Tony Khan addressed his firing of CM Punk at the outset of Saturday night’s edition of AEW Collision.
His words, which echoed but also added to the statement released earlier in the day, were as follows:
Today, I had to make one of the toughest decisions of my professional career. Today, I terminated Phil Brooks, CM Punk, for cause.
This stems from a backstage incident at AEW All In last Sunday. The incident was regrettable and it endangered people backstage. That includes the production staff, the people who help put the show on every week — innocent people who had nothing to do with it.
I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over 30 years. I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt until last Sunday that my security, my safety, my life, was in danger at a wrestling show.
I don’t think anybody should feel that way at work. I don’t think the people I work with should feel that way. And I had to make a very difficult choice today. It came at the recommendation of a discipline committee here in AEW, as well as outside legal counsel who delivered a unanimous recommendation. And I have followed up on that recommendation.
I’m sorry to any fans who are upset by this. I’m sorry to anyone who’s upset by this. Despite that, we’re gonna have a great show tonight on Collision and we’re gonna have a great AEW All Out pay-per-view tomorrow here in Chicago. Last weekend was the greatest weekend in AEW history. This is the greatest week in AEW history. We’re gonna continue the great momentum here tonight on Collision and tomorrow night on the All Out pay-per-view.
Before the show went on air, Khan came out to the entranceway and made a similar speech live to the audience, receiving a mixed reaction.
