Tony Khan has claimed that the atmosphere backstage at AEW Collision is much more pleasant now than it was a year ago when CM Punk was still there.

AEW celebrates after its second show in consecutive years at Wembley Stadium that ended All In with Bryan Danielson winning the AEW World Championship and continuing his legendary career.

2023’s All In was a huge success for the company, but was ultimately overshadowed by CM Punk’s firing from AEW for his role in a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at that show.

Punk did not return to AEW until the summer of 2023 to host the company’s new Collision show, which kept him away from The Elite, who were limited to their appearances on Dynamite.

Tony Khan faces an easier process at AEW without CM Punk

Speaking at the All In Media Scrum, Tony Khan talked about AEW’s current creative process and, without mentioning Punk, noted that the environment at Collision is easier to manage, allowing things to be more fluid between the Saturday night show and Dynamite:

I honestly think it’s easier to get things done behind the scenes at Collision than it was a year ago. I think the flow between the two shows is a lot easier than it was a year ago. I think the dressing room is in a lot better shape than it was a year ago.

It shows when we came here compared to what happened here a year ago. I think I have a much easier job because I dealt with the guys at Collision last year and it’s a much easier meeting process to put the TV together than it was this time a year ago.

Jack Perry recalled his feud with CM Punk at All In in 2024, when he conjured up real glass as a weapon for his TNT Title match against Darby Allin. Whether anyone cried a river because of the glass is unknown.