AEW fans have been asking, "is CM Punk fired?" since his post-All Out media scrum, but the reality is that Tony Khan doesn't have to make that call right now. At least not publically. That's because the Voice Of the Voiceless picked up a nasty injury during his match with Jon Moxley at the pay-per-view, and the former World Champion is slated to miss a hefty chunk of time because of it.
It's the second major injury Punk has dealt with since beating Hangman Adam Page for the world title at the Double Or Nothing pay-per-view on May 29. He made it through that match unscathed but shattered his foot while performing a stage dive into the crowd on the following episode of Wednesday Night Dynamite on June 1. That injury required surgery and held up several storylines as Tony Khan decided to go the interim title route while CM Punk was on the mend. The self-proclaimed Best In The World returned in time to face Jon Moxley at the All Out pay-per-view, but the road to get there was a strange and bumpy one. Of course, the odd build to that match paled compared to what would come after Punk Vs. Moxley II, with the former burying AEW executives and Hangman Adam Page while sitting next to Khan during a media scrum.
Khan isn't in a position where he has to publically suspend Punk because it sounds like his latest injury will prevent him from working for the foreseeable future. On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported the following about the injury: "Punk is out for eight months... six months to eight months. If he's not let go, and a lot of people don't want him back." The latter part of Meltzer's report jives with what sources such as Wade Keller have said, noting that if Punk wants to return to AEW, many bridges must be mended.
Time For AEW's Underutilized Wrestlers To Shine
Given the tensions that have been ongoing backstage in AEW, perhaps removing a few of the common denominators will be for the best. Punk will miss at least half a year, it sounds like. Fans don't know how long The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega will be suspended, but they, too, have allegedly had their fair share of heat backstage.
With those overwhelming forces not currently in the picture, the time has come for Wardlow, Daniel Garcia, Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs, and so many other homegrown talents to get some air time finally. The September 7 episode of Dynamite seemed to signal that this will be the direction Khan steers AEW with no Punk, Bucks, or Omega to lean on. He's dealt with injuries all summer long and is learning how to book captivating cards despite these issues on the fly.
Sources: Wrestling Observer Radio