10 HUGE AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 Predictions You Need To Know
8. CM Punk Vs. Satoshi Kojima
The Punker's first pay-per-view match back since his Collision return serves multiple purposes of being a delicious deep cut for those that love the story of a tremendous rib he played on old ROH boss Gabe Sapolsky, a first-time meeting between the pair and - curiously - an opening round match for this year's Owen Hart Foundation Cup tournament.
There's a not-insignificant amount of pressure on 'One Bill Phil' for this to go well. He's not been shy about espousing his value to the company since he returned on the Collision premiere, and good matches will quickly need to figure into that offering. Kojima's no slouch - his All Out 2021 battle with Jon Moxley was a riot - and there will be something surpassing novelty value about seeing the two veterans collide, but the result's not in doubt. Punk's biggest task will be to locate anxiety about him losing just his third match back and exiting a tournament he's a favourite for at the very stage.
Professional pressure based on the performance levels of certain other wrestlers in the building might play a part in that too, though, the mere fact they're all there should continue to assure people that relationships may not be as sour as they once were.
Winner - CM Punk