Mitchell & Ness has pulled several pieces of CM Punk merchandise after designer David Stenken accused the company and WWE of using his artwork without permission.
Stenken noticed the apparel had disappeared and believes an internal review may now be underway. Stenken updated his original Instagram post after publicly calling out WWE and Mitchell & Ness.
“Update: Mitchell & Ness took the apparel down. I’m assuming there is some sort of review happening and someone is getting in trouble. I will still leave this post up for posterity.”
The artwork was originally created for Punk’s massive AEW debut at the United Center in 2021. Stenken said the design became AEW’s highest-selling piece of merchandise that year and remains one of the company’s biggest sellers. Stenken was inside the United Center when Punk returned to wrestling and saw his artwork displayed throughout the building.
“What a time to be alive. This CM Punk design was one of my career highlights. It was the highest-selling piece of AEW merchandise that year and one of their best-selling designs of all time.”
“I was there at the United Center when he came out. It was all over the building in lights. That seems like a whole lifetime ago in wrestling years—but what’s old is new again.”
The design later appeared on multiple hoodies released through the latest WWE and Mitchell & Ness collaboration. Stenken shared images of the merchandise before accusing both companies of stealing his artwork and asking whether anyone knew a good lawyer.
“WWE and Mitchell & Ness have tag-teamed against me and stolen my art for their latest collaboration, which sucks. Does anyone know a good lawyer?”
Stenken has not announced a lawsuit, and Mitchell & Ness has not publicly explained why the apparel was removed. Taking the merchandise down doesn’t prove wrongdoing, but it does mean the disputed CM Punk items are no longer being sold while the situation is apparently reviewed.
Do you think Mitchell & Ness pulling the merchandise proves Stenken’s accusation was taken seriously? Let us know in the comments.
