The hype was heavy for AEW Dynamite this week, but it wasn’t a match that fans were excited to see. Tony Khan delivered on CM Punk and Jack Perry’s fight footage at All In. This came with a boost in viewership.
The April 10 episode of AEW Dynamite brought an average viewership of 819,000 viewers, with a .30 in the 18 to 49 demographic, per Wrestlenomics. That number is up from last week’s 752,000 viewers.
The company delivered on their promise to reveal security footage from Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage brawl at All In. The silent video went viral, with many people providing their own soundtracks for the silent clip.
A number of fans commented on how this footage didn’t make the company look good in any way. Referee Paul Turner did receive some props for how he stepped in to break up the Punk and Perry fight.
Tony Khan may be regretting his decision to ‘stick it’ to CM Punk as footage of the All In London 2023 backstage altercation has been cut from AEW’s YouTube channel.
Khan seems to have had second thoughts on releasing the footage given what is transpiring on AEW’s YouTube channel. A video of the Young Bucks’ segment in which they showed the footage has been uploaded but the ten-minute video does not feature the All In footage as you can see (or rather, not see) below.
AEW may have tried to embarrass CM Punk by releasing this footage but if so, that plan has backfired spectacularly. Not only have fans and those in the industry criticized AEW for airing the footage, but the YouTube video has scored thousands more dislikes than likes.
The segment (sans All In footage) has not been met well by fans on YouTube.
Ultimately, the decision has been made to air the footage and that can’t be undone now, despite AEW flagging several videos online showing the All In altercation. While Khan may have done this to get to CM Punk following his comments to Ariel Helwani (another individual Khan has had issues with) it looks like this situation has done more harm than good for All Elite Wrestling.
We’ll see if it helped Dynamite draw a big audience, but it was a questionable ratings stunt at best. CM Punk and many more reacted to AEW showing the Brawl In clip, and we’ve compiled the best ones here.
The general consensus is… “Did we really need to see that?”
– WWE RAW Viewership: The April 8 episode of RAW had 2.362 million viewers, the most since February 17, 2020. The show drew a 0.83 rating, its best since September 30, 2019.
– Black Belt Baszler: Shayna Baszler has received her black belt from Tampa Florida Judo. The school sent out a social media blast to let everyone know about this big achievement.
– Will Ospreay’s Takes Shot: Ospreay fired back at Triple H’s comments about not wanting to grind. This was in response to a question that Pat McAfee asked Paul Levesque about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE. Ospreay’s insult also came directly after AEW aired the CM Punk and Jack Perry Fight.
– Breaking Down Footage: The video of Punk and Perry’s Brawl In fiasco has been broken down many times by fans. You can find a clip of the video below, overlaid with Punk’s explanation of how the event went down.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
CM Punk did indeed start the physicality between himself and Jack Perry at AEW All In, footage aired during the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite has proved.
During the broadcast, the Young Bucks appeared and discussed their upcoming AEW Dynasty showdown with FTR. The AEW EVPs then showed the much-anticipated backstage footage from last August’s event in London’s Wembley Stadium.
The footage shows Punk speaking with Perry, presumably after the latter’s “Real glass” line during his pre-show match with Hook. Punk proceeds to shove Perry twice and get a choke on Jack before Samoa Joe and others intervene. The two are then kept in opposite corners of the room.
It’s unclear if the release of this footage will change anything in the grand scheme of things. After all, during Punk’s interview on the MMA Hour, he said that he didn’t punch anybody but “choked him a little bit” as the footage shown on AEW Dynamite proves.
The Fans Chant
In fact, some fans who attended Dynamite chanted for Punk after seeing him attack Jack Perry. There was also a thank you chant near the end of the footage as seen in the video clip from Dynamite below.
These chants did not go unnoticed by Bully Ray, who took to Twitter to respond:
Did I just hear CM PUNK chants during the beatdown? ?????
While a portion of the audience at Dynamite appeared to be on Punk’s side, this footage isn’t a favorable look for Punk. The Chicago-Made star is a veteran with decades of wrestling to his name who should have known better at the time.
Ultimately, Punk is gone from AEW and seems much happier in WWE, where his conduct has been exemplary so far. With that said, the Best in the World proves to be quite the talking point with his former employer.
AEW is set to air footage from CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl and WWE star Grayson Waller couldn’t resist a little trolling on social media. Waller referenced tonight’s highly-publicized release of AEW All In footage by teasing a scandalous video of his own.
Waller claims he and SmackDown tag team champion partner Austin Theory recently beat ip the entire WWE locker room backstage and the whole thing was captured on video.
Later today, I’m going to share exclusive security camera footage of myself and @_Theory1 beating up the entire WWE locker room backstage.
It’s time the world knows how tough the Smackdown Tag Champs really are!
There are several pro wrestlers from WWE, AEW and beyond who have proven to be experts and hurtling insults online. Waller recently took aim at NXT star Lexis King and compared the second generation star to the infamous Tiger King.
SEScoops published an in-depth article about the footage that AEW will air on the 4/10 episode of Dynamite, including all the supporting information for this controversial chain of events.
It seemed highly unlikely that the AEW All In footage would ever see the light of day, Tony Khan has doubled-down on his pledge to deliver what fans are expecting.
Naturally, the pro wrestling world is giving this situation a lot of attention, and that includes those in WWE.
CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a physical altercation backstage at AEW All In: London 2023 from Wembley Stadium (August 27, 2023).
This was Punk’s final date with the company before a messy breakup.
Punk told his side of the story last week on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. He and AEW have been taking digs at one another ever since, and now AEW is teasing:
“The Young Bucks Present Backstage Footage From ALL IN LONDON & Will Discuss For The First Time”
Tony Khan and the Young Bucks say they’ll deliver tonight on Dynamite
AEW delivered on their promise to air the footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl.
WrestleMania XL is history, and wrestling fans are already getting another big topic to talk about: the release of the AEW All In Footage of CM Punk’s backstage brawl with Jack Perry that led to his abrupt departure from the company. Now, that footage has been released.
The Young Bucks introduced the footage on AEW Dynamite. They also took several underhanded digs at Punk, including saying that they don’t want to spread rumors. Nicholas and Matthew Jackson centered the entire promo around hyping their match against FTR at Dynasty on April 21, and how Punk is a friend of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.
Matthew & Nicholas Jackson breakdown their history with FTR.
Why AEW and the Young Bucks Are Releasing The “Backstage Footage”
Punk’s April 1 appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani got intense. He commented on his physical altercation with Jack Perry backstage right before his final AEW match against Samoa Joe inside a packed Wembley Stadium. Punk, now a top-paid WWE Superstar, buried AEW and its management.
A perceived tipping point was Perry’s intent to use glass in a spot on AEW Collision, but Punk stopped him. At All In, Punk didn’t have the same influence, and Jungle Boy Jack taunted the Chicago legend live on camera.
Shortly thereafter, Khan gave his side of the story to a live AEW audience. “I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over thirty year, I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt, until Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life was in danger.”
CM Punk Discusses Tony Khan
Punk placed onto AEW’s President for not diffusing his volatile situation with Perry before it ignited. He watched backstage as Perry taunted him in front of the world during the Zero Hour kickoff show.
After urging his boss to handle the situation, Punk says that Khan replied, “What do you want me to do?” The Second City Savior warned he’d be pushed to take action the company wouldn’t approve of.
“Man, that’s a loaded question because I don’t want this to be…I don’t like the drama, but the truth is the truth, he is not a boss, he’s a nice guy and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company.”
AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland started off the first Dynamite after Punk’s interview by indirectly addressing the controversy. The ‘Rated R Superstar’ said, “There’s been a lot of negative BS that’s spewed this week, right? There has … SCREW THAT! I wanna talk about positives!”
AEW Delivered The Controversial Footage
CM Punk
Wrestling fans naturally wondered if this was legit or a bait and switch situation. Tony Khan made it clear that they will air the ‘real’ footage. Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the AEW President clarified:
“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”
Punk continues to prove that he is a lightening rod for controversy. He’s long gone from All Elite Wrestling, but he will probably help Dynamite draw viewers on Wednesday night. Love him or hate him, people just can’t stop talking about CM Punk.
Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Sunday, April 7. This is a day that a lot of fans have waited for, because it is officially WrestleMania Sunday.
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering): Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley: Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes: Bloodline Rules match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
AEW:
– Brawl In Footage: AEW will air the footage that they have of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl. This is real, and Tony Khan will show everyone the footage that they used to determine that Punk should be fired from All Elite Wrestling.
– Why Jade Left: Jade Cargill opened up a bit more about why she left AEW. She made it clear that she felt she could not grow with AEW, because at 31-years-old, she needed to go somewhere that could put her in a big position right now.
Upcoming Wrestling Shows
Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:
April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.
April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.
May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.
Fans tuning in to the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite will get to learn more about what really transpired backstage at AEW All in 2023 in London, England.
During the April 7, episode of AEW Collision, it was announced that the Bucks will share footage from All In and will discuss what transpired backstage in Wembley Stadium last August. It was not revealed on Collision what this footage and discussion will be about.
Unsurprisingly, the tease of backstage footage from All In has led fans to speculate that they will see CM Punk’s infamous backstage fight with Jack Perry. Fightful Select later reported that AEW indeed plans on showing footage of Punk’s incident with Perry and that this footage will be genuine. Talent and staff who have asked about the footage have been told it relates to Punk’s altercation with Perry.
Legalities do not appear to be an issue, despite Punk now being with WWE. Sources believe that the video was enough cause for the company to part with Punk without much of an issue from a legal perspective.
AEW Dynamite – April 10, 2024
This mystery footage is just part of what’ll be quite the show on the upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite. Also on the show, Dustin Rhodes will face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in a Championship Eliminator Match. Should Rhodes win, he’ll receive a future title match against Joe.
TNT Champion Adam Copeland will put his gold on the line against Penta El Zero Miedo. The WWE Hall of Famer captured the gold from former friend Christian Cage during the March 20, episode of Dynamite in their native Toronto.
Chris Jericho, HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata will take on Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty & Anthony Ogogo) on the upcoming Dynamite. Ogogo joined the group on AEW Collision.
Jack Perry, who made his return to wrestling at NJPW Battle in the Valley in January. While his stint with the Japanese wrestling promotion was going well, he was not nowhere to be seen in AEW.
At Battle in the Valley, Perry even took out the AEW contract, and tore it up, sending a message. For those not in the know, CM Punk infamous altercation with Perry led to Perry’s suspension. However, even though the Jungle Boy’s suspension ended, he was still not seen on AEW TV.
But Perry is still active in Japan, and he is in fact set to face Shota Umino at New Japan STRONG’s Windy City Riot event on April 12. Speaking to NJPW1972.com about the matchup, and it is during this interview that he talked about his work with NJPW and leaving AEW behind.
Perry believes that he was the “scapegoat” in the CM Punk-All In incident. He even wears an armband with the word written on it as part of his ring gear and nickname.
“Well, Japan for me is an opportunity, not to start over, but start a new chapter without having to apologize or pretend to be sorry for the actions of other people. It’s a way that I can stay true to myself and continue to grow despite everything that’s gone on.”
The message is as clear as it can be: Perry is done with AEW, and doesn’t care about the promotion anymore.
“Ripping that contract was a declaration. I’m not playing by your rules anymore. If (AEW) are too afraid to have me anymore, if the specter of Jack Perry is too much, they don’t want to deal with the conversations, the ramifications that brings, then that’s fine.”
And Perry wants to prove this by going on a wrestling journey of his own and making a name for himself on his own terms and efforts:
“I don’t need them. I will go by myself across the world, all by myself, without any of my friends, without any of the things I’m used to, anything that’s been my life for the last five years, and I’ll do it on my own, make my own way.”
That being said, he is still not sure which group or promotion he currently represents:
“Some of these things are unclear even to me, but I would say this: Loyalty is a two-way street, and I show loyalty to those who are loyal to me. As of now, certain parties have been very good to me, and I intend to repay that.”
Speaking about his Scapegoat nickname, Perry added that he’s “man enough” to take the blame and is not “shying away” from it:
“I think it’s ingrained in human nature to be afraid of blame, and the disapproval of others. At the end of the day, that’s weakness. That’s a weak mindset, a weak soul. If you know the truth, what good is the opinion of other people? If you know the truth, you have power. I’m not shying away from the blame. If you need me to be the scapegoat because you don’t have the bravery to stand up for your own actions, then that’s fine. I’m man enough to take that blame from all of us and I’m not going to shy away from it.”
“Well, I think you gotta stay tuned. Absolutely, Jack’s doing great things in New Japan. The New Japan Cup – he’s had a great run. He’s established himself over there. He feels he’s the ‘Scapegoat.’ But he’s doing great things, and he’s wrestling for a great promotion, and it’s been great tracking Jack’s progress in New Japan. And I think he’s done excellent work there.”
Jack Perry’s AEW absence continues, but his time in NJPW is still going strong. Now, Tony Khan has commented on things.
It was previously reported that Tony Khan is very upset at Jack Perry. He is the reason why CM Punk was fired from AEW, and Khan apparently has nothing for him. Now, Tony Khan is speaking on Jungle Boy in NJPW, and he sees the great things he’s doing.
Tony Khan Speaks on Jack Perry
Tony Khan expressed his views on Jack Perry’s recent endeavors in NJPW during a recent interview with Comic Book Nation. Perry’s absence from AEW dates back to his suspension following an altercation with CM Punk at All In last August. Then, the former Jurassic Express member made a surprise debut for NJPW at Battle in the Valley earlier this year, where he symbolically tore up his AEW contract.
In NJPW, Perry has adopted the moniker “Scapegoat” and participated in the New Japan Cup, progressing to the quarterfinals. It seems that fans are questioning whether this is a work or a shoot.
When questioned about the potential continuation of Perry’s current persona upon his return to AEW, Khan remained ambiguous, praising Perry’s achievements in NJPW and emphasizing his development within the promotion.
Well, I think you gotta stay tuned. Absolutely, Jack’s doing great things in New Japan. The New Japan Cup – he’s had a great run. He’s established himself over there. He feels he’s the ‘Scapegoat.’ But he’s doing great things, and he’s wrestling for a great promotion, and it’s been great tracking Jack’s progress in New Japan. And I think he’s done excellent work there.
Jack Perry’s AEW Suspension
CM Punk’s departure from AEW occurred following his altercation with Perry and subsequent return to WWE in November. It is interesting that Punk has returned to WWE, gotten injured, and he’s already making big headway on his return from injury; meanwhile, Jungle Boy Jack Perry is nowhere to be seen in AEW.
Jack Perry’s AEW suspension reportedly ended months ago, but he was never brought back to television. Although some thought he might have made a good Devil, that role went to Adam Cole.
Now, we will have to see how this road might take Jack Perry back to AEW, but Tony Khan seems happy with that he’s doing in NJPW.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so many more from all over the pro wrestling world. You never know what will happen next, but we will be here with all of the headlines!
Jack Perry is still with AEW, despite what may have been suggested, but fans should not expect to see him any time soon.
Perry last appeared for AEW at All In 2023, where he lost the FTW Championship to Hook. This match, like much of the show, was overshadowed by the backstage confrontation Perry had with CM Punk. Their fight led to both men being suspended from AEW and Punk ultimately being released following his second suspension in less than a year. Punk has since gone on to return to WWE.
Jack Perry Outside AEW
At NJPW Battle in the Valley 2024, Perry made a stunning appearance, his first in any wrestling company since AEW All In. Perry, clad in a “scapegoat” armband, tore up an AEW contract. This was a surprise to everyone, including the security. Guards at Battle in the Valley first thought Perry was a fan entering the ring, but were quickly told this was part of the show.
Jack Perry’s Current Status.
Perry’s appearance at the NJPW show understandably led many to believe his time with AEW had ended. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave some clarification on Perry’s current status. The former FTW Champion is still with AEW but is simply not being used.
Meltzer added that Tony Khan is still “really mad” at Perry over what transpired at AEW All In. The general gist of things is that Perry cost AEW CM Punk, who for his issues in AEW, is one of the biggest names the company had on its roster. With Punk not around, the lion’s share of the blame has fallen on the former Jungle Boy.
Has Tony Khan Gone Too Far?
Meltzer argued that Perry should have been suspended for a month or two and then brought back to programming. Instead, we are now seven months into Perry’s absence from AEW programming. Meltzer said that the punishment for Perry doesn’t fit the ‘crime’ he committed last August in Wembley.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 12. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, so let’s take a look.
Also, you can check out the WrestleMania 40 card (so far) below:
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley – Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship
Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch – Singles match for the Women’s World Championship
Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn – Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Five teams TBD- Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
WWE:
– In a blockbuster report, the four names of WWE executives in Janel Grant’s lawsuit was revealed. It is alleged that Nick Khan, Stephenia McMahon, Brad Blum, and Brian Nurse knew about the relationship between Grant and Vince.
– During Kevin Nash’s Kliq This podcast, he revealed that Sting wanted him to get physical in his retirement match at AEW Revolution, “For some reason, people think that Paul [Triple H] told me I couldn’t go and my thing was I’m a WWE guy. When this thing first came out, it came to fruition, I got contacted by Steve, Sting. He was telling me what he wanted to do and then in that same breath, he said, ‘What can you do physicality-wise? So if anybody wants to know why Kevin Nash was at home, that’s why. He asked me what I can do physicality-wise.”
–
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
AEW hasn’t seen Jack Perry compete since All In London, where he battled Hook in a controversial Zero Hour match. He may have been suspended due to the fight that broke out with CM Punk after that match, but Perry is now back in the ring.
Jack Perry has finally returned to the wrestling ring after a prolonged absence. This did not happen in an AEW ring, as the former Jungle Boy wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Jack Perry has showed up in mainland NJPW making his debut in the New Japan Cup… as literally a SCAPEGOAT.
Perry’s disappearance from the spotlight followed a highly publicized altercation with CM Punk during the AEW All In event last August. The fallout from the incident led to Perry’s suspension, while Punk was released from the company.
On a somewhat related note, CM Punk has since made a triumphant return to WWE, capturing the entire pro wrestling world’s attention with his historic comeback at Survivor Series. However, Punk’s comeback has been short-lived, as he is currently sidelined due to injury.
Jack Perry’s NJPW Match
Perry’s return to the wrestling scene went down during the NJPW Battle in the Valley event, where he made a dramatic entrance by attacking Shota Umino. In a symbolic gesture, Perry tore up an AEW contract and adorned himself with an armband bearing the word “Scapegoat.”
Making his debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Perry faced off against Shota Umino in a match as part of the New Japan Cup Tournament. Perry won that match as well, and now he will continue to make an impact in the tournament.
Following the match, Perry aligned himself with The House of Torture faction, adding another layer of intrigue to his comeback story. We will have to see what Perry does next, but it may not be in AEW.
Despite his successful return to NJPW, it remains uncertain when Perry will step back into the ring for All Elite Wrestling. Reports surfaced last year that his AEW suspension was already over, but he did not come back. Only time will tell what happens in this situation, but we will keep a close eye on his situation here at SEScoops.
Jack Perry took the help of Ren Narita to beat Shooter, EVIL and co. then came out to offer Jack Perry a spot in House of Torture. Jack then accepted the shirt and joined the faction.
CM Punk & Jack Perry fought backstage at AEW All In 2023, but the pair did not have some epic showdown according to Samoa Joe.
The infamous brawl would take place after Perry’s kick-off match with HOOK, in which the former Jungle Boy referred to using real glass. Punk, who has previously made clear his opposition to using real glass, would confront Perry about the comment, resulting in a fight.
Samoa Joe On All In Brawl
Much like the brawl at AEW All Out 2022, the fight at Wembley Stadium would dominate headlines and in the eyes of many, would overshadow AEW’s historic international event. Despite threatening to quit AEW on the spot, Punk would compete in the All In main-card opening contest against Samoa Joe. In a recent interview with ESPN, the reigning AEW World Champion played down the notion that the fight between Perry and Punk was some massive spectacle.
“There was a little bit of an incident. We got it broken up. We went out there and wrestled, man. That’s the gist of it. Everybody wants it to be a lot more than what it is, but that’s what it was. And to speak any more on it would be pointless unless you’re trying to get a scorecard and stuff — but trust me, it wasn’t that type of a fight.”
This move from the former Jurassic Express member was shocking, to say the least. They also kept the angle very close to the vest.
During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer brought up Perry’s big NJPW surprise appearance. Apparently, even security was in the dark about what was going to happen.
“The security didn’t know about this angle. They thought it was a fan hitting the ring. They were quickly told it wasn’t.”
Jack Perry’s AEW Status
Jack Perry’s absence from AEW is notable, and it is even more odd that Tony Khan would allow this huge angle about his company to go down during a NJPW event. Obviously, there is a lot to unpack here, but Perry needs to make some kind of impression on AEW television to really send the message home.
He has been absent from AEW television for a very long time, as CM Punk, who was fired for his part in Brawl In, is already back in WWE at this point.
While some fans thought The Devil was Perry, that role went to Adam Cole. Now, the pro wrestling world will have to wait and see how Tony Khan plays his next move in this situation.
Jack Perry has returned to wrestling, but not for AEW.
The former FTW Champion has been absent from wrestling since August last year with little to no update about his status with Tony Khan’s promotion.
He finally made his return to the wrestling scene tonight. In a surprising turn of events, Perry made an appearance during NJPW’s Battle In The Valley event.
The former champion attacked Shota Umino during the show. Interestingly, after taking out Umino, Jack Perry tore up an AEW contract and then put on an armband that read ‘scapegoat’
All this is in reference to his backstage confrontation with the former AEW Champion CM Punk at the All In event last year that led to Punk’s release from the company.
Perry who had been advised by Punk to not use real glass during an episode of Collision made a reference to it during his match with Hook at the Wembly show.
This led to Punk confronting the young star at gorilla after his bout. This confrontation turned into a physical brawl soon enough with Punk even exchanging words with Tony Khan himself.
The Straight Edge Star had subsequently been fired by the company due to his actions. Jack Perry on the other hand had been put on an indefinite suspension and had not been seen since the PPV before tonight’s NJPW show.
CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation at All In London garnered attention in the pro wrestling world. It inspired a slew of memes and commentary due to how AEW handled the aftermath as well. Now, one man who was there is talking about how it all went down.
What DJ Woo Kid Saw At AEW All In London
DJ Whoo Kid, who was present at the All In London event because he was part of Swerve Strickland’s entrance, shared backstage insights during the Jim and Sam show on SiriusXM. He saw a lot, but we already know what happened. Punk and Jungle Boy had it out backstage, and chaos broke loose.
“You already know what happened in the back,” he started before saying it was “straight brawl city.” He then made a quip about how he’s not talking about all the “blood and killing and death” before laughing.
The famous rapper said that he was, “right there. We were next. They put us to be ready to go.” It seems that the situation made everyone alert on site and ready for anything to pop off.
“It was like the moment for AEW and I guess he [Punk] tried to sabotage that moment. He wasn’t trying to go out there. I’m in the middle. You know me, I’m the fly on the wall… It was very intense. I always thought it was fake and sh*t. It’s more real…the sh*t that’s crazy is there was a yelling moment where he was like “yo, f*ck this sh*t this is our moment, everybody get the f*ck out there and do your sh*t. It was very intense. I always respect wrestling after I saw that.”
“There was a yelling moment where he [Joe] was like ‘f*ck this sh*t, this is our moment, everybody get the f*ck out there and do your sh*t.’ I was like, I don’t wrestle, but I was about to go out there. It was very intense. I will always respect wrestling after I saw that.”
He continued and said that Samoa Joe, who he called a big guy “Hawaiian looking dude,” had to talk some sense into CM Punk. After all, Joe and Punk were set to open the Wembley Stadium event with their “Real” World Title match, a contest that CM Punk won.
CM Punk famously declared that he was quitting AEW after his fight with Jungle Boy, but Joe was able to talk him down. In the end, it was a bloody affair backstage.
“The big guy. The Hawaiian-looking [dude]. It was the guy going ham and I was like, ‘Oh sh*t.’ Then blood was everywhere from the fight before that. They came in and they were bleeding. I was like, ‘what is going on around here?’ This was intense.”
What Happened After AEW Brawl In
CM Punk was fired for that altercation with Jack Perry at All In. It did not take very long for Punk to defy all reports, odds, and expectations by returning to WWE at Survivor Series just a few months later.
Samoa Joe became the AEW World Champion after beating MJF at AEW Worlds End. He also debuted a snazzy new title belt during the January 10th AEW Dynamite Homecoming episode.
Jack Perry was suspended for his part in Brawl In. Although there were rumors that he may have been The Devil, Perry has not been seen on AEW television since All In London. He was also not revealed to be The Devil, as that role went to an injured Adam Cole.
AEW promised a new era of professional wrestling when they opened their doors. Their rebellious branding may have also filtered into their backstage environment as well, because the company has a reputation of having younger talent who aren’t interested in taking veteran advice.
CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage scuffle at All In London was caused by Perry’s defiant nature. Punk advised against Perry using real glass several weeks prior, but he didn’t have a say in his match at Wembley Stadium. After Perry dropped Hook on the windshield of a car, he made a point to tell the camera that it was real glass so, “cry me a river.”
During an interview with Party with Marty, RVD stated that he’s head the same thing from Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. AEW has those veteran minds around, but nobody is sitting under their learning tree.
“I heard Tully Blanchard say it, and I’m told Arn Anderson said it too, although that is hearsay, that the young guys don’t want their input ever. [They] never ask them ever for any help or anything on their matches and stuff … I mean, that’s important to me. It makes me think, do they think they know it all? Do they not respect them enough? But also, it’s awkward for them because they’re not taught like us to go around and shake everyone’s hand and stuff.“
AEW May Have A Problem
CM Punk had a great time at the WWE Performance Center. He reported while he was there as well. It appears that he found himself in a setting where younger talent were more than happy to listen. Life Goes On For CM Punk
CM Punk had a great time at the WWE Performance Center. He reported “held court” while he was there as well. It appears that he found himself in a setting where younger talent were more than happy to listen.
CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage altercation wasn’t the only one in AEW history. Other skirmishes and backstage drama have also dotted the company’s history, such as Sammy Guevara and Andrade El Idolo’s public tiff, one that involved a backstage altercation.
AEW has a lot of veteran talent around, and we haven’t heard from all of them on this subject. Jake “The Snake” Roberts is backstage, and he has also spoken in the past that he is willing to do anything Tony Khan asks of him. We have to wonder if Tony Khan is supporting the practice of listening to the veterans he has on his payroll.
It seems that the rumor and innuendo would say that AEW talent aren’t too interested in hearing what the former generation has to say about what they’re doing for Tony Khan’s company.
The attack on Page ended with the former AEW World Champion being slammed onto a car windshield, which led some to believe the Devil is Jack Perry. Perry has long been suspected of being behind the mask with his suspension from AEW reportedly ending over a month ago. It was Perry’s use of real glass at All In that would ultimately end CM Punk’s tenure with the company as well.
While certain signs point to Perry, it appears that the former FTW Champion isn’t behind these attacks. A high-level source who spoke to Fightful Select after the attack on Page clarified that they don’t believe Jack Perry is involved in the angle. Of course, plans could change but it has previously been reported that the Devil’s henchmen are being played on screen by the talent who will ultimately be unmasked.
Update on ‘Hangman’ Page
It was added that ‘Hangman’ Page will be off TV for the time being to sell the impact of this attack. There is currently no time window as to when fans can expect the Cowboy back on TV.
CM Punk wasn’t expected to make a return to WWE at Survivor Series, but it happened anyway. He made his big return to the SmackDown brand for their December 8th episode, and it was quite an appearance for the Tribute to the Troops.
CM Punk opened up his promo by proclaiming that, since his promo was at the 9:00 PM EST hour, then he wouldn’t get his time cut. Then Punk brought up how Adam Pearce wants him to be exclusive to the RAW brand.
After saying that he will leave his brand future to the fans, CM Punk asked if they want him to be a RAW Superstar, and they booed that idea. The fans cheered when Punk asked if he should join SmackDown instead.
CM Punk then said that it’s not about “what do you want to talk about,” it’s about “who do you want me to talk about?” Punk said he could tell some stories about Cody Rhodes, but then he directed his focus to “someone who’s never here, Roman Reigns.”
"…I begin MY journey of finishing MY story and that means one thing…
Mentioning Roman Reigns’ name brought a huge pop from the WWE Universe, as he said that he was the OG Paul Heyman Guy. Punk gave a shout-out to Jey Uso, but then he suggested that he stick around SmackDown to scrap with Jimmy Uso, “but Jimmy Uso has endless cousins.”
Best In the World!: CM Punk Makes WWE Return At Survivor Series 2023
This is when CM Punk made a crack about his All In confrontation with Jack Perry. He made his way there by saying that he and Kevin Owens are too much alike, after suggesting that he may have a match with him.
“I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel about working with someone who randomly punches people backstage … I mean it’s 2023, you just can’t be doing that, that’s insane.”
This was followed by some massive CM Punk chants from the crowd. Then CM Punk drew attention to Seth Rollins, by calling him out as he somewhat encouraged the crowd to sing his theme song.
CM Punk will make a decision about his brand future on the 12/11 episode of WWE RAW. Punk said it’s not about finishing his story, it’s about finishing what he started.
After hyping up the crowd with his promo, CM Punk made it clear that his goal is to main event WrestleMania 40. He dropped the mic after that, as the fans cheered on the Second City Savior.
What’s your take on CM Punk’s latest promo? Let us know what you think by engaging with us on social media!