do anything.

[@georgeasimakos1744]

He was set up. What are you supposed to do when 6 guys barge into your locker room and, most likely, start threatening you? Stand there and wait to get punched in the face? Any sane person would defend himself.

[@ekosandvic7598]

I want to take a moment and thank Jim Cornette and Brian Last for this hour long discussion they did about this bizarre situation. Compared to other biased and one-sided wrestling reporters, hearing this whole clip was literally a fucking healing for my mind and soul. Thank you so much Jim and Brian.

[@aceloco817]

If Cornette was from this generation, he'd be a beast at battle rapping. Great free flowing conversation with quick punchlines. 😂 fr tho

[@cameraguyjoe36]

Still love the fact that a group of men boys confront an actual adult and Punk knocks out one of the bucs

[@johnevors5617]

You got to realize the hate for the bucks is real when Jim gives Shawn Michaels a off hand complement with saying he wasn't that bad compared to the bucks

[@MrSircharles05]

That's one thing I'll give Jim credit for: he gives people their props when they deserve it. Despite how much he personally hates Michaels, he's always acknowledged he's a great performer. He even puts over Twinkletoes a bit in this vid.

[@bob-ce5bn]

When you get knocked out by the 1 of the worst ufc fighters ever...its safe to say you street reputation was extinguished

[@13JacksonMr]

Like the journalist that sent in the letter, the "journalist" that only got one side of this and ran with it without checking should be barred and credibility should be lost (there needs to be a bigger discussion about that too). And Tony Kahn has to hire someone who would put his foot down but that would mean Tony would have to admit he fucked up. And idk if Tony is going to do that. Also Brian is getting heated because it frustrates him because of being a executive for a company and seeing all this bullshit going down as well.

[@CaptLoquaLacon]

The wrestling media is terrible. Too many are fans desperate for attention, and it feels like AEW has had a really soft ride, like when do you read a review of a WWE match and see someone write "It wasn't to my tastes, but it works for the fanbase so A-"

[@a.r.s978]

Shoutout to Ace Steel being a real one. That’s a real homie and real man.

[@reece1341]

A real man bites someone and throws a chair instead of using his fists? Fair enough

[@a.r.s978]

@@reece1341 a real man uses any means to defend his wife and look out for a friend getting jumped. They didn’t come for a fair fight so why should they. Between 3-6 people vs one guy, a lady in crutches, and a dog. Even with Ace jumping in that’s still 3-6 vs 2. I would’ve used whatever nearby too.

[@reece1341]

@@a.r.s978 getting jumped? If you’re going off the reports it was literally a 1v1 with Punk and Matt. Ace Steel hit Omega with a chair and bit him who was attacking no one. Big man Ace needs a weapon to beat up Kenny and The Bucks who everyone says have the physique of kids🤔

[@a.r.s978]

@@reece1341 most reports say The bucks (2people), Omega (+1=3), allegedly cutler and nakazawa (2 +3=5)were all present, even the lady in charge of HR and legal who was the one who got the dog out. Idk where you’re from but where I’m from when more than 2 people come up angry at you there’s a good chance it ain’t to talk. CM Punk is from Chicago so he knew what time it was. Also ask yourself this. If they only wanted to talk 1 on 1. Why did he bring all those people with them? From my experience being in and around gangs and knuckleheads it’s because the person who brought the people knows back up is right there and they can talk/act tougher. They tried to play the intimidation game except they messed with the wrong one who got loyal friends too.

[@reece1341]

@@a.r.s978 all present but not all involved in any sort of fight. They could’ve simply been standing there

[@Griffindore619]

dude thank fucking GOD Cody left when he did, he probably saw how shit was playing out backstage and how unprofessional everyone was and got out before the EVP’s got into public drama.

[@mmaneage86]

I would have been blasting the Benny Hill theme during the whole melee.

[@TerrelLism]

Tony Khan told on himself. His interview before All Out he mentioned "He doesn't care if wrestlers have heat with each other" in response being asked about tensions backstage.

[@THJamie]

The fact that dirtsheets are reporting that Young Bucks are putting "feelers" out for going to WWE just proves that CM Punk was right

[@brianparker5592]

Apparently Dave shot that down on the observer (of course he would). 😂

[@twoo57]

The fact that majority of the IWC on Twitter don’t understand this is mind boggling

[@TerrelLism]

Dynamite's ratings increased from last week with Bryan and Jericho in the main event. The last two Dynamites have been some of the most focused shows of this year. No one has accused Punk of lying!