WWE Hall of Famer and AEW coach Billy Gunn has shared his perspective on the controversial backstage altercation involving CM Punk and The Elite at AEW All Out 2022, offering his thoughts on how conflicts between wrestlers should be handled.
The incident occurred following Punk’s explosive post-show media scrum, during which he publicly criticized Hangman Page, Colt Cabana and AEW Executive Vice Presidents The Young Bucks.
A backstage confrontation subsequently took place involving Punk, Ace Steel, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, reportedly escalating into a physical altercation that resulted in disciplinary action.
Speaking with Kenny McIntosh of Inside The Ropes, Gunn addressed the incident while making it clear that he was not present for the confrontation. “I wasn’t around for that. I knew the incident that happened, and it was what it was,” Gunn said. “They just have to realize that sometimes, there are certain veterans that aren’t going to put up with that shit, no matter what. If you’re a young buckaroo and you want to poke the bear, get ready to get bit.”
Gunn acknowledged that he did not know the full circumstances surrounding the altercation and was reluctant to offer a definitive assessment of what happened. “I think that’s what happened. I don’t know the whole details; that’s between them.”
The veteran wrestler also revealed that he paid little attention to the extensive media coverage surrounding the incident.
When asked how similar disagreements were handled during his WWE career, Gunn pointed to Vince McMahon’s approach to maintaining discipline backstage. “Vince (McMahon) had things under control really good. I don’t have to like you to work with you. I just have to do business,” Gunn explained. “99.9% of the guys always do that. There will be a spat every now and then where you just pull them into a room, shut the door, and you don’t do it in public or in front of the boys.”
Gunn emphasized that professional disagreements should be addressed privately and resolved before those involved return to work. “If you have a problem, we fix it now, so that when you walk out the door, we don’t have a problem anymore. That’s how grown-ass people deal with shit. Nowadays, we don’t, and that’s sad.”
The altercation at All Out 2022 became one of AEW’s most widely discussed backstage controversies and led to suspensions involving those connected to the incident.
Punk eventually returned to AEW television in June 2023, but his tenure with the company ended that September following a separate backstage confrontation at AEW All In.
He subsequently made his return to WWE at Survivor Series in November 2023.
While Gunn stopped short of assigning blame for the All Out confrontation, his comments highlighted his belief that personal conflicts should be handled privately rather than allowed to disrupt the wrestling business.
