AEW News & Rumor Roundup: Ex-WWE champion kicked out, Why CM Punk was erased from history, Kenny Omega's NSFW act exposed 

Welcome along to the latest rendition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's AEW News & Rumor Roundup. Today, we are looking at stories involving top pro-wrestling stars, including CM Punk and Kenny Omega, among others.

A former WWE champion was removed from AEW. Meanwhile, more details about CM Punk's exclusion from All Elite Wrestling history were revealed, and Kenny Omega gained attention after his NSFW searches were exposed. We have some headline-worthy news to share today, so let's start with the roundup.

#4. MJF is reportedly in AEW's creative plans for Worlds End 2025

A new report suggests that MJF is set for a highly anticipated return to AEW. The update comes months after the Wolf of Wrestling stepped away following his match at All Out, where he faced Mark Briscoe in a Tables N’ Thumbtacks match. After the event, Friedman announced he would be taking time off but vowed to return stronger than ever. During his hiatus, he also completed filming for the upcoming action-comedy sequel, Violent Night 2.

According to Wrestlevotes LIVE! on Fightful Select, MJF had already been added back into creative plans for Worlds End 2025 as of Thanksgiving week. The promotion has further teased his return by revealing that the Dynamite Diamond Ring will once again be contested on December 17 in a Battle Royale. MJF has been the only wrestler to hold the ring since its introduction, winning it four consecutive years. The finalists from the Battle Royale will compete on December 20, with the winner earning the ring and an AEW World Title match at Dynamite: Maximum Carnage in January 2026.

#3. AEW canceled Brian Kendrick's debut

Brian Kendrick was reportedly removed from an AEW venue and prevented from making his scheduled 2022 debut for the company. The former WWE Cruiserweight Champion, who previously competed in ROH, TNA, and WWE, had been released by the Stamford-based promotion in February of that year. Tony Khan planned for him to debut the following night on Dynamite in a match against Jon Moxley.

However, hours before the show, an old video resurfaced online in which Kendrick discussed conspiracy theories and other controversial topics. Kendrick later revealed, while speaking on the TMPT podcast, that he was already dressed in his gear and preparing for the opening match when he received a phone call from AEW’s lawyer. He was told that the circulating clip was deemed an embarrassment to the company and that he needed to leave the building immediately.

“I showed up to debut, I was in my gear, ready to wrestle Jon Moxley in the opening match. About an hour and a half beforehand, I got a call from their lawyer. The lawyer said an old video resurfaced – a clip of me talking about conspiracy theories… They didn’t like what I talked about. It was seen as an embarrassment to the company, so they made me leave the building," he said. [H/T - Ringside News]

#2. Kenny Omega's NSFW Google searches got revealed on Being The Elite

A viral moment involving Kenny Omega captured fans’ attention during the latest episode of Being The Elite. The clip surfaced shortly after Omega reunited with The Young Bucks at Full Gear 2025. The Bucks, who had been entangled in a storyline with the Don Callis Family earlier in the year, chose the Cleaner over a million-dollar offer from Callis.

On the newest episode of BTE, The Young Bucks thanked Omega, Luchasaurus, and Jack Perry for helping them fend off members of the Don Callis Family on Dynamite. During the segment, fans noticed Omega’s phone screen during a comedic exchange. The camera briefly captured NSFW Google searches, prompting widespread discussion online.

#1. Reason why CM Punk's firing has been removed from AEW's new book

AEW’s newly released book, which chronicles the company’s first five years, noticeably omits CM Punk’s controversial firing in 2023. The Second City Saint was terminated following his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In: Texas, after which Tony Khan stated he feared for his life during the incident. While speaking to Features of Wrestling, author Keith Elliot Greenberg explained that the decision to omit the firing was intentional.

“I was asked to do a book that is a tribute to AEW during the first five years, and that doesn’t belong in a tribute book, because really, we’re just talking about one or two incidents. There’s a lot of backstage stuff in it, and a lot of positive backstage stuff in the book… So it’s not like it’s all surface stuff, there’s deep stuff that you wouldn’t know about, and I don’t think the book suffers at all from not mentioning an unfortunate incident backstage," he said. [H/T - Ringside News]

After leaving All Elite Wrestling, CM Punk found success in WWE and is currently the promotion's World Heavyweight Champion.