Report: CM Punk Apologises To Hangman Page Over Post-AEW Collision Comments
Latest on CM Punk's post-AEW Collision comments about Hangman Page
Aug 15, 2023
The issues between CM Punk and The Elite are once again affecting AEW shows as CM Punk took shots at Hangman Page following the August 12 edition of AEW Collision, noting that Page's action figures aren't flying off the shelves while he is a draw for the promotion.
It has since been reported that Hangman Page was booked to appear at AEW Collision to film a pre-tape but he was sent away from the building upon arriving at the Greensboro Coliseum. If Punk was involved in that decision is unknown but many in the AEW locker room believe he was. Reports have indicated that Punk did block Christopher Daniels and Ryan Nemeth from being at Collision, while Punk's involvement in Matt Hardy and Isiah Kassidy being booked then unbooked for Collision is unknown beyond that Punk wants the Saturday night show to be a low drama environment and he doesn't want wrestlers he believes are disloyal or closely aligned with The Elite to be backstage at Collision.
On the promo, Punk felt bad about his comments towards Hangman Page and he felt the promo did not come across how he would have liked, according to Haus of Wrestling. Such is Punk's unhappiness with the way he delivered the post-Collision promo that he personally apologised to Hangman Page via text message, Voices of Wrestling has reported, with Punk reportedly unhappy that he touched on merchandise sales.
Dave Meltzer claimed on Wrestling Observer Radio that those who have looked to defend Punk stated the promo was an attempt at a comedy line that backfired and Punk realised right away that it backfired.
"It was an attempt to do a comedy line. It backfired and he realised the minute he did it that it backfired," Meltzer said.
Issues between The Elite and CM Punk have been ongoing since the first half of 2022. Fightful Select has reported that Punk still wants to have a sit-down with The Elite, something Punk stated publicly ahead of his AEW return. Punk has stated he has only been met with lawyers whenever he has tried to reach out to The Elite.
Fightful noted that Hangman Page has generally tried to avoid the situation and he has not been interested in working with Punk, at least for the past year. Many at AEW Collision believe that Punk is trying to work himself into an angle with his post-show comments but those close to The Elite say these situations only make Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Hangman Page want to distance themselves even more from the two-time AEW World Champion.
H/T to Wrestling Inc.