Ryan Nemeth has stepped forward with a scathing account of his time in AEW, accusing the company of abuse, harassment, and mishandling of backstage conflicts involving CM Punk.
According to Fightful Select, a formal complaint sent to AEW executives on September 12, Nemeth laid out a detailed timeline of events, supported by emails, texts, and call logs, that paint a troubling picture of his treatment within the organization.
Nemeths issues allegedly began in April 2023 when he contacted then-AEW Legal representative Megha Parekh to express concerns about being targeted by CM Punk. He claims these fears materialized on June 21, 2023, when Punk threatened him in a locker room incident. While Nemeth says figures like Parekh, Jon Moxley, and the Young Bucks showed support, he felt the company failed to respond appropriately.
Instead, Nemeth alleges he was kept off AEW programming for two months following the incident. During this time, Moxley reached out, expressing his discomfort with the situation and offering his support. Nemeth, however, feared he was being silently fired as his pay-per-appearance deal seemed to hang in limbo.
On August 12, 2023, Nemeth was booked for an AEW show in Greensboro but claims he was asked to leave upon arrival, reportedly at Punks insistence. AEWs Pat Buck initially cited travel confusion but later confirmed Punks involvement. Nemeth says he has an audio recording of the interactions that day.
Nemeth returned to AEW on August 16, where he says he was ordered to verbally antagonize Punk in a live promo. He expressed concerns to legal and HR but felt no action was taken. This coincided with the departure of Megha Parekh from AEW Legal, leaving Nemeth to deal with Chris Peck and Margaret Stalvey, whom he accuses of stonewalling his concerns.
Following Punks physical altercation with Jack Perry at All Out 2023, Nemeth claims he was asked to participate in an external investigation but felt AEW was more focused on determining Punks future than addressing his grievances.
Nemeths timeline notes repeated pitches for his creative return from Sonjay Dutt, all of which he says went ignored. By November 18, 2023, Nemeth worked his final AEW match. He believes AEW management held him responsible for the fallout involving Punk, whose firing came shortly before Nemeths last appearance.
Nemeth alleges AEW Legal offered him a settlement equal to three years of salary, contingent on signing an NDA. He says he wanted to negotiate the offer with his legal team, but it was abruptly withdrawn. Peck allegedly warned Nemeth he would be placed in an antagonistic position against Parekh if the matter escalated to arbitration, despite Nemeth maintaining a positive relationship with her.
Nemeth claims Peck also threatened legal action over his formal complaint and timeline submission. Despite this, Nemeth remains steadfast in his call for policy changes within AEW, seeking a safer working environment for the roster.
The toll of the experience led Nemeth to seek help from mental health professionals. While Tony Khan reportedly entertained the idea of Nemeth returning, the former AEW star has no intention of going back. Instead, Nemeth hopes his case sparks meaningful change within AEW, stating, The roster deserves a safe environment.
Key Figures Named in Nemeths Complaint
- CM Punk: Allegedly threatened Nemeth and demanded his removal from a show.
- Megha Parekh: Initially supportive but left AEW Legal mid-conflict.
- Chris Peck: Accused of threatening legal action and withdrawing a settlement offer.
- The Young Bucks & Jon Moxley: Praised for their empathy and support.
Nemeths allegations, if true, raise serious questions about AEWs handling of internal disputes, the role of CM Punk, and the companys overall workplace culture.
Whats your take on Ryan Nemeths allegations and AEWs response? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
