CM Punk has been on a roll since returning to the ring for All Elite Wrestling, and tonight he faces an old opponent in Matt Sydal. They last clashed in 2010 on Monday Night RAW – where Punk beat the man then known as Evan Bourne in just under four minutes. Tonight, Sydal will have a chance to redeem that embarrassingly short match – and prove that he can hang with Punk.
He also has a chance to prove to Lio Rush that Sydal is a good investment for whatever Rush is planning. These are two mid-south indy icons who have made it big time – from IWA Mid-South to WWE to AEW. Sydal has a 11-6 singles record in AEW, while Punk comes in with a perfect 3-0.
CM Punk Always Gets A Crowd Going
The entrance of CM Punk is still as great as it was the first time in AEW. Be it 20k fans or 2k, he gets the fans on their feet. Even after the instant classic of Bryan Danielson & Minoru Suzuki which would have killed any crowd – he gets them right back into it. There was more Punk Fears Hook signs, which got a chuckle from Taz on commentary. Loud CM Punk chants would be met with a handshake in the middle of the ring – nothing but class from both men.
Punk would take Sydal down to the mat with a headlock, before having his wrist snatched by Sydal. He’d have to fight his way up, and a snapmare into a crucifix would get a two count. It seems like Sydal was trying to burn the tank of Punk out early in this match, which is a smart move. Punk hasn’t been working frequently like Sydal, but a simple body slam would get him some control.
The crowd called for another, before Sydal was able to get another flying mare to keep Punk down. A crafty pinfall would get another two count, and Punk was ready for this. He’d get twisted around and kicked in the face, before a charging knee strike in the corner. This was the first time Punk has shown a shade of ring rust – but he’d still nail a scoop slam on the apron. A rolling senton back into the ring would keep him back in control, and Sydal found himself tied up in the tree of woe.
Nothing But Respect From Both Men
Punk missed the sliding dropkick, but avoided the ring post. Sydal would take Punk up to the top rope, and they’d both tumble to the floor. Back in the ring they would exchange strikes, with Sydal winning out with a jumping knee strike. Lightning Spiral would be countered into a neckbreaker from CM Punk.
Punk would go up top and was taken down by a hurricanrana, Sydal not leaving anything to chance tonight. Sydal would show Punk how to be flexible, but went for the Delirious Cobra Clutch instead. Punk looked for the Anaconda Vice as a counter, but was too close to the ropes.
Sydal dodged the pepsi twist and hit a kick to the head and Lightning Spiral for a two count. Punk would dodge the Shooting Sydal Press, and counter a crucifix into the Go To Sleep for the win. He was pushed to his limits, and will need to watch out for fellow veterans in the ring.
Matt Sydal had his best match yet in AEW here, their old chemistry. Punk couldn’t match the high flying, but the submission and striking work was evenly matched. They pushed each other to their limits, and had an impressive but rather by the numbers match. Match Rating: 4/5 (****)
Who will be next for CM Punk in AEW? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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