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At AEW Double or Nothing 2022, Adam Page defended his AEW World Championship against CM Punk in a big-time main event. It had a lot of heat and the match was enjoyable, with Punk picking up the victory. It was good, but there was certainly room for it to be better. With recent controversy and heat between Page and Punk coming to light in the last couple of weeks, AEW would be wise to bring this to screen rather than letting it simmer backstage, capitalizing on drama to draw money, and to create an even better match than their initial encounter.

The Issues Between Adam Page And CM Punk Allegedly Stem From Colt Cabana

From just name value alone, the first Page vs Punk match was solid. However, the build to the bout didn’t do it any favors, as the promos between the two felt very awkward, with a lot of vague jabs and clearly a lot going unsaid. Rumors and scoops have revealed that the issues between the pair are very much real, which is why the promos felt so odd - it was because Page was taking actual shots at Punk, not caring to give the fans context.

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CM Punk and Colt Cabana together

A lot of this has stemmed from the issues between Punk and Colt Cabana, who is very much a favorite and friend to many of those behind the scenes. It was reported that upon Punk’s arrival, Cabana’s spot in the company was in jeopardy, until cooler heads prevailed, and he was able to keep his employment - although it would mean him moving to Ring of Honor rather than appearing on AEW programming. With Page taking alleged shots at Punk on television over this and his apparent backstage attitude, Punk wasn’t happy about it.

The CM Punk And Adam Page Controversy Has Become A Major Talking Point

Following Punk’s return from injury, he began his in-ring promo segment by calling out Page for a rematch - but this wasn’t a planned bit, with Punk going into business for himself to get one up on his rival, as he knew full well that Page wasn’t scheduled to make an appearance. This caused a lot of chatter and uproar online, and apparently in the AEW locker room too, with many split on the issue and seeing both sides as unprofessional. Unfortunately for AEW, these issues seem to be at the top of the talking points when it comes to the company.

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Instead of letting these problems get worse, AEW should be doing all they can to fix this backstage trouble, and they should choose to bring it onscreen, much like they did with MJF’s frustrations at Tony Khan. Whilst it could be potentially problematic, two wrestlers who legitimately don’t like each other can often turn that anger into passion, creating magic inside the ropes. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels are a key example of this, and a more recent case of using real issues to produce a great match came when Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair battled last year.

CM Punk Adam Page Promo AEW

When fans are aware that two wrestlers don’t like each other, it adds another layer to the suspension of disbelief, as every apparent stiff blow feels like it has the potential to be purposeful, and it allows fans to delve deeper and become more invested. This is exactly why a rematch between Punk and Page would be superior to their previous encounter, because whilst it was a great match, it didn’t quite have the required intensity for a huge title match main event.

CM Punk Vs Adam Page In A Rematch Could Fix Their Backstage Heat

Both Punk and Page have their own storylines ongoing, with Punk having issues with Jon Moxley, and Page becoming more involved with The Elite, but whilst the iron is hot, AEW should make the most of this feud being at the brunt of news headlines and fan discussion. Even if it is for a short period, quickly taking a detour from planned stories, booking another match and a few weeks of build between Punk and Page could be a recipe for success.

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Hangman Page vs CM Punk

Two professionals who are at the top of their game would have too much respect for the business and themselves to put on a poor performance just to spite the other, with ego likely ensuring that they each want to put on a great showing. Working together onscreen to make sure they put on a great match could even help to fix their existing problems. Whilst the wrestling industry is unlike any other, they are still two employees in a workplace, and forcing them together to coexist on a project would be a smart thing to do in order to move forwards from toxic backstage politics and heat, which has no place in the modern business.