Tony Khan Doesn’t Agree With CM Punk’s Criticism That People Walk All Over Him

In April 2024, CM Punk joined the Ariel Helwani Show to give his side of what happened between him and AEW after All In 2023.

Among other things, Punk criticized the company for how it was run and criticized Tony Khan as a boss.

Appearing on the Ariel Helwani Show, Tony Khan was asked about the fallout with Punk.

“If you look at the time before Phil came to AEW, we had a great run and we were having great times together. We’re having a great year right now with this roster and this is the best roster and the best AEW locker room. It feels like in and out of the ring, the combination, this is the best we’ve been. We also had great times together. It was clear when we started doing Collision, I wanted to reconcile and find a way to still do those things, I guess that wasn’t possible. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything (he said),” said Khan.

Punk noted that he thought people walked all over Khan, and that Khan didn’t stand up for himself.

Responding to the criticism, Khan said, “I don’t agree with that, but everybody is entitled to their opinion. That’s feedback and fair if that’s how he feels. I didn’t agree with the description of the way things played out, and that’s okay. That’s all in the eye of the beholder, just like the whole situation. AEW is doing really well right now and I’m really happy with what the people on the shows are doing and it wasn’t the first time he and I disagreed, and it may not be the last, and that’s okay. I tried to reconcile, and I wanted to find a way for everybody to work together, it didn’t work, and that’s okay. It seems like everybody is happier and doing better right now. In AEW, everybody is really happy and this is the best the locker room has been since the Jacksonville lockdown days.”

Punk was fired with cause by AEW following AEW All In 2023. He returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 and is the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

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