CM Punk showed little sign of ring-rust as he impressively saw off the challenge of Darby Allin at AEW All Out.
Competing in his first match in more than seven and a half years, Punk rolled back the years turning in an eye-catching performance. But how exactly did CM Punk pick up the win?
Allin came out first to respectful cheers, but the crowd at the Now Arena were only there to see one man. Loud CM Punk chants filled the building as their hero made his way to the ring, as Allin watched on, emotionless.
Punk appearing in long tights rather than his traditional trunks went hold for hold with Allin in the early stages. The ‘Best In The World’ controlled the pace through the early with a series of submissions, but Allin eventually clicked through the gears to score a near-fall with a Code Red.
Seemingly out of nowhere Punk struck with a GTS, but he connected almost too well as Allin fell from the ring. After avoiding another GTS, Allin showed his usual disregard for his won body flying to the outside to take out his rival. Back in the ring Allin went for a Coffin Drop taunting Punk in the process, but as Allin flew towards the canvas, Punk simply sat up laughing.
After another quick exchange of holds, Punk reversed a poisoned-rana into another GTS to seal victory. With Punk celebrating, Sting came to the ring to shake the victors hand. In return, Punk raised the hand of Allin in a show of respect.
.@DarbyAllin regains the momentum against @CMPunk. #AEWAllOutpic.twitter.com/7zLctmE0pF
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 6, 2021
CM Punk signed with AEW on August 20th, marking his first appearance in a professional wrestling ring since leaving WWE in 2014. While Punk spent years telling the world that wrestling was in his rear-view mirror, that all changed with the advent of AEW.
After walking out at the United Center in Chicago at Rampage, Punk thanked the fans for standing by him before calling out Darby Allin.
In the weeks that followed, Punk and Allin went nose-to-nose on more than one occasion but the huge amount of respect between the two men kept things from escalating. This was further exemplified by Sting revealing that he wouldn’t be at ringside at All Out leaving the two men to square off one-on-one.
Prior to appearing at All Out, Punk hadn’t wrestled competitively since the 2014 Royal Rumble. His last singles match occurred a week before the Rumble, against now fellow AEW star Billy Gunn.