Billy Gunn Weighs In On Brawl Out, ‘Certain Veterans Aren’t Going To Put Up With That Shit’
What started as one of the greatest returns in wrestling history ended in wrestling tragedy as the relationship between CM Punk and AEW flamed out in two years.
The height of the drama came at AEW All Out 2022, when Punk aired his grievances at the press conference following the event, calling out Hangman Page, Colt Cabana, and the Young Bucks for their attitude and management. Punk’s comments led to a reported fight between Punk, Ace Steel, the Bucks, and Kenny Omega.
Speaking to Kenny McIntosh on Inside The Ropes, Billy Gunn, who works as a coach in AEW, reflected on the incident.
“I wasn’t around for that. I knew the incident that happened, and it was what it was. They just have to realize that sometimes, there are certain veterans that aren’t going to put up with that shit, no matter what. If you’re a young buckaroo and you want to poke the bear, get ready to get bit. I think that’s what happened. I don’t know the whole details; that’s between them,” he said.
Gunn said he didn’t pay attention to the media stuff surrounding the incident.
Asked about how things like that were handled during his time, Gunn replied, “Vince (McMahon) had things under control really good. I don’t have to like you to work with you. I just have to do business. 99.9% of the guys always do that. There will be a spat every now and then where you just pull them into a room, shut the door, and you don’t do it in public or in front of the boys. If you have a problem, we fix it now, so that when you walk out the door, we don’t have a problem anymore. That’s how grown-ass people deal with shit. Nowadays, we don’t, and that’s sad.”
Punk was suspended by AEW for his role in the incident. He returned a year later, but was fired after another incident at AEW All In 2023.
Elsewhere during the interview, Gunn commented on Triple H’s shot at AEW during the 2019 WWE Hall of Ceremony. You can find his full comments here.
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