Mark Henry warns AEW of hit after letting wrestler go

CM Punk Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Henry warns AEW of financial hit following CM Punk's termination

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 9/5/23

During a recent appearance on "Busted Open Radio," WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry warned AEW of the financial hit CM Punk's departure is going to cause. Henry likened Punk to Dennis Rodman and how each team the extroverted forward left got worse in the short term.

"When Rodman left, the team got worse," Henry said, (h/t to Fightful for the transcription.) "When he left Chicago, they got worse. San Antonio, they got worse. Detroit got worse when he left because he was a defensive stalwart. 'I'm gonna go against your best player and I'm going to make his life miserable. It's going to affect his offense.' As far as Punk is concerned, it's not the offense affected, it's the money, the gates, the live events, the brass tacks dealing with licensing products and merchandise money coming in. Money is going to be affected. Still, everything is solved now. The problem is gone, and there should be peace and prosperity in life.

When CM Punk arrived in AEW, it was seen as a coup from the disruptor company. One of the most popular wrestlers in the world had come in from the cold to increase the talent level of a rapidly rising promotion. Punk was supposed to be a catalyst for further growth, both in terms of viewership and on the commercial/merchandise front.

Instead, CM Punk's backstage issues cast a continuous cloud over the locker room and led to multiple highly publicized issues. Taking a slight financial hit on income generated by attendance and merchandise is a small price to pay if it leads to a harmonious locker room atmosphere. AEW is rapidly growing and attracting new audiences. Backstage drama is not how the company will retain those newer fans.

CM Punk may have been seen as a huge pull for AEW back when he joined, but cutting ties with him could be what finally allows the company to scale new heights without the risk of further infighting and negative press. Punk had to go, regardless of what it cost in the short term.

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