CM Punk‘s most explosive AEW pipebomb promos have left a lasting mark on the world of professional wrestling, unsettling both his peers and audiences whenever he stepped up to the microphone. These moments, delivered with raw intensity and direct shots at The Elite and others, revealed new dimensions to Punk’s persona and shaped major events within All Elite Wrestling.
CM Punk’s Return on AEW Collision: Targeting His Rivals
When AEW Collision premiered in June 2023, CM Punk made his highly anticipated return after a nine-month absence that followed the chaos at All Out 2022 in Chicago. He had last captured the AEW World Champion title by defeating Jon Moxley, but a serious injury forced him out of action and led to his relinquishing the championship. The audience’s excitement was palpable, but tension simmered because this was also Punk’s first appearance since his infamous backstage altercation with The Elite—a group that includes Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.
Punk opened Collision by declaring himself one of the few authentic figures in a world of “Counterfeit Bucks,” a thinly veiled reference to his real-life rivals. He dismissed the notion of wrestling being a popularity contest, reinforcing that the business was designed for professionals, not individuals seeking approval. Without directly naming The Elite, Punk’s barbs left little doubt about his targets, indicating unresolved animosity from the incident following All Out 2022.
The atmosphere was charged as Punk acknowledged the discomfort his presence caused among certain audience members and colleagues. Some in the Chicago crowd wanted Punk to apologize for his previous conflicts with The Elite, but he pointedly criticized both his detractors and their favorite wrestlers. In doing so, he managed to publicly address deep-seated issues within AEW while feeding the audience’s appetite for drama. The night illustrated how CM Punk’s return could instantly reignite old feuds and place AEW’s internal tensions in the spotlight.
Clashing with MJF: A Verbal Battle with Long-Term Ramifications
The period spanning 2021 to 2022 saw CM Punk engage in an intense rivalry with MJF — referred to as “The Devil” — resulting in a series of increasingly personal and combative promos. One of their most heated encounters took place in January 2022 on AEW Dynamite, when MJF threatened to leave the company and seek a WrestleMania main event if he did not receive proper respect within AEW. Punk’s sharp response pulled back the curtain on the wrestling industry, mocking the idea that competing elsewhere would provide lasting prestige.
He argued that MJF’s supposed dream of joining WWE would quickly sour, as the company would cast him aside once he ceased to be a valuable asset. Punk also made a pointed observation about the restructuring of WrestleMania into multiple nights, claiming that only the final night’s headliner truly mattered, while the first night’s main event was merely a consolation—undermining the prestige that MJF believed awaited him beyond AEW.
The confrontation was layered with knowing references to industry practices and simmering company rivalries. Punk predicted MJF would inevitably return to AEW after a short stint in WWE, suggesting that the grass was not actually greener on the other side. Ironically, only a couple of years later, it was Punk himself who returned to WWE, adding another dramatic twist to their saga and exemplifying the unpredictable nature of professional wrestling careers. The verbal war between Punk and MJF exemplified how AEW’s creative storylines often mirrored, and even foreshadowed, real-life developments, magnifying uncertainty and tension among fans and wrestlers alike.
Lighting a Fire at All Out 2022: Fallout from a Controversial Press Scrum
Real-life drama between CM Punk, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Hangman Page reached a boiling point during and after All Out 2022. After regaining the AEW World Champion title from Jon Moxley, Punk took the stage alongside AEW’s Tony Khan for a post-show press scrum that quickly spiraled into one of the most controversial moments in the promotion’s history.
Directly addressing The Elite, Punk publicly accused them—who also served as company EVPs—of spreading misinformation about his relationship with Colt Cabana. He criticized their handling of the entire situation and condemned Hangman Page for being unprofessional during live broadcasts. The explosive nature of Punk’s comments left Tony Khan, president of AEW, visibly unsettled, as he struggled to manage the fallout during the scrum.
Following the press event, tensions overflowed into a notorious backstage fight involving Punk and The Elite. The altercation resulted in multiple stars being suspended from AEW and sparked a wave of controversy that dominated wrestling headlines for months. Many fans argue that this unscripted “pipebomb” may have been even more damaging and far-reaching than Punk’s legendary WWE promo in 2011, given its immediate real-life consequences and the way it reshaped relationships and storylines within AEW.
Lasting Impact of CM Punk’s Explosive Promos on AEW
CM Punk’s most explosive AEW pipebomb promos did more than entertain; they exposed internal rifts and set the stage for dramatic changes in the company. Incidents involving The Elite, MJF, and Tony Khan demonstrated the power of words in shaping not only personal rivalries but also the larger direction of AEW’s narrative. From public accusations to thinly veiled threats, Punk’s confrontational style drew both admiration and criticism, highlighting the blurred lines between performance and reality in professional wrestling. As a result, these moments continue to be discussed by fans, wrestlers, and commentators, ensuring their place among the most talked-about promos in modern wrestling history.
