Report: CM Punk-Jack Perry Incident Leads to Suspensions
CM Punk and Jack Perry have both been suspended for an altercation before the start of the All In pay-per-view, Sports Illustrated has confirmed.
The incident remains under investigation by AEW.
It began on Sunday during the All In preshow. In the middle of Perry’s match against Hook, there was a spot that involved a car window. Perry looked in the camera and said, “It’s real glass, cry me a river.” That comment appeared to be pointed directly at Punk, who had objected to Perry’s desire to use real glass on a recent episode of Collision.
On Sunday, when Perry returned backstage after the preshow match, he exchanged words with Punk. Though there are multiple accounts of what actually took place, eyewitnesses have confirmed there was physicality between Punk and Perry.
It is important to note that, as the commotion unfolded, AEW was mere moments away from the most significant pay-per-view in company history.
All In was scheduled to start with Punk against Samoa Joe. But due to the altercation, there was a quick-but-significant discussion about having a different match–the six-man tag pitting Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Hangman Page against Jay White, Juice Robinson, and Konosuke Takeshita–open the show.
The wrestlers in the six-man tag were prepared to start the pay-per-view, but that turned out to be unnecessary. Punk and Joe opened the show as planned after Samoa Joe spoke with Punk, multiple sources confirmed. To the credit of Punk and Joe, their match took place without issue.
The timing of the ongoing investigation adds a complicating factor for the suspended talents. AEW holds three live shows in Chicago this week–Dynamite on Wednesday, Collision on Saturday, and the All Out pay-per-view on Sunday–and Punk’s presence in his hometown is a massive draw. As of right now, it is unknown how long the investigation will last.
Sports Illustrated will continue to cover the story as it develops.
