The fallout from the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry at AEW All In 2023 continues to unfold.
Just moments before the main card of AEW All In 2023 began, CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a physical altercation backstage, witnessed by Tony Khan. The severity of the conflict and who initiated it are subjects of differing accounts.
The conflict traces back to an argument between Punk and Perry weeks earlier over the use of real glass in a segment. During his match against HOOK on the “Zero Hour” pre-show, Perry made a comment on camera, saying, “real glass, cry me a river,” which appeared to be a dig at Punk’s camp for allegedly leaking their backstage dispute to the media.
This comment seemingly triggered the backstage problems. Reports suggest that Punk shouted at Tony Khan and threatened to quit, only to be persuaded otherwise by Samoa Joe. Punk and Joe were to open the main card of All In 2023. Despite initial plans to change the match order, Punk and Joe ultimately kicked off the show as originally intended.
Dave Meltzer, writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, provided additional details from Perry’s side of the argument. Perry’s account alleges that Punk threatened him, sparking the altercation, during which punches were thrown. He wrote,
“The version Perry apparently said included that Punk then said words to the effect of, “You know I could f*** you up at any time, right?” That version was that he then pie faced Perry and tried to put a guillotine on him and also threw some punches that were awkward from the position Punk was not doing any damage while Perry grabbed Punk’s arm to try to keep him from locking in the move. Samoa Joe came in and quickly broke it up. Perry didn’t have a bruise or scratch on him past those that he got from his match.”
In the aftermath of the incident, reports indicated that both Punk and Perry had been suspended by AEW. While a resolution is expected soon, it is essentially confirmed that neither CM Punk nor Jack Perry will be present at All Out 2023. The previously discussed match between Punk and Ricky Starks at the event has also been scrapped, at least for now.
