Karpeles Says AEW Locker Room Split Into Cliques
Former WWE writer Robert Karpeles described factions in AEW's locker room during the CM Punk controversy on a wrestling podcast.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Wrestling
Former WWE writer Robert Karpeles said AEW's locker room was divided into cliques during the CM Punk controversy, citing a post-All Out 2022 media scrum and a backstage brawl. Karpeles made the comments on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast.
Why it matters
Karpeles said divided locker rooms keep wrestlers from working toward the same goal and that a company needs a decisive leader to unify them. His comments add an outside perspective to the internal tensions that surrounded the CM Punk controversy at AEW.
The account rests on a single podcast interview with a former WWE writer, with no reported attendance figures, contract data or viewership numbers attached. The claims about factions and nervousness are Karpeles's own characterizations and have not been confirmed by AEW.
The players
Robert Karpeles
Robert Karpeles is a former WWE writer who now offers commentary on the wrestling industry through podcast appearances.
AEW
All Elite Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion that competes with WWE and was the company whose locker room Karpeles described.
The details
Karpeles appeared on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast and described AEW's locker room as split into factions, including Cody's group, Kenny and the Young Bucks, Jericho and his crew, and everyone else. He said he felt nervous about the company's direction at the time and that the post-All Out 2022 press conference and backstage brawl did not feel decisive.
Timeline
2022 (post-All Out): CM Punk media scrum and backstage brawl occurred.
November 8, 2026: Karpeles's podcast comments were published.
Season Trajectory
The CM Punk controversy following All Out 2022 became one of the most-discussed internal disputes in AEW's history, and Karpeles's account adds a former WWE insider's view of the locker-room fallout. The comments revisit that episode rather than marking a new development in the company's current standing.
For fans tracking AEW's roster dynamics, the account points to the backstage divisions that shaped the company's direction after the CM Punk controversy. The claims are Karpeles's own perspective and do not change any scheduled bookings or contract terms.
The takeaway
Locker-room cohesion and clear leadership are central to how a wrestling company functions, according to Karpeles's account. Fans and industry watchers can use his comments as one former insider's perspective on how the CM Punk controversy affected AEW internally.
Further reading
For more coverage of the industry, see the Wrestling section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wrestlezone.
