10 Most Unprofessional Performances In AEW History
7. Hangman Page Blindsides CM Punk
CM Punk is adamant that he had nothing to do with Colt Cabana’s near-exit from AEW. Virtually everybody else is adamant that he did. Nobody can ever determine what really happened, with 100% certainty, but those in the latter camp must have watched on with a wry smile when Punk - reportedly - banned certain people from various Collision tapings.
He didn’t exactly cover his tracks there.
Regardless, Hangman Page shouldn’t have blindsided him on the May 25, 2022 Dynamite.
On one level, it was admirable that Page - through the use of subtext, anyway - stood up for his friend. He risked his reputation, against a very popular wrestler with an intensely committed fan base, to do what he felt was the right thing by somebody completely expendable.
This remains a doubly unprofessional act. He failed his collaborator in CM Punk, who was at a loss for a response. The “You talk a big game about worker’s rights…” line was not approved.
Moreover, while it probably didn’t impact the buys for Double Or Nothing, until the reports emerged months later, nobody knew precisely what the on-screen story between CM Punk and Hangman Page was. The audience could infer it, but at the time, they were baffled and unmoved.
Page did not a thing to clarify why they were fighting - when that was what he was being paid to do.