Jim Cornette Reviews CM Punk Face-To-Face With Adam Page on AEW Dynamite

[@caseydorris6758]

The promo that destroyed AEW. Page cannot cut a promo to save his life.

[@caseydorris6758]

Hangman was unprofessional and brought up bull shit that wasn’t real and started this whole thing. It made no sense with hangman and punk both being babyfaces and punk putting hangman over. I get why punk hates hangman, this is one of the most unprofessional things to ever happen in wrestling.

[@MrSweetpoeticjustice]

I gotta disagree. Page can cut a good promo.

[@simono.954]

​@@MrSweetpoeticjusticeKeep telling yourself that Bullsh*t...

[@archeign7769]

@@MrSweetpoeticjustice lmao no he can't. He comes across so phony and generic. Like a typical promo from an indy wrestler.

[@Bromleycafc]

It was a decent promotion until this moment.

[@SairajRKamath]

The genesis of the AEW Civil War.

[@Masada1911]

Oh boy were you right.

[@Bulletno]

fuck the elite

[@captainthiccnick]

Most definitely

[@anthonyv9324]

Not according to Meltzer. He completely ignores this and blames punk being unprofessional and calling out Page months later.

[@lordsinister1232]

Coming back to this now after the interview and… wow 😂😂😂

[@abcsin6526]

Here,after watching ariel hirwani interview with punk.anyon else?

[@theycallmemr.bigchest3203]

Same.

[@lennyclinton5672]

Today, Collision Debut, and Adam Page has STILL never been punished in ANY way for his actions and in fact, was rewarded. And obviously since the ESPN thing came out, Punk clearly states the Scrum was not the first time Tony and ATTORNEYS had heard those comments. I absolutely loathe Page because he literally started the whole 10-11 month drama and got away with it with ZERO consequences.

[@noelatcheson4174]

In hindsight, Brian and Jim were absolutely bang on the money about this one. A combination of Jim being a lot more tuned in to what's happening in modern wrestling than people give him credit for, and Brian Last seeming to have some reallllly good sources in AEW lol and I imagine there's a lot more not being made public yet. Cody didn't hang about long for good reason.

[@kjd-s5b]

I'm telling ya, he's a soothsayer!

[@TheGarciaKidd]

Agreed he saw it a mile away

[@thebrokenglasskids5196]

This segment aged incredibly well. Brian nailed it months in advance.

[@d-Equalizer-b]

Coming back to these retro actively is soooo telling

[@MRmotorhead59]

After the Seth/Punk segment it gets funnier every day

[@user-sf9mp4xu7i]

Here after Ariel interview. Simply amazing that Jim and Brian could figure out that something was terribly off about this promo in real time and is just now being totally confirmed by Punk himself. Bravo gents.

[@RonJP-pm7jp]

To be fair I think several people at the time thought someone was off with the promo because Page’s character had no reason to be upset with Punk and what he said made no sense.

[@Canucklehead1234]

This aged incredibly well.

[@ChrisManley1994]

Hangman’s entire run after winning the AEW World Championship proves that they had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what to do once he was the champion. He’s the worst champion by far.

[@Rick-Rarick]

He is a paper champion for sure. His stuff with Brian Danielson was great, but I see that as more of Brian making him look good. Page is just not that over. Punk will bring a credibility to the championship. Then in a year or less Punk can drop it to MJF.

[@khaoticone2005]

It's not Pages fault he wasn't pushed like he should have....I think Khan still has a lot to learn.....

[@ASCUMBAGWh0re]

Correct. Know how many people will be pisst if he retains it!? Pshh a champion who spent most his time along the dark order jobbers. Real nice

[@ASCUMBAGWh0re]

@@khaoticone2005 he can't do it regardless. Horrible man, lousiest speaker, barely defended the thing. He keeps it, then I'm out. Id rather satnam singh be champ over him

[@Thurs1t0]

And it’s not even close really.

[@forgottenmma3694]

Who would have thought that Adam Page’s ridiculous promo brought down an entire wrestling box office superstar. 🤦 Tony Khan and AEW are straight clowns

[@EwanCumia]

The Elite are silly clowns, doing to AEW what John Wayne Gacy did to those young men.

[@naseefzarif1576]

It brought down AEW, not CM Punk.

[@groovingames215]

Fitting that Punk said Tony was a Clown a few days ago lol.

[@scattonm]

The greatest example of irony in wrestling history. Page said in this promo he was trying to PROTECT AEW from Punk, when in reality this promo is what ended up DAMAGING AEW beyond repair. Subsequent events (locker room brawl, real glass spot) put the nail in the coffin, but this is what started it all.

[@stepkickking9868]

I get the feeling we’re about to get a heel Punk title reign, and I can’t wait.

[@rm2124]

It’s par for the course, Punk wins a world title and turns heel everytime yet it’s still incredibly captivating

[@welowee7610]

He always better as a Heel imo

[@dannyquang7359]

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled…

[@LeeShields11]

The reign that we should have had with Bryan Danielson

[@mattadorno6452]

@@LeeShields11 Hopefully they do that now. Punk says he won the championship and has 'saved' wrestling, BD says your a quitter, I gave everything for wrestling.

[@Korican189]

16 months later. On a binge. Wonder what Wrestlemania season and beyond holds

[@SirManfly]

This was one of the the last of the glory days of AEW because after Punk left it became totally boring 🥱 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@marathiboi96]

Who'd thought? Colt cabana would be the spark to lit fire in AEW locker room and make punk swim across to WWE

[@EDorb]

There's a very real chance that, just shy of two years on from this promo, two of AEW's biggest talents will be main eventing both nights of WM40. Scorcese wishes he could write cinema of this calibre.

[@kjd-s5b]

I’m back here after Punk and Rollins’ face off at RAW!

[@Bulletno]

😂

[@yungblink]

A bum like Hangman really ruined the best thing AEW ever had. All Friends Wrestling.

[@kjd-s5b]

It was a blessing in disguise. Punk is now back in WWE.

[@yungblink]

@@kjd-s5b Yes sir!

[@Venom-ez6ip]

I’m here after listening to Punk’s post media scrum interview after the All Out PPV. Brian Last called it. Hangnail and his pals think they know everything about wrestling. So maybe they are the ones that AEW needs protecting against!

[@MoxyOh]

Also pretty funny to comb back through all the comments saying Page wasn't shit as a champion from people now saying they need to fire Punk because he doesn't matter for AEW's business.

[@iceteehehe754]

Bottom line is that HANGNAIL was to dumb to capitolize on it when he got called out. I gues THE EVP's THE CUCAMONGA KIDS... wont ALLOW him to DO BIDNESS FORHIMSELF that doesnt conicide with THIER BIDNESS. When punk came back and did that shoot PROMO on him. All he had to do is go to the stage and make some FACIALS. Facials because he would get destroyed on the mic by CM PUNK. He should have made facials, charged the ring and started something PHYSICAL with the AEW CHAMP. If he did, it's MONEY FOR HIM and puts him RIGHT BACK in Championship contention. He didn't. THAT IS ALL ELITE WRESTLING NOT ALL FRIENDS WRESTLING THAT IS PRO WRESTLING!!!

[@christhornycroft3686]

They think they are AEW. And quite frankly, they may not be wrong, especially if MJF gets the hell out of Dodge. MJF is literally the only thing worth watching there at this point because the EVPs have done everything in their power to hold back anyone with serious momentum. William Regal realized it was a cesspool and now he's left for the Evil Empire. This is literally a repeat of WCW in a Lamborghini instead of a Ford Taurus. It's all similar, except it's been accelerated by Tony hiring active roster guys with zero roster experience and barely any wrestling experience in North America as his EVPs. Sting won't go back to WWE because they embarrassed and almost crippled him. And while I hate that company, if I'm a wrestler, at least in WWE I know there won't be any politics on this level and it's being run by a guy who has seen it all and just wants to do business. Soon AEW will just be guys who couldn't make it anywhere else and all the talent will be watered down versions of themselves in WWE.

[@erikgonzalez1306]

I'm here after All In 2023 and this more true today than it was then. "Real glass" fucking idiots

[@robertmagill6005]

Bret has more family than Page has fans.

[@DayaGHK]

... and this truly blew up on the AEW All Out 2022 media scrum, when Punk vocalizing another pipe bomb

[@JEK_VaNNNNN]

If the rumors are true, its crazy how on the money Brian was about the possible animosity between The Elite and Punk/FTR/MJF/Danielson etc. He called that shot from miles away.

[@davidholzer4155]

I don't think Danielson is apart of either side

[@mrwednesdaynight]

Who would have guessed this mess of a segment would be so pivotal to the company's history.

[@mr.whisper3338]

As of November 2022, Jim was still 100% right.

[@scottyballgame985]

Its just jealousy cuz Hangnail has never drawn a dime while Punk wrestled Taker at Mania

[@davidjsaul]

Punk probably drew more for WWE while on the shelf injured than Page ever has for AEW in his entire career there 😂

[@aryan0111]

The downfall of AEW started in this exact moment!

[@mma9869]

How the fuck did Jim and Brian know?? None of us at the time even thought of this

[@kjd-s5b]

Because they've years and years of experience in the wrestling business that none of our peabrained minds could ever fathom.

[@xvicious5150]

​@@kjd-s5b That, and a lot more people in AEW, especially higher up in AEW, are friendly with and talk to Jim and Brian

[@jesserod7204]

Who else is here re-listening to this after what’s been going on

[@msv7856]

Jim's analysis is amazing. It turns out it totally spot on, after CM Punk's Aerial Hewani interview 2 years later.

[@barrymccockiner773]

Brian Lastradamus

[@wandulyncollins5266]

Hangman Page set this entire fiasco into motion and gets to walk away unscathed!

[@sarkissamuel]

not really. he was entered in the tournament and lost.

[@GreyLeo]

@@sarkissamuel he shouldn't of been in the tournament to begin with. Could of had Hobbs, Starks, or even Miro in that slot.

[@joshuaDstarks]

Adam Page The Jar-Jar Binks of AEW 😂

[@ledzeppelinfan1001]

Jar Jar was actually entertaining

[@brandonwhite4992]

Watching it back, such a good point with the mic. and Tony Schiavone lmao. It is so awkward looking when Hangman grabs the mic, Tony is just floating in the back swaying and looking around a bit lmao.

[@DannyBoy426]

Should’ve gave the title to Danielson

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Yes and then punk beats him at this ppv

[@Guy4318]

I didn’t agree at the time. Now I see exactly how much awkward and, at times, awful programming would have been avoided if not at least lessened.

[@G_Six]

They couldn’t have a 3rd ex WWE guy hold their world championship this soon.

[@DannyBoy426]

@@G_Six Good point. Forgot about Mox and Jericho

[@Guy4318]

@@G_Six I see Danielson and Punk more as ex-RoH wrestlers who did a stint in WWE rather than ex-WWE wrestlers (like Jericho, the Hardys, and so on). But, that said, it ain’t a common view so your point is very well-taken.

[@MrBxberto]

I came to revisit when trouble in Paradise (lol) first started.

[@TD1021-]

Page leading up to him winning the belt was good but ever since he got it they have no idea what to do with him. There's alot of shit that's ridiculous as fuck in aew but I couldn't stop laughing when the Hardly boys came out wearing what the Hardy boys wear/wore in matches. Fuckin incredible they even know they're Hardy cosplayers

[@al5306]

Sometimes the idea of getting something is better than actually getting it.

[@namelessjedi2242]

They think if they embrace it then the criticism isn’t valid. It’s what they have always done, and it always just makes them look dumber.

[@al5306]

@@namelessjedi2242 you’re right. They haven’t been able to handle any criticism at all lol when the barbed wire explosion fuck up happened, they said it was part of a storyline. When Danielson got his foot stuck between the ring and the ramp, they said it was a storyline. Deflect and deny.

[@al5306]

@Andrew Vazquez They downplay everything. Tony Khan doesn't take blame for anything either. He didn't take blame for this; Matt Caster's rap; Darby & Jeff falling off a ladder in front of Martha Hart; Matt Hardy being allowed to continue a match when his skin was purple; etc, etc, etc. It's deflect, deny, and blame.

[@al5306]

@Andrew Vazquez By downplaying it and lying off air they look like they have no accountability.

[@alysone685]

If this ends with Page turning heel, then it's actually pretty cool and I think him being the "chosen one" of AEW who's bitter and angry at being upstaged might be just what he needs after that disappointing title run. If this ends with Punk turning heel and the story is Hangman is right regardless of what's actually been on the screen, it's pretty obvious this direction is entirely because the Elite are being bitter, jealous pricks. Would love to see it completely backfire on them and Punk get even more over as a face if so.

[@MegaFinalRound]

💯

[@misterelom]

I love the Heel Page scenario. The heel Punk idea works but it feels like it would just be a rehash of his ROH title run. Would love to see Page go full heel, maybe cut a promo of how he was supposed to be the face of the company but then Punk came in and AEW and the fans jumped on his bandwagon and him basically blaming the company and the fans which gets him heel heat.

[@TheJJWA]

I thought Page was going to be upset about Punk leading off the shows and being featured on commentary and leading in at the top of the hour etc. It was fine that he was mad but I was never sure why he was so mad.

[@chriss790]

I think (in hindsight, given the result at the PPV) the plan may be to make Punk an evil heel long term the originals are chasing. But it's a bit of a rehash of TNA stories. Which would make AEW feel small town and relegation league for WWE guys. I think they need to be very careful with it.

[@robyx4088]

After 3 months now we finally understand what that Hangman's promo meant and that the heat Hangman proved on Punk was legit. It was the exact contrary Jimmy and all of us thought: it was not a sport entertainment awful segment by Hangman, it was real life. It was Punk tryng to lead him back into entartainment and Page completely lost in madness putting it into real life heat.

[@Absinthexx7]

yeah, whether you support punk or not the idea that this guy made a promo that forced the whole company downhill had zero punishment at all is pretty crazy lmao

[@marathiboi96]

He's the favourite child of elite, The best punishment for him would be to never make him AEW champ for next five years

[@tfitz2436]

Coming back here after what happened at the Media Scrum/Backstage drama lol Brian was bang on the money here all along

[@caesar3909]

This promo is the flashpoint in time for when AEW died. Tony Khan going into business with the Young Bucks & their minions are the worst thing that could have happened to AEW. Snake bitten from the start. And Jim & Brian gave Adam Page so much good will without knowing the full of story of how dumb he is. "He's an athletic & good looking kid. Turn him heel to rehabilitate him & work on his promo skills, don't cut bait on him yet" to "Bret Hart's first world championship run was not good but his 2nd was unforgettable so that could happen for Adam Page".... You could have been somebody in the business Hangman but you ruined it

[@1975CAMARO454]

Coming back to this in Apr 2023… yeah, imagine where this would lead them (AEW).

[@zaimayamusic]

I watched this segment twice looking for the magic where Page is concerned. Didn't find it unfortunately. I think Page is definitely feeling the heat from criticism and it's affecting him badly. It's quite obvious that he doesn't believe in himself.

[@SpaceGhost92]

Tony Kahn did the guy absolutely no favors with his build into the program with omega. Him also taking over a month off directly before that was a bad decision on his part, really cooled him off. Their fans still popped for it but that’s really the one highlight of his run with the belt.

[@blackrock316]

Adam Page looks like a mid card champion with that world title on him

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Cm punk will fix that

[@DeltaDW]

Darby, Cody, Brodie and Sammy were would have been better world champions and they were only midcard champions. Page was rushed into this position because he has friends who are in power.

[@blackrock316]

@@DeltaDW I don't think Page was rushed, I think it's just not clicking. Am starting to believe it has something to do with his character.

[@jay_1212]

@@blackrock316 it’s just Page himself not the character. Dude just isn’t world champion material, at the very least not right now. He has solid matches and his gimmick isn’t bad but he’s just so unconvincing it hurts

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

That's because he's a mid card guy.

[@joleree1]

I hope Punk wins, Page just hasn't pulled off being Champ.

[@markfroman738]

He looks great and wrestles well…just not that guy.

[@PIP-zf9yb]

​@@markfroman738 ya it's been a weird run. almost like it's been overshadowed by better angles/people. with punk being so good and wardlow.mjf stuff hangman has kind of got lost in the shuffle

[@joleree1]

@@markfroman738 Yep, that's all I mean. He's a great wrestler.

[@markfroman738]

@@PIP-zf9yb a very strange title run

[@TheSoundwaveprime]

In hindsight promo this might be historically one of the most important moments in wrestling history. The sheer domino effect it had and some many things that has happened comes back to that promo. More then anything you can pinpoint this as the ultimate downfall of AEW and how Page's dumbass tanked everything. Jim and Brians comments aged like wine.

[@SamsarasArt]

Is this one of the biggest butterfly effects in wrestling? The ripple effect of this goofball going into business for himself was widespread and led to things I never thought I'd see again.

[@xvicious5150]

You could go even deeper. Colt Cabana spreading rumours and lies about Punk getting him demoted lead to the best Hell in a Cell match since King of the Ring 1998

[@Nothingburger12]

6:59 The beginning of Brian basically explaining the events of the future(C.M punk being Fired becoz of the elite)

[@MrJjburgess11]

Once Page came out in a tesla with horns he was done lol what a clown move that was.

[@111JFish]

I think the point was Punk is in Pages head by being so nonchalant. he wants Punk to come at him and is driving him crazy that Punk acts like he doesn't give af.

[@richardcelaya7361]

Been on a brawl out research rabbit hole... and jim and punk are right

[@JustH.100]

Something felt extremely lacking about Page's run as the champ and I couldn't tell what it was, maybe it's because the program doesn't put that much light on the belt or how much it means, or maybe because Page doesn't brag about how important this Belt is to him or to the company. He seems more interested in feuding with Punk rather than defending his honor as a world champ, no one seems to care about this belt outside of Punk, really.

[@rm2124]

It’s because every major feud he’s had since winning is with a guy that is 1000x more over than him

[@emiliomarbanjr]

Accurate.

[@jay_1212]

Is it just me or did page honestly came off as incoherent in this promo

[@G_Six]

Maybe he’s back drinking again

[@jthom0027]

Honestly, he comes off like a lot of the Punk haters in real life. They can never truly articulate why they hate him so much. They just insinuate that he's this bad guy but never explain why. It boils down to they don't like his views on certain issues which they hold dear. Most of the time, Punk in on the right side of history.

[@jay_1212]

@@jthom0027 Like he didn’t even really give an actual reason to why he didn’t respect or like punk and was literally talking in circles. I get that you’re not going to like everybody but I just don’t understand the anger, especially since he’s feuded with worse foes and has shown less emotion

[@jthom0027]

@@jay_1212 Punk probably didn't know what the latest video game was so the Bucks crew immediately hated him.

[@void5439]

​@@jthom0027You were spot on.

[@DougieDonuts457]

I really gotta say thanks to jungle jack and hangnail for being the catalysts to WWE’s record business and some of the best product they’ve put out in decades 😂

[@TheNeonParadox]

I assumed it was intentional to have Page seem flustered so people could see that Punk was under his skin by being calm and collected and playing cool. Either way, I enjoy the face/heel flip flop, or at least the attempt at it.

[@trahapace150]

Your giving aew waaayyy too much credit

[@MisterSchitt]

Given the way Page has handled being the world champion so far, I seriously doubt that it was planned for him to be fumbling over his words like that.

[@keithyw]

I think the reaction they might've been trying to go for was having Adam Page be a babyface because they've slowly been hinting that Punk is actually a "toxic" type. But everything leading up to this point on Page's part has not made any sense. I feel like Tony Khan/creative is trying to do the old "don't tell, show" things here because it's supposedly more powerful. But with wrestling, you can't read minds, if it's not blatant, it goes over people's heads and the whole "dropping hints" with the manner in which AEW does it ends up being terrible because they miss too many details or expect people to already know what's supposed to happen since they expect their audience to be educated by reading reddit and participating in guessing game discussions where the blanks are filled in by the fans. the problem is that it doesn't work. you need to watch stuff like this in a vacuum to see if it makes any sense and it doesn't. I think Page's problem is that he's picked up on a lot of bad habits that probably were encouraged or touted by his friends (e.g. Omega, the Bucks) such as ripping the mic from poor Tony, trying to be cute, etc. but he's doesn't see the big picture. It feels like they're wrapped up in some sort of story that's in his head with the whole "drunk cowboy/low self-esteem -> repentance -> jealous title holder". However, he's not pulling it off. I was hoping that having Punk in there with Page would help groom Page. Page needs to calm down, be more deliberate in how he speaks, become more confident in his words, learn to read a room rather than trying to immediately react to it (which is why he needs to get his high spots in and curse because it's effectively cheap pops) and figure out how to present himself as a champion. The whole "I will defend AEW against you" spiel was bad. REALLY bad. These guys were getting a very mixed reaction, although Punk got more of a favorite reaction than Page. His words were babyface, his tone was babyface, but the audience just wouldn't buy him because they like Punk more. The only thing I could garner from this situation was how desperate Page sounded. His words, tone and reaction were all desperate. It's like "please, cheer me!" but it's not there. And I just think that it's because Punk is going to be far more popular than Page. It would be utterly stupid for AEW to turn Punk at this juncture. He's a cult figure with a massive following. He's one of the few legitimate stars in AEW where you have to turn in to see what he's going to do or what he's going to say. Page can't compete with that because his presentation has been bad. Honestly, if Punk doesn't win the AEW title on Sunday, I think it'll kill AEW. Punk will do his part, look great, Page will get all his spots in, including far too dangerous ones that he might convince Punk to do. But if it meanders and doesn't tell a story or becomes a spotfest because of Page, then that's on Page. If Page wins, then Khan spent way too much money bringing in a top star, rebuilding him and using him to try and make another homegrown talent that won't get over no matter what. The story being told here, if I'm to interpret this correctly, is that Page is either jealous or going insane over Punk's celebrity status and/or Punk is a devious individual trying to infiltrate AEW. I can kinda buy the jealous part but the lead up for that is awful. If it's "well, now that Punk will get champion so we need to turn him heel" then it's a bad way to do it. For the points that Brian and Corny have mention with Punk's positives in coming to AEW, there's no need for him to be the "devious heel trying to infiltrate and suck up to Tony" etc. He does numbers, he has the best matches (next to Danielson and now Samoa Joe), his stories generally are the best in wrestling, he gives the best promos and merch sales consistently. To portray him as someone trying to "poison AEW" makes absolutely no sense. I'm sure he can execute the turn when it comes time, but it shouldn't be forced and it shouldn't be with this bad story. If Punk turns heel, the only reason would be that the fans turn on him because they've seen him too much, he's taken too much time, taken the spotlight away from others and that "we take autographs with him and his wife at the restaurant when they're eating" type of storyline where he comes off petty and whiny. That's the only version of a heel that makes sense for Punk because that is him on a bad day. If you want the "devious toxic character" type that's Chris Jericho or Omega/Bucks. And Page just needs to go back home for a few months and figure out how to be a super star. Either that or send his resume to the WWE where he can be groomed and hopefully get rid of his bad habits. He has the basic tools but the mental part is where he's most lacking.

[@CheeseOfLore]

Well said.

[@dividoguy]

Ok this is really long and admittedly I didn't read much of it, but as to the "don't tell, show" thing, yeah it can at times be more powerful, but the problem here is they neither told nor showed. Like, I feel like I was starting to get the hint of what page was saying by the end of his horrible promo, but nothing since Punk has arrived supports it. Punk got there, showed genuine emotion and gratitude, wrestled all comers, won just about every match, took on the dastardly heel MJF, and earned a title shot the honest way. Nothing about him being a cancer backstage, nothing about him not caring, no hint that he wouldn't represent aew with honor. Ok so he's not an original. So do you just want to trade the belt amongst each other for the rest of the time, or do you want to beat the best in the world. Had no problem doing it with Danielson, so what's the problem here? By the way, this is all to say, I think I agree with you completely.

[@CheeseOfLore]

@@dividoguy This... is true, too. If people are to talk trash about him beating MJF with Diamond Ring, the match had a stipulation, not straight one fall clean competition, and it was a part of the storyline. Other than that, there is really, REALLY nothing that could render Punk as Cancer, or the plague that will haunt AEW.

[@edt8343]

Yeah majority of marks are duuuumb or care to much.. I think you complete the Venn diagram

[@TarHeels4430]

I appreciate your passion for this garbage. But, the fact that you would take the time to articulate anything to do with AEW or fake wrestling in general is disturbing. Very well written though.

[@richardpreston7333]

It's so telling that so many of the Cucamonga Kids' marks are cheering this shitshow of a shoot and bragging about how Punk has been "seething" for months. Literal victim blaming.

[@GreyLeo]

That's all they know how to do

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

2:43 Jim's "what" kills me

[@bulletchains8205]

i think the Face to Face was really good. i think there was a lack of mention of Hangmans drinking and how Punk is Straight Edge, a gigantic missed oppurtunity for a one liner or a jab. but again, Punk's character is merely interested in winning the title, and Hangman is making it personal. so that makes sense. i liked this segment, the "Sports Entertainment" left me sports entertained

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Use that for when punk beats hangman and turns heel

[@bulletchains8205]

@@pleaseshutup7053 see, a few days ago i woulda said Punks gonna remain face and lose to MJF, but it seems that plans might change due to the contractual issues with MJF

[@pleaseshutup7053]

@@bulletchains8205 I wouldn’t mind punk going heel tonight cheating to win. The only problem with that is I think the crowd would cheer so I would save it for the dynamite after

[@bulletchains8205]

@@pleaseshutup7053 i wouldn't even turn Punk heel, he's been gone for 7 years, comes back, his first world title reign since leaving let him be babyface. he's only "heel" against MJF whereas all of MJF's points are valid about Punk seeking validation and always having issues at different companies and that he's more Piper then Punk is and yadda yadda yadda

[@pleaseshutup7053]

@@bulletchains8205 the wrestling world needs heel punk. Some guys are meant to be faces some are meant to be heels. A heel punk ripping into everyone is Goated

[@dcb_75]

Part of the issue with his booking is that him and AEW fans think he was booked properly. We all said that it took too long, that he should have been brought in as a threat to Omega right away, that he should have won it quicker and not after multiple attempts yet all the fans raved about the long-term story telling of how Page lost his confidence and had to regain it in order to defeat Omega. They think that it was done right and he probably does too, he thinks he should be seen as a top guy and it probably bugs him that people wanted Punk to be champ the moment he arrived and that was been the push ever since. With the promo, they all think that it shows they are passionate but they don't understand that it makes them look bad. Pick who you want - Austin, Cena, Hogan, etc - their spoke loud at times but you always knew what they were talking about and it made sense where as these guys talk like they are in some gang thug and then realize what they said was stupid and try walking it back. It's a side effect of never actually working under someone who understood the business and most of AEW suffers from that.

[@billywashere6965]

Except bringing in guys like Punk and Bryan and hot-shotting the title on them is exactly what Impact did and it did them no favors. It also buried Impact's homegrown talent, who never got over until they LEFT Impact. For people who want a repeat of WCW/Impact, sure, repeat history.... AGAIN. I like that Tony Khan didn't do what's already been done multiple times over and failed.

[@namelessjedi2242]

Well said, you are spot on! 👏

[@dcb_75]

@@billywashere6965 But you need talent who the fans know otherwise what's the point? Bunch of indy guys beating each other in some new company means little, beat someone like known and it makes them seem better. And who did Impact bury that got over elsewhere? Styles was a multi-time champ on Impact and elsewhere; Christian, Lashey and Mcintyre we champs in Impact before wwe(ECW don't count); EC3, Morrison and Bobby Roode were Impact champs but not in wwe - seems Impact was more willing to give people chances than wwe. I am not saying you dump all your guys for former wwe talent but you need to be real and Page is never going to be the star Punk is, it looks silly not putting your belt on the biggest star you have.

[@billywashere6965]

@@dcb_75 Except nice cherry-picking. Lashley was already champ in WWE BEFORE he became champ in Impact, so that fits more of my point than yours, same with Christian, who was already an 8-time tag team champion in WWE and super over by the time he went to Impact, who hot-shotted the title on him just like you wanted AEW to hot-shot the title on Punk. Also Morrison was already a big name coming off his WWE run. The only examples you have where Impact didn't hot-shot the title on a WWE guy is EC3, Styles and Bobby Roode, who all had to EARN their shot. Plus, you're ignoring the biggest elephant in the room: Punk didn't want to come back and be put in the title picture for a multitude of reasons, but the top most being that he was CLEARLY (and still is) out of shape. The guy's cardio was shot; having him come in and beat Page would have not only exposed Punk (who looked pretty sloppy in his early matches and absolutely cannot hang with guys like Penta) but it would have looked horrible that your top-most babyface at the time (in Page) couldn't beat a sloppy, over-the-hill, winded, out-of-shape has-been who had been out of the business for seven years. That's a fast way to bury your company.

[@soulofanerd9364]

@@billywashere6965 I don't know...if I'm bringing Angle, Christian, RVD, Sting, Jeff Hardy into my promotion, I'm putting the World Title on them. I don't see it as burying too many of the TNA homegrown talent because who exactly besides AJ, Roode, Samoa Joe, Storm and maybe a few others were more deserving than those veterans? Hell I would have given Booker T a run with the title too which they didn't. I think the time is right for a CM Punk reign

[@SamsarasArt]

So I came back to this given Punk called Page out last week

[@leetant935]

It's worth keeping in mind that DoN ends with FTR lifting Punk on their shoulders. Cornette's influence is slowly crystalizing in AEW. He's subtly booking from this podcast.

[@85futureshock]

This felt like they were going for that incredible RAW segment from 1997 with Bret Hart’s heel turn and Shawn Michaels coming out to confront Bret and you can feel the absolute dislike for each other. Page feels like Brian Lee as the Smoky Mountain Wrestling champion from 1992 where he’s been put in this important position and it doesn’t feel like he’s clicking.

[@gustavoschiller6852]

I seriously don't understand why every segment in aew has to have a reference to something that happened in wwe 25 years ago

[@pleaseshutup7053]

@@joegreene7619 how do you feel about wwe downsizing to smaller venue you wwe nut hugger

[@miguelgarza2573]

@@joegreene7619 I'm not defending AEW booking because I'm not a consistent watcher but from interviews Tony Khan appears to know a lot about wrestling not just 25 years ago but far back and from different regions. I think it's more of a take on the fact that wrestlers want to emulate what they grew up watching and since it's a company where they're not forced to do story lines that they don't like and they actually have a say, i feel like they themselves choose what they do and how they say it.

[@rm2124]

Joe Greene I mean Tony might be a bad Booker but he watched a lot of mid south and some other territories so it’s not like he’s just a WWE mark. Problem is when you’re also an indie mark on top of that.

[@bash8387]

Where did you see that I didn’t see anything

[@sebadrum16]

You know why you’re here

[@wilcee238]

Adam Page should’ve been TNT champion. Ethan Page should be TNT champion. Hell at this point I’d accept Diamond Dallas Page or even Kimberly Page over Scorpio Sky AND Sammy Guevara.

[@NZ19]

When I first heard and watched the promo - I thought Page was giving his all to be passionate and he's mad because he knows he's losing. Once he started talking about 'dark corners' and whatever else - I realized this guy Page is an absolute bafoon on the mic. I notice that with a few other AEW other guys. The response Punk gave Page with him saying he paved the roads he travels, was completely the right call. This is also why I agreed with a lot of what Punk said at the media scrum.

[@cerebralfanatic]

I can't wait to hear Jim's review of Double or nothing 😂

[@MisterE1976]

You & me both!

[@LuisGMusic661]

Brooo same lmaoooo

[@Kratosx23]

He could literally do a WHOLE show on MJF. His review of Anarchy In The Arena is going to kill me. When he gets to Eddie Kingston with a gas can I’m gonna have breathing issues. 😂

[@Pogo113]

You could see Page staring into space while he remembered his lines. That was horrible.

[@TD1021-]

Lmao I just watched the clip and noticed it I wasn't paying attention to it that much the first time but yea pathetic as hell

[@MikeSmith-zo6eu]

All I know was I was super happy when Page won the title, it was a great moment. Then it just seems everything after just went downhill fast. Idk how that happen, he was so hot, then I started to forget who the world champion even was

[@Ric_Roar]

Page just doesn’t have the charisma. He would be a better TNT champion.

[@bb-ballistics1706]

I hope page gets pinned clean in the middle of the ring.

[@32189djsddk]

AEW is missing logic. Wish they had someone like Paul London overseeing some of these segments

[@Aj6711]

Very poor logic but Jim is to busy lip syncing punk music to see the truth smh

[@P2D_x]

I met Paul London in a Woolworths. 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Paul London would be a top guy in this era man I miss him.

[@erikgonzalez1306]

I've come back to this now and after everything Punk wasn't mad about the promo it was the chop at the PPV days later that started all of this. If Page had just kept his mouth shut, that chop would just be a botch from a goof. But the promo then the chop gave Punk the impression that Page is the kind of guy to take liberties with another wrestlers body and that's the kind of thing that would get you blackballed if this was a more serious age

[@joeyskywalker1322]

No it was the Promo that got Punk pissed he almost quit AEW over it

[@youreokayboah2128]

@@joeyskywalker1322 No he didn’t lol

[@hectic105]

Kinda crazy to go back and listen to this. Brian was 100% right here. I remember that whole segment feeling weird at the time, but I kinda went with it thinking it was still a work and they were setting up Punk for a heel turn down the road with the talk of “protecting AEW from him”. But then it was confirmed that that was a shoot and because of the reasons Brian listed here. Utterly ridiculous to throw a wrench in all of the forward momentum of the company because of that. If I were Tony I would be absolutely furious with Page and his buddies who kept pushing things. But instead he gave all of them lucrative new contracts and let them continue to ruin everything.

[@unknownkingdom]

And now?😊

[@Tha_Pencil]

"Small quiet moments make a champion" What pathetic Copium for making the audience dead silent every time

[@C_P0well75]

Page is saying that Punk isn't what he claims to be, a cult icon looking for one last great run, he's not the "nice guy" everyone thinks he is. Punk will win the belt and turn heel in the process. He will re-ignite old ROH fueds starting with Joe after he wins the Owen Hart tournament, and will most likely have a match with Danielson.

[@lynackhilou4865]

They need to have him face danielson , it'd be stupid to miss on such a program , I think the only problen is that danielson already lost to adam page and omega in title fights , which means if he loses to punk as well it may hurt his credibility as a legit contender and I don't think bryan would want to win the title ( I mean he obviously wants to win, it's just that he may prefer putting other guys over instead )

[@beeractivist4439]

Jim cornette got me back to relisten 😄😀😂

[@bryguy615]

Back in 2018 the only thing over about Hangman Page were the peni5 druids. This guy has always been what everyone said about Roman before he vacanted for his health in 2018

[@Mandrahale]

“Small quiet moments make a champion” is the most hollow, unintelligent, and ridiculous thing I ever heard. Hangnail is a dumb, indy performer. Punk must be breathing a sigh of relief he’s no longer there. Calling him feckless is being kind. AEW’s motto: “We really don’t like nice things that work..” 😆 😆

[@Ted_Bell]

I disagree with Brian that Bret's first title run didn't mean much. I loved the fighting champion title reign. Everything from Piper and Mr. Perfect putting him over for the IC belt, King of the ring, Losing the IC belt to Owen and eventually the champion that same night was fun to see.

[@dakaraipatterson2986]

@Dino Vasiljevic could you elaborate more?

[@dakaraipatterson2986]

@Dino Vasiljevic well that would require bret to still be wrestling which he is not doing so i dont understand what you are saying

[@justoneguy2487]

@@dakaraipatterson2986 he's finding excuses to shit on Bret because he probably thinks he's overrated.

[@TonyDanza4Lyfe]

That was literally the most incoherent promo I’ve ever heard

[@Bassguywhoplaysstuff]

Listening to this promo again in 2024 is so wild.

[@storysnob1022]

Maybe it was a heel turn into Hangman’s new persona: Blithering Moron Adam Page.

[@NNNateMMMate]

CM Punk came to help AEW and was insulted and ran out. He helped more than Adam Paige ever could

[@anavelazquez3761]

I think this segment flew over y’all’s head imo. Hangman was making the point that Punk is not actually the person he tells the fans he is. If you took a close look at there respective clothes, hangman was wearing white while punk was wearing black. The segment was made to look like Hangman was off his rocker(Punk getting inside his head) and it made punk look innocent(his wicked smile at the end).

[@KJ-tz7vc]

So, Punk is gaslighting Page?

[@kamikoto1558]

@@KJ-tz7vc basically.

[@rm2124]

K J Page and all the fans/AEW locker room. I think the point is page fully sees through it but he knows there’s nothing he can do because the fans adore Punk. The look on his face when the fans were chanting for Punk during that segment also helped sell that. So his only option is to stop him from winning the belt at all costs because when CM Punk wins a world title, based on past experience he turns into an ego maniac who will go to any length to hold onto the belt. (Obviously kayfabe wise)

[@funkymonk4586]

I thought that aswell but you can't expect the fans to fill the gaps, If you wanted to make that point across you could've build This so much better and hangman is terrible on the mic, I bet punk was containing himself to try not to bury this Boring fuck lol

[@dannyquang7359]

Remember….The greatest trick the devil ever pulled

[@RLSmith-uo9zs]

I know we may hate to admit it but so think you can see a big difference between guys who learned and were around Vince Vs those who weren’t.

[@fhqwgads5000]

I kinda like when Page loses his temper. It's the most character he shows and it seems legit. My favorite was when he said 'LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU BOY' to Adam Cole and shoved him.

[@namelessjedi2242]

I think it works against Cole. He feels outclassed against Punk though.

[@truthtyperii7727]

Hangman is useless lol

[@HisDudeness316]

The promo that ultimately killed AEW as a viable competitor. How Page didn't get fired for this crap, I will never know.

[@ItsAGoodChannel]

Now he's fired (heavy panting)... I'M SCARED!!!!!!!!!

[@gmorrissey91]

God this really was the start of the end

[@tatvela6915]

Did we ever get the Smackdown review with the tag title unification match?

[@lynackhilou4865]

I like adam page but as is often the case I think his road to win the title was much more interesting than the actual title reign , glad punk won and I think page should be a 2 time champion some time in the future ( and hopefully it will be a better title reign )

[@davidburke7777]

“The ratings Punk brought”????. Jim could you remove yourself from CM Punk’s sphincter please.

[@DPK365]

If this promotion has any kind of respect at all for their world title, Punk has to win this match.

[@TriplomatX]

This promo right here shows me that Tony Khan Once Upon a Time wanted to make the alternative & time's passed and now he wants to make the Star filled product with those who left WWE, Athena aka Ember Moon, & we're about to have "the promised Future vs the Dream Come True" courtesy of Tony Khan. RIP Year One Philosophies. Hello TNA 2.0.

[@unclelloyd]

6:02 - annnnnnd we're out! Thanks Jim!

[@Topshelfmedia1]

Hangman’s championship reign has been good matches but shows that you need more than good matches to be a great champion

[@matthewhostetter8974]

Hangma'am and Happy to Be Here Punk continue to stare awkwardly at each other as they struggle to confess their feelings and who is the face and the heel. Hangman's "Angry voice" was comical as Punk stay cool and collective the entire time. I fear after this segment that Tiny Khanman will do the wrong thing and keep the title on Page.

[@galacticdonuts3333]

Bruh what

[@TotalCruiserBabe]

Today on "How many Buzzwords can I use so Jim may finally notice me!"

[@DeltaDW]

At this point I'm worried Page might go into business for himself somehow.

[@Kas58223]

Page looked like he was going cry at any minute this guy has been booked horrible from the start image of James Storm was in the position page is in he would carry it of a hell a lot better that guy be passionate

[@ameliastencil6058]

@@TotalCruiserBabe well said

[@smsv2806]

How long until Kenny Olivier is back and wins back the title?

[@abdallahcenation]

Great job by adam page. Now punk left and aew's viewership and ticket sales hit rock bottom. Who needs 5bil phil when u got page and the evps?

[@spraymie]

AEW is like having a Ferrari with a garden engine in it.

[@redkritter1225]

Had hangman done this over his championship reign I would’ve liked it a bit more.