In his first interview since his outburst at the AEW All Out 2022 Press Conference, CM Punk has made a scathing critique of his match with Hangman Page, referring to it as “garbage.”
Punk, who had been absent from the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) scene for nine months, will finally make his return on Saturday night during the inaugural episode of “Collision” at the United Center in Chicago.
AEW owner Tony Khan had announced the vacation of Punk’s AEW championship title back in September, without providing any reasons. This left fans and viewers puzzled about Punk’s whereabouts and his triceps injury. However, in an interview with ESPN, Punk disclosed that his absence was due to a torn left triceps tendon, which required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. He assured fans that he is now back to full health, as evidenced by the impressive physique displayed on his Instagram.
Beyond the physical recovery, Punk’s return has been marred by backstage conflicts with AEW stars and executive vice presidents Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. This came after Punk had multiple disagreements with fellow AEW star Hangman Page.
How Did The Tensions Between CM Punk & Hangman Page Start?
The tension between Punk and Hangman Page escalated during a promo segment in May 2022 on “AEW Dynamite.” While Punk had expected a scripted exchange, Page deviated from the agreed-upon dialogue, making unexpected accusations about Punk’s behavior. Page’s comments, presented as part of the show but with an element of authenticity, angered Punk. Backstage, Punk confronted Page, denying the allegations that he had played a role in the firing of Colt Cabana, another AEW wrestler and coach.
Despite their backstage clash, Punk proceeded with the match against Page at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view event. However, Punk admitted that the experience was tainted by his concerns about Page’s intentions and his own need to protect himself.
Reflecting on the match, Punk stated, “I proceed to have what I think is a garbage match because I’m trying to protect myself on stuff instead of actually just working and trying to put on the best performance I can,” Punk said. “I’m keeping an eye out. He chopped me in the mouth one time, and I’m just like, ‘OK, did you do that on purpose?’ You chip my tooth, and I’m like, ‘All right, should I give him a receipt?’ It changes the dynamic.
The aftermath of the match only exacerbated the animosity between Punk and Page, leaving Punk deeply dissatisfied. “It poisoned everything for me, and it made it all really, really ugly,” he explained. The unresolved issues have persisted for over a year, further straining their relationship.
As CM Punk returns to the AEW stage, fans eagerly await his next moves and his potential confrontations with Hangman Page. The stage is set for a potential storyline, but whether their real life feud will be resolved or continue to escalate remains to be seen. One thing is certain, CM Punk’s return will bring eyes to AEW Collision this Saturday
