Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting… Welcome to the eWn’s live coverage of the premiere of AEW Collision. CM Punk returns on tonight’s broadcast, and he will have a lot to get off his chest. As if that’s not enough, the main event will feature Punk and FTR against Samoa Joe, Jay White and Juice Robinson in six-man tag team action.
Miro is also slated to return and will be in action tonight, while the returning Andrade El Idolo will go one-on-one against the House of Black’s Buddy Matthews.
Wardlow will defend the TNT Championship against Luchasaurus, we’ll hear from The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass, and Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale will face Toni Storm & Ruby Soho in tag team action as well.
So let’s kick things off!
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Reminiscent of Rampage, CM Punk is out to a sea of CM Punk! chants and the Chicago ging absolutely wild with the cheers. He begins, “I don’t know if you guys have heard … but I’m tired of being nice.”
He mentions the injury he spent a while recovering from and says he’s back. “And as long as I’m here, it’s a wrestling BUSINESS. It’s not a popularity contest.” He says tonight “we’re gonna have a conversation about the future,” but first, he wants to have a conversation about his past.
Punk says, “If you would have told me when I was 15 years old that I would grow up to sell out the Budokan Hall in Japan and every building in Chicago with a roof, I wouldn’t have believed you.” “I’m tired of being nice! Tell me when I’m telling lies!” He says he’s done all these things.
As he continues, he said he’s never fit in more somewhere in his entire life than he has here in the world of professional wrestling. He says he loves the fans because they love him. He says he’s never been one to apologize. He says he’s never been apologetic in his entire career. “I’m me. And I couldn’t have done this without all of you.”
“But it seems there are some people that hate me for the same reasons that you all love me,” he continued. He says he understands the sheer magnitude of him and his mere presence makes people uncomfortable. “Because I am the truth. And the truth is painful.”
He points out a sign in the crowd that says, “CM Punk is my hero.” One that says “Pepsi Phil.” One says “CM Junk.” He says, “You can call me that. Love me, cheer me. Hate me, but you don’t do that because you know I’m right.” He mentions someone calling him “One Bill Phil” because he’s the one genuine article in a business “full of counterfeit f*cks.” Or maybe “counterfeit bucks” to go with his “One Buck Phil” line.
“The king is back, baby!” He says after letting a loud “CM Punk!” chant spread around the United Center. He continues, “But I do have a lot to get off my chest.” He says he has one question — “Why would I change?” He says this is what he was trained for. He will always speak truth to power, always be himself and never compromise.
“And then there’s the people who think they’re owed an apology. I’ve grown older and wiser in my years. Sometimes it’s better to be the bigger man. If you feel you need an apology — I’m sorry that the only people softer than you are the wrestlers you like. TELL ME WHEN I’M TELLING LIES!”
Another loud “CM Punk! CM Punk!” chant spreads throughout the building. He stops and picks up a red velvet sack. He says the last time he held what was in this bag high above his head was when he owned it after earning it. Not because he had the best dog-collar match in years, which he says with a sarcastic tone to mock MJF, but because he won it. “TELL ME WHEN I’M TELLING LIES!”
Punk says until someone pins or submits him for this belt, he’s still got every right to it. He grabs the shoes he had around his neck during his entrance and says until someone can fill these, they belong on his feet. “TELL ME WHEN I’M TELLING LIES!”
He drops the mic and ends another epic pipe bomb to add to his epic catalog. Off-mic as he walks up the ramp he says, “I didn’t come here to chase stars… I AM a star.” Excellent opening promo segment from “The Best in the World,” as you’d expect.
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#1. Luchasaurus defeated Wardlow to become the NEW TNT Champion!
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#2. Andrade El Idolo vs. Buddy Matthews: Winner: Andrade
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In a backstage vignette, Scorpio Sky talked about waiting for the perfect time and perfect opportunity. He is coming back soon.
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#3. Miro vs. Tony Nese – Winner: Miro
Tony Nese and Mark Sterling had some things to say befoe the matvch, but they were immediately shut down when Miro arrived on the scene.
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#4. Ruby Soho & Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale – Winners: Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale
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In a couple of ackstage vignettes, we saw Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks declare themselves for the 2023 Owen Hart Cup Tournament.
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The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass were out next for a promo to a raucous crowd, where they reaffirmed that they still have their sights set on Trios Gold. They also declared that they will be preset every week on Collision on TNT.
#5. CM Punk & FTR vs. Samoa Joe & Bullet Club Gold – Winner: CM Punk & FTR
Excellent, excellent main event!
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Professional Wrestling IS BACK! What a night to kick off AEW Collision. Saturday Night’s Alright (Perfect) For Fighting…
