During Monday’s episode of Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, the boundaries between reality and performance were blurred when WWE superstars Rhea Ripley and Becky Lynch engaged in an altercation.
However, despite the clearly choreographed nature of the confrontation aimed at building anticipation for their upcoming match at WrestleMania XL, Helwani steered the show back to its course by subtly taking a jab at Tony Khan, the owner and president of All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
“Can I just say this after what just happened? I’ve been hosting this show for 15 years. Never did I imagine that my safety would be at risk during this show,” Helwani remarked.
“For the first time in my tenure, I felt not only my safety but also the safety of the workers and crew was compromised. I don’t want that to happen again. So, I apologize to all of them. And on behalf of Becky Lynch, I’d like to apologize to Rhea Ripley.”
Interestingly, earlier in the day, Punk had been a guest on The MMA Hour where he publicly addressed his departure from AEW for the first time.
When questioned about Khan’s remarks regarding fearing for his safety, Punk suggested that his former employer might have been exaggerating.
“I can’t speak to Tony’s feelings or thoughts, but I never did anything to make him fear for his safety,” Punk informed Helwani. “But everyone has their own perspective.”
Considering the context of Punk’s interview and Helwani’s indirect dig following the staged altercation between Lynch and Ripley, it seems unlikely that Khan, who already shares a strained relationship with Helwani, will be making an appearance on The MMA Hour anytime soon.
