CM Punk and Samoa Joe faced off in singles competition for the first time in over 18 years in the semifinals of the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament on Saturday night’s episode of AEW Collision.
Following a brutal struggle between the longtime rivals, the finish of the match saw Joe lock in the Coquina Clutch on Punk, only for him to escape within a few seconds and roll up the ROH World Television Champion to steal the win. This marks Punk’s first victory over Joe in their well-documented history.
Following the match, Joe extended his hand out to Punk, and Punk obliged, with both men following the Code of Honor. However, Joe soon locked in the Coquina Clutch. He then headed out to ringside to seemingly get some steel chairs, but FTR ran down to the ring in the meantime, prompting Joe to back away.
Earlier in the night, Ricky Starks had defeated former partner-turned-foe Powerhouse Hobbs in the other semifinal match. Starks and Punk have been seen as allies since Punk’s return to AEW, and the two men will face off next week at the Saddledome in Calgary, AL, to determine the Owen Hart Tournament Champion.
Notably, Starks also came out to the stage after FTR, but he did not come down to the ring, looking conflicted. AEW Collision went off the air on that note.
You can check out some highlights from the match below:
IT'S MAIN EVENT TIME as the #ROH World TV champion Samoa Joe walks determined to the ring!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/DrE7ex0Qut
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
The story of CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe continues TONIGHT as CM Punk makes his way to the ring!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/FBW6Zj4go0
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
The last time CM Punk & Samoa Joe wrestled in singles action, it ended in a time-limit draw in 2004…fast forward to 2023 a new chapter begins in their story.
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/dkWu8rFaz9
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
Vintage Samoa Joe!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/4NOGpvbrNf
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
Vicious right hands by Samoa Joe to CM Punk!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/ZKWrk28PrN
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
CM Punk has taken a lot of damage in this match thus far against Samoa Joe!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/8MHS3WiyEP
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
CM Punk gaining momentum in this semi-final match!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/4OGictAxEg
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
Samoa Joe tightens in the crossface with a secured s-grip applied to CM Punk's face!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/kUnixvjilv
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
The Regina crowd chanting "Owen Hart" mid-match!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/t9hZWZFEFJ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
CM Punk finally does it and gets the victory against Samoa Joe!
Now CM Punk takes on Ricky Starks next week on #AEWCollision in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals.
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/bYrKZH2GQO
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
"I've always been better than you!" – Samoa Joe.
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/KgQM1pWitv
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
FTR came to the aid of CM Punk post-match!
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!@CMPunk | @SamoaJoe#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/tCbJ7IO7by
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
Ricky Starks stands at the rampway and understands the weight of next week's finals match.
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT!#OwenHartFoundationTournament pic.twitter.com/zDAhJ7gxTq
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 9, 2023
