10 Moments That Literally Stopped AEW Wrestling Matches
6. Let’s Check The Tape
Before it all went to hell in a handbasket (or should that be muffin basket), CM Punk's AEW run was nothing short of spectacular.
The high point was his feud with MJF. The two were made for each other, with Max acting as a window into an older Punk's past life. They made magic together, including this match on the 2nd February 2022 Dynamite.
In Punk's hometown of Chicago, where he is the second most popular religious figure behind deep dish pizza, the Second City Saint and the Salt of the Earth went at it in a match that almost went 40 minutes long.
It was nearly over way earlier than that because MJF technically made Punk pass out to "win" the match.
The bell even rang and Max started to celebrate. However, it turned out that the rich kid had used some of his wrist tape to assist his sleeper hold. Once the ref became aware of this, the match was back on.
A fantastic storyline beat, this match stoppage offered a brief glimmer of hope that was eventually stubbed out when MJF pinned Punk for realsies.
And Chicago went mad.