CM Punk getting terminated from AEW is probably the most shocking announcement in the entire industry in a long time. After all the backstage drama that took place on the Jacksonville-based promotion’s All In show, different speculations were circulating about Punk’s future, but this decision was something nobody really expected.
Tony Khan announced on the recent episode of Collision that the former AEW star had been fired from the company, and received massive backlash from fans. Now that the performer has been terminated, he’ll no longer be seen in All Elite Wrestling, as his match at August 27’s event was his last in the company.
Punk competed in his last match at AEW London’s Wembley Stadium against Samoa Joe, and it was probably their best encounter. In addition to the excellent hard-hitting contest, the match also had a wholesome John Cena and Hulk Hogan connection.
Cm Punk with the shoutout to John Cena and Hogan #AEWAllIn
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOhttps://t.co/ex8UFejnZS
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) August 27, 2023
During the match, when the former WWE Champion was looking to take momentum against his opponent, he gave a shout-out to his iconic rival, John Cena, which left the fans elated. Additionally, he also did Hollywood Hogan‘s iconic gesture, which created a really special moment for the live crowd.
After a spectacular performance by both competitors, Punk was able to defeat Joe and thus secure a memorable victory. But the thing that made headlines was his backstage altercation with fellow star Jack Perry, as it increased the existing issues. In a way to end all this drama, Punk was terminated by AEW’s CEO.
John Cena may have been CM Punk’s only true friend in WWE
CM Punk vs. John Cena has arguably been one of the biggest rivalries in the Stamford-based promotion’s history. But despite being rivals with the 16-time World Champion inside the ring, The Cenation Leader may have been Punk’s only true friend in WWE.
The reason behind this could have been the mutual respect both of them had for each other as performers, and especially the way Punk has always spoken well about the former WWE Champion. Everyone believes that CM has a short-tempered sort of personality, but even after fighting Cena in numerous encounters, he respects John a lot.
Even in 2011, when Punk dropped his iconic pipebomb promo, he talked about the respect he has for The Cenation Leader. As Cena was lying unconscious in the ring, the former WWE star said, “I don’t hate you, John. I don’t even dislike you. I like you a hell of a lot more than I like most people in the back.” (Via: Bleacher Report)
Both of them have never really disclosed if they’re friends or not, but looking at the way they elated each other inside the ring, it’s obvious they had great chemistry. If Punk had stayed a bit longer with the promotion, Cena could have been his only true friend in WWE. As CM has been terminated from AEW, will he make a return to the Triple H-led promotion? Only time knows the answer.