We're not talking about insignificant forum gossip here. We're talking about whispering to people who builds/controls/drives narratives. And those narratives were obviously starting to affect him negatively. They managed to turn the core fanbase against him too with a lie about some nobody who shouldn't have been employed in the first place.
Punk is at fault here too, though, for not being able to control himself in the face of a some Shawn Michaels wannabees.
The so-called EVPs are responsible for escalating from there. Given their positions, they should have just gone to the owner, but instead they invaded his space and got what they wanted, because he can't control himself. He's ultimately responsible for his own downfall, but we likely wouldn't be here if not for the so-called Elite's bullshyt. It would be a shame If they face no serious consequences.