Following Jake Hager’s recent interview on the ‘INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet’ podcast, controversy has stirred around the CM Punk AEW incident dispute. Hager, a former Bellator MMA fighter and ex-WWE star known as Jack Swagger, shared his reflections on the wrestling business, confirming his retirement while addressing tension after the CM Punk shoot incidents in All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Hager described a behind-the-scenes meeting held among AEW wrestlers and stars to address the fallout from the CM Punk situation. This meeting was reportedly exclusive to talent, intending to confront the chaos triggered by Punk’s actions. However, Hager expressed regret for not speaking up at the time about issues he witnessed concerning how some wrestlers, including Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, were treated in relation to storylines they disputed.
Jake Hager Details Conflict and Direction During AEW Meeting
In his account, Hager recalled a tense meeting dominated by AEW’s top male wrestlers such as Sting, Big Show, Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, and Jon Moxley. He also described the abrupt entrance of a prominent figure he referred to as “Daddy’s little billionaire,” who burst into the room expressing anger about Harwood and Wheeler refusing to participate in a storyline they disliked.
According to Hager’s retelling, this individual insisted that Harwood and Wheeler join a six-man tag match despite their objections, threatening them with a last-minute assignment just minutes before the show. Hager expressed feeling disrespected by the situation, highlighting the absurdity of informing Sting about a sudden match involving him just before his retirement honor. He lamented the atmosphere, describing wrestlers as “little playthings” subjected to the whims of this figure whose storylines started strong but lacked follow-through, and who was intolerant to criticism.
Hager emphasized the frustration felt by those who helped build AEW from its inception, stating they endured handling decisions made unilaterally and without input, ultimately stifling their contributions.
“After all the [CM] Punk sh*t that went down, the boys got together and we had a meeting. This was the boys only, no office. Sting’s in there, [Big] Show, [Chris] Jericho, Bryan [Danielson], [Jon Moxley], they’re all standing at the front talking us through this sh*t.
And lo and behold, who comes in the room storming in? Daddy’s little billionaire. And he’s yelling at us because—I think it was Dax [Harwood] and Cash [Wheeler]—didn’t want to come in. They didn’t like the storyline so they refused to come to TV that day. And he was like, ‘Listen, I’ll put you in a six-man, six minutes before the show, and you’re gonna do it!’ And we’re all just—all feeling disrespected. I still to this day wish I would’ve stood up and said a lot of things. You just told Sting that you’re gonna put him in a six-man in six minutes, and then you’re gonna honor him for his retirement?
We became his little playthings. We had to wait outside his office. His storylines were very good at debuting, but he could never carry anything through. It got to the point where you couldn’t tell him anything. He couldn’t take criticism, he was f*cking up, and we were all just having to dealing with it.
We all had blood, sweat, and tears put into that company. We were all there at the beginning. We all had our careers behind us that helped build that company. And then we all had to just sit side-by-side and couldn’t do anything because he wanted to run it the way he wanted to run it.”
—Jake Hager, Former AEW Wrestler and Bellator MMA Fighter
Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler Respond to Allegations on Social Media
In direct response to Hager’s comments, Dax Harwood, one half of the tag team FTR, issued a public statement on X, challenging the accuracy of Hager’s version of events. Harwood strongly disputed claims that he and Cash Wheeler refused to participate in AEW programming or that Tony Khan, the AEW president, intervened in the meeting described.
Harwood asserted that both he and Wheeler were present at the meeting called by AEW talent leaders such as Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, and Jon Moxley. He insisted that their professionalism remains intact, highlighting a consistent track record of appearing on every AEW show since the launch of AEW Collision.
“Cash [Wheeler] and I were at the all-talent only meeting that was called by Bryan [Danielson], [Chris] Jericho, and [Jon Moxley].
Tony [Khan] never interrupted.
Cash and I have NEVER refused to show up to work and, I’d to dare say, if you look at our schedules since [AEW] Collision started, we’re the most consistent talent that make BOTH shows EVERY WEEK.
I’m not really sure where all this is coming from, but it’s mostly not true.”
—Dax Harwood, AEW Wrestler and Member of FTR
Context of the AEW Backstage Tensions and the CM Punk Fallout
The incident involving CM Punk, which led to a highly publicized backstage confrontation, has been a significant source of turmoil within AEW. The situation drew heavy scrutiny on the company’s internal dynamics, especially concerning leadership, talent relations, and creative direction. The discussion among top AEW performers aimed to address the unrest but, as Hager’s interview suggests, did not resolve the underlying grievances shared by several wrestlers.
Harwood’s rebuttal highlights an ongoing division on the facts surrounding the fallout and management style in AEW. The dispute underscores the challenges of navigating the business’s backstage politics while maintaining on-screen performances and internal harmony. The involvement of high-profile names such as Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, and Tony Khan adds layers of complexity to these behind-the-scenes interactions and their public fallout.
Implications for AEW’s Future and Wrestler Relations
The disagreement between Hager and Harwood sheds light on broader issues within AEW’s locker room culture and creative decision-making processes. Given AEW’s role as a major wrestling promotion competing with WWE, the internal discord revealed by these statements could impact both wrestler morale and fan perception.
Looking forward, how AEW manages such disputes will influence the company’s stability and growth trajectory. With key figures involved in the conflict still active in wrestling, resolving tensions will be critical to maintaining a unified roster and satisfying audience expectations. The CM Punk AEW incident dispute serves as a reminder of the pressure on wrestling promotions to balance creative freedom, talent respect, and executive leadership effectively.
