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Punk blamed Page for starting everything. Much of the IWC has taken Punk's explanation of events at face value and believe he was justified. Let's unpack his problem.
Punk's complaint is that Page said something unplanned during their promo, and this snowballed into Brawl Out.
So is it against Wrestling 101 to say something not planned? Nope. Baby Doll has said that Jim Cornette, Tully Blanchard, and Dusty Rhodes would say unplanned hurtful things about her during their red hot angles. But she was a pro and took it because she was "one of the boys" and made money with their feuds. After all, wrestling is about drawing heat to make money. One time The Road Warriors approached Cornette to tell him he was "ribbing on the square" with a steroids promo and told him to cut it out. He did. No problem after that. John Cena said he liked to test guys during promos and say things unscripted to keep guys on their toes. Do you really think Ric Flair sat down with babyfaces to run his promos by them? Nope.
AEW had sold itself as a company where the wrestlers aren't scripted, and have more creative freedom. Many veterans wax nostalgic about the "good old days" where they could say what they want on the mic. Even to this day, indie promotions allow shoots.
Yet Punk of all people- the guy who claims to push the limits of freedom of speech and tells it like it is- couldn't handle criticism. This is the same guy who would curse out fans face-to-face in 2000s indies. If he got triggered so much by Hangman's words, it had to have been true. After all, Hulk Hogan didn't want guys cutting promos about his bald spot.
Interestingly enough, MJF had previously mentioned the Colt lawsuit during a promo. Eddie Kingston had previously said: "Nobody wants you here, they never wanted you here. That whole locker room is afraid to say it, not me."
