Former AEW champion CM Punk sacked after backstage brawl at Wembley Stadium

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    Former All Elite Wrestling World Champion CM Punk has been sacked by AEW.

    The shock termination comes just days after he was involved in a backstage fight during the company's biggest show at Wembley Stadium in London.

    Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks and is married to ex-WWE Divas Champion AJ "Lee" Mendez, reportedly had a fight with fellow AEW star Jack Perry after Perry's match against Jungle Boy, and AEW has now confirmed that Punk has been "terminated with cause".

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    AEW CEO, General Manager and Head of Creative, Tony Khan said: "Phil played an important role within AEW and I think him for his contributions.

    "The termination of his AEW contracts with cause is ultimately my decision, and mine alone.

    "Of course, I wish I didn't have to share this news, which may come as a disappointment to many of our fans.

    "Nevertheless, I am making the decision in the best interest of the many amazing people who make AEW possible every week – our talent, staff, venue operations and many others whose efforts are unsung but essential to bringing our fans great shows on television and at arenas and stadiums throughout the world."

    The fan reaction to Punk's sacking was mixed.

    One posted on X/Twitter: "It's unfortunate, but good for AEW in the end."

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    And another commented: "Shocking, as I was not expecting this."

    A third added: "Jaw genuinely dropped."

    Another wrote: "He was not seen as a mentor by the younger talent, and he did not see the younger talent as people eager to learn. "He's an all-timer, one of the greatest to ever do it, but he wasted an awesome opportunity, and the company also wasted his immense amount of talent."

    Many fans also commented on him returning to WWE, with wrestling journalist Sean Ross Sapp claiming that there was a "25% chance" of that happening, adding that "it just needs a conversation".

    Punk's final appearance for AEW was at the Wembley show on Sunday, called All Out.

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    He took on long time rival Samoa Joe with the "real" World Title on the line, and was victorious over Joe for the first time in his career.

    He was expected to appear at tomorrow night's All In show in Chicago, as that is where he is from, but he has now been sacked after an official investigation.

    But his tenure with AEW, which came after a long hiatus from the ring since quitting WWE in 2014, has been filled with controversy, including unhinged rants during post-show press conferences, and locker room brawls with top AEW talent.

    CM Punk has not yet commented on the release.

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