During AEW Dynamite tonight the company aired security camera footage of the incident between Jack Perry and CM Punk at All-In…but it was all part of an angle.
“The last time we wrestled these guys (FTR) was at All-In and I still have some wounds that haven’t really healed. It kind of opens up those wounds and I feel like this is perfect time to talk about it right now,” said Nick Jackson as The Young Bucks sat in a makeshift video production room which due to the TSN equipment box, looks like it was shot in Canada.
“Right before that match there was a incident backstage involving two individuals. The first being the scapegoat in this entire situation: Jack Perry. Jack is a lovable kid also from Southern California just like us and he kind of reminds me a lot of us at his age. Someone actually once said about Jack, you got a problem with Jack Perry chances are YOU’RE are the problem,” continued Matt Jackson wearing a ‘Scapegoat’ shirt.
Nick Jackson mentioned CM Punk without actually mentioning CM Punk.
“The other individual tried to make this entire show about himself. Matter of fact, this individual happens to be good friends with FTR which got me thinking, maybe FTR are the masterminds behind this entire thing,” said Nick before Matt told him he couldn’t say something like that because it would be “unprofessional”, criticism directed at CM Punk’s comments last week.
The Bucks then suggested that there should be an asterisk by FTR’s victory at All-In. The Bucks had to put their “EVP caps on” because of the incident which is why they lost the match against FTR that night.
“The incident itself isn’t even the worst part…It is short and resembles a high school scrap but I would argue not not that it was a short, a short incident but the ramifications that came out of the incident it threatened to take down our biggest show of all time but damn it we’re lucky that it didn’t,” said Matt before the footage was aired.
The footage itself shows a number of officials backstage such as production crew, referees and Samoa Joe. CM Punk approaches Jack Perry obviously questioning him. The two argue back and forth. We cannot hear what is being said because there is no audio with the footage. Tony Khan is not seen at first. Punk shoves Perry twice and then puts him in a head lock. The tussle causes Punk to bump into some monitors. Samoa Joe rushes over and so does a referee to break things up rather quickly. Chris Hero and Jerry Lynn settle Punk down. Joe takes Perry to the other side of the room where Hook is. Sonjay Dutt walks through the scene to chat with Perry. Khan leans over, reaches for and says something to Punk. Before he leaves, Punk does turn to yell something at Tony Khan who was sitting on the other side of the monitors. Malakai Black follows Punk out of the room.
At the time of the incident, Khan said: “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.”
Press PLAY on the video above to view the footage
After the footage aired Matt complained that people were distracted by something “so stupid” and didn’t focus on All-In.
FTR then took to the ring complaining that the company should move past the incident, the Young Bucks have no business bringing it up AGAIN and sung the praises of AEW.
AEW airing the footage got X talking:
So Punk kicked Jack Perry’s ass and Tony was scared for his life because they bumped a monitor???
Why did Tony think airing this would be beneficial?? #AEWDynamite #CMPunk
— Kenton (@Kenton_la) April 11, 2024
idk why they'd respond any further at this point. they wanted to expose punk for a liar and did. any further punk malding will just be funny at this point while they prob outsell their last wembly show.
— TOM SPACE MAN👽 (@LoneTreeGrove) April 11, 2024
No he wasn’t. Punk said Perry came at him, got up in his face and that’s why he choked him. The footage shows Punk as the aggressor the whole time.
— J. (@JJwalk415) April 11, 2024
Punk is still the aggressor. I hope you don’t have kids – because I can only imagine you sticking up for their bullies.
— Shane The … (@fknshayne) April 11, 2024
beginning of the end for AEW.. AEW has Okada, FTR, Bryan Danielson, Ricky Starks, Samoa Joe, Rosa, and Will Ospreay.. and instead of focusing on these amazing talents, you squander TV time with petty and childish segments on someone who isn't even in your company anymore
— phoenixsplash630 (@phoenixsplash61) April 11, 2024
Did @aew bury itself? https://t.co/H0gMtnrm91
— SmackTalk (@_smacktalk) April 11, 2024
All this shows is that Punk pretty much was spot on with what he described the situation as being. Makes Perry look like a chump, Tony like a baby, and AEW as super desperate with no direction other than to try and use WWE to save their sinking ratings. They are a joke.
— Steve Phillips (@StevePhillips1) April 11, 2024
AEW looks WEAK after showing THIS tonight
— Fes Ashburn (@Fesluv) April 11, 2024
1. CM Punk told the truth.
2. Jungle Boy now looks weak after this was released.
3. I’m still confused why AEW did this? I get it if Punk was lying but this now validates everything he said in the interview.
4. This was nothing more than a ratings grab. They will get a huge pop— DR. BEARD B.A. (@2kBeard) April 11, 2024
This does nothing regardless lmao whether he lied, didnt tell the whole story, etc… this does nothing. People who like punk will like punk, those who dont care wont care and those who dislike him will dislike him. This does nothing for aew 😂
It did more damage https://t.co/gbnmhBDgzi
— Relic (@DarthRelic) April 11, 2024
I think we can agree that this footage singlehandedly obliterated any chance AEW could have of being respected. All it did was prove Punk right.
— The Azure Rose (@TheAzureRose1) April 11, 2024
It makes AEW look bush league no matter how you interpret it. Punk told the truth and the video shouldn’t have been shown. Bischoff made the same mistake in WCW announcing Mick won the WWE World Title!
— Larry Luv (@larryluv63) April 11, 2024
Personally, I hate CM Punk as much as I hate AEW.
But if I look at it on the whole, what was the goal?
Punk was already fired. Perry looks worse than ever and AEW gains…what? Public opinion?
— DEI SHAWN (@ShawnNOrlando) April 11, 2024
I like how they worked it into the story of Bucks vs FTR… that’s about the only thing I liked about it. Unnecessary share. I still love AEW though
— “Marky” Mark K. Fabe ✡️ 🫶🏼 (@MarkyKFabe) April 11, 2024
Great article