Is last year’s post-All Out brawl finally turning into fuel for AEW storylines? Or is CM Punk just not willing to let some bygones be bygones?
Those were natural questions following the end of this week’s episode of AEW Collision in Greensboro. While Punk and FTR were unsuccessful in their attempt to win the AEW World Trios Championship from House of Black, a big reason they came up short was interference against Punk from Samoa Joe, who has been calling out Punk for a potential match at All In later this month in London.
Yet when Punk got on the mic after the show went off the air on TNT, he seemingly wanted to look back instead of forward, aiming some barbs at Hangman Adam Page — as shown in the video below from Jase on X.
CM Punk buried Hangman Page in a post show interview after #AEWCollision pic.twitter.com/R1nQ01JQBL
— Jase (@itsmejase_) August 13, 2023
“I went to a local supermarket, and I found out why they call him Hangman,” Punk said. “It’s because the pegs in the toy aisle are full of Hangman action figures, ’cause nobody wants to buy them. He’s a peg warmer, unlike me, who moves merchandise and pops ratings and sells toys.”
Punk also mocked people for saying they were the heart and soul of AEW, which is a comment that certainly could have included Page as well.
Punk’s issues with Page were at the very heart of his now famous press conference rant last year, spurred by a promo prior to All Out where he felt Page went into business for himself at Punk’s expense. Afterward, when Punk got into an altercation with The Elite, much of the focus was on his interactions with Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks (who were also targets during his tirade).
At this point, the line between reality and showmanship on this issue has bee more or less eradicated, so this could have been Punk trying to set something up for down the road (for All Out, maybe?) or just him being him with an open mic. Regardless, it’s a moment that will catch the attention of plenty of fans and be filed away for later.