Source:AEW is reportedly not interested in buying out CM Punk’s contractCM Punk’s AEW future is up in the air after Punk ripped The Elite, Colt Cabana, and Hangman Page at the AEW All Out media scrum. A brawl broke out between Ace Steel, Punk, and The Young Bucks. The fallout of the incident was the firing of Steel, The Elite being stripped of the Trios Titles and suspended, while Punk was suspended and stripped of the AEW World Heavyweight Title.
A few months later, Punk is in talks with AEW about a potential contract buyout, and The Elite is back on television. As previously reported, the hang-up in the talks is the non-compete period, which led to speculation about Punk potentially going back to WWE.
F4Wonline.com’s Bryan Alvarez noted during a recent live chat that Punk is the one who wants the contract buyout and pointed out that if AEW wants him gone from the promotion, then they would just release him. However, if AEW wants to release him, they will wait until he is healed from his torn left triceps to avoid any legal action.
NAMELESS: “I just think they had to pick one, are you pursuing a buyout or are you trolling the guy? And with cabana, BTE and tonight, that's 3 strikes. They're trolling the guy. I love it, Love the Elite, but y?”
TAPhantom Green: “Because it was fun.”
Bryan Alvarez: “Punk wants the buyout.”
Bryan Alvarez: “Why would AEW want a buyout? Fire him. If you troll him, what's gonna happen, he's going to say he doesn't want a buyout anymore?”
Anthony: “They can make fun of him on TV, but can't fire him? weird.”
Bryan Alvarez: “Maybe they will fire him, but they're not gonna do it when he's injured.”
M1M2M3M4M5M6M7M8
AEW is reportedly not interested in buying out CM Punk’s contract
As long as there's no guaranteed dates on his contract I can understand, if the hangup is getting a no compete, and they'd have to pay him regardless, it makes some degree of sense to just pay him to stay home instead of paying in advance and running the risk of WWE potentially hiring him. (I can't imagine they'd want him, but you never know)
He wishes.
Vince was a ruthless cunt but he at least commanded respect. He would never let trash like The Elite and Jericho gain such power.
Vince was a ruthless cunt but he at least commanded respect. He would never let trash like The Elite and Jericho gain such power.
They're going to keep trolling him until his "I want out of here, I've had enough of this shit" turns into "ALRIGHT! ENOUGH! LET'S FUCKING DO IT". 
This is going to continue to be the dominant narrative of AEW no matter what direction is taken, unless Tony pays him a substantial pile of money to sign an NDA.
Whether he is released or not, Punk will inevitably talk. If they refuse to release him, he will blast the company on Twitter, and if they let him go, he will blast them on Raw.
This story is going to dominate all discussion about the company in 2023 and get them cancelled if they aren't talking continuously with WB about what they advise to do about Punk and the EVPs.
WB doesn't want the drama of executives in a company on TBS and TNT who are having fist fights with on screen talent.
This shit is potentially worse for AEW than anyone in the media has yet considered.
Whether he is released or not, Punk will inevitably talk. If they refuse to release him, he will blast the company on Twitter, and if they let him go, he will blast them on Raw.
This story is going to dominate all discussion about the company in 2023 and get them cancelled if they aren't talking continuously with WB about what they advise to do about Punk and the EVPs.
WB doesn't want the drama of executives in a company on TBS and TNT who are having fist fights with on screen talent.
This shit is potentially worse for AEW than anyone in the media has yet considered.
I think he misunderstands what a buyout is What AEW would be doing is paying CM Punk to end his contract early for reduced money.
E.g. suppose CM Punk has 2 years left on a $5m a year deal, plus a percentage of PPV revenue, but nobody in AEW wants him back.
AEW buying him out be to give him, say, $3m to end the contract and forfeit the rest of the money.
If AEW don't want Punk then of course they want to buy out his contract, buying him out would mean they don't have to pay him.
The only reason Punk would want a buyout would be if he wanted to work elsewhere in a way that would breach his AEW contract. Otherwise he'll sit at home getting paid every week.
E.g. suppose CM Punk has 2 years left on a $5m a year deal, plus a percentage of PPV revenue, but nobody in AEW wants him back.
AEW buying him out be to give him, say, $3m to end the contract and forfeit the rest of the money.
If AEW don't want Punk then of course they want to buy out his contract, buying him out would mean they don't have to pay him.
The only reason Punk would want a buyout would be if he wanted to work elsewhere in a way that would breach his AEW contract. Otherwise he'll sit at home getting paid every week.
Im fairly certain that Punk is more than happy to sit out his contract since I dont see wwe giving him anything of value, Punk will happily accept checks to stay home
I will say this about waiting to capitalize: you buy Triple H time to shoot his load, show his hand, and deliver the kill of Punk returning to face the Elite when Hunter has nothing left up his sleeve.
So they're admitting they have no idea what's going on or what's happened. Every side has a narrative and let's be honest Meltzer and Alvarez have no contact with Punk or anyone particularly close to him. They're going off what the elite say and from people who didn't see the altercation at all.
It's a game of Chinese whispers with adults, acting like school kids gossiping at lunch time.
My guess is the hang up is the NDA. Khan will buy out Punk's contract for the signing of an NDA. Punk wants to be released, then he can tell his side of the story. Burying the elite, AEW and everyone who's in his sight.
It's a game of Chinese whispers with adults, acting like school kids gossiping at lunch time.
My guess is the hang up is the NDA. Khan will buy out Punk's contract for the signing of an NDA. Punk wants to be released, then he can tell his side of the story. Burying the elite, AEW and everyone who's in his sight.
Good move. Don't give him the opportunity to ooze his way back to the WWE. Instead, let him rot. Even better, bring him back to TV and job him out.
Dunno what's the problem for Punk. He never will get back to WWE... And buy out or not... He still will get huge money from Coca Tony
ROH on HBO Max ft. CM Punk. Make it happen if there's no way back to AEW for him. He and the Briscoes can take on Samoa Joe and the OGK there.
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Can people stop suggesting putting Punk on ROH? It's truly one of the worst, most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard.
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