5 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dynamite (25 May)

Ups...

5. A Little Too Late, BUT...

CM Punk is becoming the AEW World Champion at Double Or Nothing 2022. 'Hangman' Adam Page will spiral in the aftermath.

This appears to be the story coming out of the go-home show. Page is now using his heart to a detrimental degree, taking on an angry, red-blooded persona that has gradually pulled himself away from the traits that helped him conquer Kenny Omega. Hangman is furious with a guy who hasn't spoken out of turn once. It's a continuation of his first promo on Punk, when he assertively promised to embarrass the Chicagoan at the pay-per-view, then flashed the camera a grim, conflicted glance, as if he was trying to convince himself of his words' validity as much as anyone else.

Punk is nestled deep inside his head. This was already the case before, but even moreso now that Hangman has knocked him to the floor. This came after Punk had gently shoved him away to escalate their in-ring confrontation.

The story works, though this segment could have benefitted from taking place earlier in the feud. A quicker escalation followed by weeks of upping the ante would have unquestionably led to this bout feeling bigger than it currently does. The slow road, in this case, was not the right road.

But the dynamic is established - and the match should resemble the inside of a volcano.