Dustin Rhodes knows this ‘one last run’ has to end eventually, and has called out a man on his bucket list for a match. He’s wanted to face CM Punk for years – and after taking Lance Archer out of the Top 5 rankings, he could potentially do the same to Punk here tonight, It’s The Natural vs. The Best In The World – and that sounds like the recipe for an absolute classic.
A First Time Ever Match Up That CM Punk Can’t Afford To Lose
With Punk hoping to get a shot at Hangman Page by Double or Nothing 2022 – he can’t afford to be starstruck as he locks up with someone like Rhodes. Rhodes would run Punk down with a shoulder tackle, before following up with a big arm drag. Punk would respond with a hip toss, before being kicked away as he looked to follow up.
Both men would take a second before sprawling for control on the mat. Rhodes would get back to his feet for a quick arm drag – before Punk would pick the ankle. Unable to maintain control on the mat, Punk would look for a Go To Sleep – but Rhodes slipped free, hit an arm drag – and was able to grab control of the arm.
Rhodes would hit the ropes and build some steam – before crashing and burning, missing a crossbody and spilling out of the ring. Punk took the moment to let Rhodes get a chance to recover, before taking him into the ring. Rhodes would have his knee targeted – Punk having taken notice that is where Rhodes landed when he hit the floor.
Some brutal hip drops onto the knee would be very effective at keeping Rhodes grounded – before Punk would pull a page out of his playbook with a headbutt to the groin. Rhodes would fire up at this disrespect, before looking for a body slam and being unable to keep Punk up.
An Absolute Wrestling Classic From Two Masters Of Their Craft – Hangman Page Acknowledges His Next Challenger
Figure Four Leg Lock was attempted by Punk, but Rhodes would counter into an inside cradle for a two count – before uncorking a heavy lariat. The crowd would get behind Rhodes, but Punk would look to keep him down with more hip drops – only to be kicked out of the ring.
Rhodes would look to follow Punk to the floor, but had his leg kicked out from underneath on the apron. Punk tried to follow up, but was kicked into the ring post before Rhodes nailed a fast armbreaker. Back into the ring, both men would exchange strikes – before Rhodes hit a back body drop. Some lariats would follow, before some downward punches in the corner.
Punk was able to trip Rhodes up, before missing the rising knee in the corner and taking a Code Red for a near fall. Rhodes would nearly be caught with the Go To Sleep before taking a throat thrust and snap powerslam. Punk would be able to apply the Figure Four Leg Lock – but Rhodes would be able to reverse the pressure – forcing Punk to grab the ropes.
The springboard lariat was blocked, and Cross Rhodes was nailed before a stuff piledriver for a near fall. All Rhodes had left was that Final Reckoning – but first called to his father for the Bionic Elbow. Punk was able to block and looked for the Go To Sleep. He couldn’t complete the manoeuvre, but was able to force Rhodes into a pinfall for the victory.
Following this, Hangman Page would greet Punk on the stage – and with Adam Cole in the rear view mirror? That’s his next challenger, and Page knows it.
Can Hangman Page defeat CM Punk and remain AEW World Heavyweight Champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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