Tony Khan Says The CM Punk-Jack Perry Tape Spoke For Itself And He Didn’t Agree With Punk’s Description Of What Happened
In April 2024, CM Punk spoke with Ariel Helwani and recounted the backstage incident between him and Jack Perry at AEW All In 2023. Punk said that he choked Perry “a little” and then yelled over at Tony Khan, saying he quit.
AEW would air the backstage footage of what happened with Punk and Perry on an episode of AEW Dynamite.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Tony Khan explained why the decision was made to air the footage.
“I do think that I didn’t necessarily agree with the description of how it all happened. It’s a TV show and it did a very strong number. For many reasons, I think it made sense, and it was a thing that was advertised, and it got a lot of attention, and it did a very strong number. It’s in the eye of the beholder.
“I think the tape spoke for itself and I didn’t agree with how it happened. It was a major part of why I think he was no longer able to continue with us, even though I would have liked to be able to, and it’s clear that I wanted to reconcile and do those things.”
Punk was fired from AEW one week after the All In 2023 incident.
Elsewhere during the interview, Khan responded to other criticisms that Punk had following his AEW departure. You can find his full comments here.
