<\/p>\n AEW
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CM Punk defeated “Hangman” Adam Page to win the AEW Championship at Double or Nothing back in May. In the buildup to their pay-per-view clash, Punk and Page had many storyline confrontations. Punk took exception to comments Page made in one segment. <\/p>\n
“You talk a big game about worker’s rights, well you’ve shown the exact opposite since you’ve gotten here,” Page said, seemingly a reference to Colt Cabana’s potentially being let go due to Punk. Page and Cabana were in the same Dark Order faction on TV, and are presumably friends in real life. Page also said in the promo that the moments where the camera isn’t on make a champion, and that he wants to protect AEW from Punk. <\/p>\n
As always in pro wrestling, the line between reality and fiction isn’t clear. It’s also not clear precisely what comment Punk took issue with.<\/p>\n
Following his win against Page at Double or Nothing, Punk sustained a foot injury that took him out of action for over 2 months. During that time, Jon Moxley won the Interim AEW Championship, setting up a future clash with Punk. But when Punk returned on the Aug. 19 episode of Dynamite, the first person he spoke about wasn’t Moxley — it was Hangman Page.<\/p>\n
Punk called Hangman Page to the ring in an apparently unscripted bit, then called him a coward for not taking the challenge up. “The apology must be as loud and as public as the disrespect,” Punk said. “And if anybody else has a problem with the champion, I suggest you come on down.” <\/p>\n
Punk’s comments were dissected by wrestling fans and media, but had mostly blown over by the time of All Out on Sunday. Then came the media scrum after the event.<\/p>\n
What did CM Punk say after All Out?<\/h2>\n
AEW always holds press conferences after its pay-per-views, with founder and president Tony Khan taking questions from media alongside top stars. Punk and Khan opened All Out’s post-show scrum, and Punk quickly addressed the lingering tensions. <\/p>\n
He first spoke about Cabana, going over their litigious history, before taking aim at Matt and Nick Jackson, and potentially Kenny Omega. Punk claimed that AEW’s EVPs misled the media by claiming he was involved with Cabana’s rumored contract lapsing. “They spread lies and bullshit … that I got somebody fired when I have fuck all to do with him.”<\/p>\n
Punk then spoke of Page’s comments in their pre-Double or Nothing promo in May, saying the fact that he had to make the statement was embarrassing. “What did I ever do, in this world, to deserve an empty-headed fucking dumb fuck like Hangman Adam Page to go out on national television and fucking go into business for himself?” <\/p>\n
Punk said that Page jeopardized the first $1 million house AEW ever drew — referring to the ticket sales from Double or Nothing — and said it was a “disgrace.” <\/p>\n