CM Punk opens up on his controversial AEW exit as he reveals what REALLY happened in backstage altercation with Jack Perry

CM Punk has finally addressed his controversial AEW exit following a backstage altercation with fellow wrestler Jack Perry last year.

Punk and Perry clashed at the pay-per-view event All In last August, which led to the former having his contract terminated while Perry was suspended by AEW president Tony Khan.

It was reported at the time that Punk had taken exception to Perry wanting to use real glass on the show, but, over seven months on, Punk has explained his version of events on what really happened behind the scenes at Wembley Stadium.

He told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour: 'Jack came back from his match, I was the next match, and I've got people with me. I'm not going to say who they are, because I've got a lot of friends that work there and I don't want them to be punished for being friends with me. 

'I walk up and I'm like, "why do you insist on doing this dumb internet s*** on TV?" And he was like "well if you've got a problem do something about it" and I'm like "come on man, I'd f****** kill you, what are we doing?" 

'I thought I was doing the responsible thing, I didn't punch anybody, I just choked somebody a little bit. Samoa Joe was there, told me to stop, then I quit. 

'I turned to Tony, I said this place is a f****** joke man, you're a clown, I quit.'

After leaving AEW, Punk returned to WWE for the first time since 2014 at Survivor Series in November.

He also spoke on The MMA Hour about meeting company founder Vince McMahon shortly after his comeback, but revealed he has not seen him since after the 78-year-old resigned from his position as Executive Chairman of TKO Group Holdings following allegations of sex trafficking made against him by a former WWE employee. 

'I was on the phone and then I saw him walking down into the gym. He came in for his his daily workout,' Punk said.

'He gave me a big hug. He said, "welcome home, good to see you. Let's, connect after I work out." And I was like, "alright". I haven't seen him since.'

Addressing the allegations against McMahon - which he strenuously denies - Punk added: 'Doing this, I imagined I was going to be asked about it, I know the easiest thing to do is avoid it, but it’s there.

'I’m kind of shocked at how dumb he was, writing stuff down and leaving that paper trail, it’s horrific.

'At this point, all the energy should be used, there’s victims here, so what CM Punk thinks about Vince and the CM Punk/Vince relationship doesn’t mean f****** anything here, all that stuff takes a backseat, I’m more concerned about, going forward, how do those people survive going through that trauma.'

Punk suffered a torn triceps injury in January that has ruled him out of competing at WrestleMania 40 this weekend, but could still make an appearance at the WWE's flagship event.