10 Most Perfectly Timed Wrestling Spots Ever

7. CM Punk's Sit-Up At All Out 2021

Triple H The Undertaker Shawn Michaels WrestleMania XXVIII
AEW

At All Out, CM Punk struggled - in the parameters of the match - to put away Darby Allin.

His crafty veteran guile only took him so far. His ability to control and guide Darby into the Go To Sleep trap was so well-strategised, but he bounced Darby out of the ring. Darby roared back with a blistering offensive salvo before positioning Punk to hit the Coffin Drop. But, at the last millisecond, Punk sat up, and smiled broadly. He can do what 'Taker does, but he no longer gave a sh*t about headlining WrestleMania. He had returned to wrestling with a renewed love he couldn't hide.

In addition to being timed to absolute dramatic perfection, this spot was overflowing with tremendous, layered character work. The scope for humiliating error here was vast. This wasn't some young athletic workrate guy potentially slipping off the top rope. This was the wisened old genius mind revealing his cunning; he f*cks it up, and he undermines his character.

He didn't f*ck it up.

And the best bit?

He showed ass by allowing Darby to roll him into a crucifix pin in a flash.

As intelligent as the old master was, the new generation he put over in defeat was still able to teach him.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!