11 Match Star Ratings From AEW All In

9. CM Punk Vs. Samoa Joe

CM Punk Vs. Samoa Joe was a superb match, so good and so hot that it was surreal. Joe was over to an inconceivable level.

80,000 people adored him and in turn 80,000 people more or less wanted him to kill CM Punk. Punk had his supporters, and while it can get draining on TV, this performative culture war is amazing to participate in live. The level of emotion projected at this match was why you watch wrestling. It was phenomenal. The action was great, too: hard-hitting, witty, cathartic with beautiful stooging, pissy body language, maulings: this was the stuff.

Punk thought he had outsmarted Joe with a feint, anticipating the nope spot, but Joe instead waited to do it when Punk ate the dirt on the floor. Joe visually called him a w*nker. Certain AEW fans haven't stopped doing that for a full calendar year. The eruption in that stadium, which was so gorgeous and massive and deafening, was life-affirming to a lot of fans. Punk is a genius at this.

Throughout, he endured loads of punishment to give that crowd what they wanted and to tell the most logical story. He finished Joe off with the Pepsi Plunge. This was inspired: it was a special move, saved for a special occasion, and it protected Joe heavily in defeat.

A nice little match on paper was something bordering on a religious experience on the night.

Star Rating: ★★★★½

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!