Bryan Danielson confirmed his role on the AEW disciplinary committee that decided to terminate CM Punk’s contract with All Elite Wrestling.
Ahead of the September 2nd episode of Collision, Tony Khan announced in front of a Chicago crowd that CM Punk had been fired from AEW with cause as a result of an investigation into his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at the previous weekend’s All In. This was not the first time Punk had been involved in a backstage fight during his time with the company, famously brawling with The Elite following the 2022 edition of All Out.
Earlier this week, reports emerged that Bryan Danielson was part of the disciplinary committee that determined Punk’s fate in AEW, and speaking in a new interview with Maggie and Perloff, Danielson confirmed that he is indeed part of the committee.
“Yeah, I’m a part of the disciplinary committee. Clearly, what happened has happened. I’m somebody who, I like CM Punk, I think he brought a lot to AEW while he was there. There is not a lot I can say about it, or that I want to say about it about. I am part of it.”
“I’m Not Bossing Anybody Around” – Bryan Danielson
However, Danielson denied reports that he was the head of the committee, joking that he doesn’t even have a college degree.
“It’s really funny, you know how the internet is. Some people say I was the head of the disciplinary committee. There were more than three people involved in this decision, but most of them were all lawyers. To say that I was the head, I don’t even have a college degree [laughs]. I’m not in there bossing people around. I am part of the disciplinary committee.”
When asked if the decision to fire Punk was a difficult one to make, Danielson admitted that it was. He also wished the Second City Savior well on his return to WWE.
“Absolutely. As somebody who…I have a lot of empathy. I’m grateful for the time he was able to spend in AEW. He did a great job for us. I wish him the best in his future and I hope his run there goes well.”
h/t Fightful