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CM Punk Issues Statement After Loss On AEW Collision

By John Canton • Published 25th June 2023
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CM Punk had some words for the vocal Toronto crowd after he suffered a tag team loss in the main event of AEW Collision.

The second episode of AEW Collision took place on Saturday night in Toronto just one night before this evening’s AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view event, which is also at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

For the second week in a row, the former two-time AEW World Champion CM Punk teamed up with the AEW Tag Team Champions FTR in the main event, but this time they were joined by Ricky Starks in an eight-man tag team match. Their opponents were Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White & Juice Robinson along with The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn).

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What was very noticeable about Punk’s reaction on this show compared to last week is that plenty of fans in Toronto didn’t like him. There were a lot of boos for Punk, which he did embrace a bit with his mannerisms.

While most fans probably expected CM Punk’s team to get the win, that didn’t happen. It wasn’t Punk or FTR that took the fall, though. It was Ricky Starks. Robinson punched Starks in the face while he was by the ropes (the referee never saw it), which allowed legal man Jay White to hit the Bladerunner on Starks for the pinfall win.

After the show, CM Punk went on the microphone to deliver a message to the Toronto crowd while also referencing the city’s beloved NHL team.

“I would like to make this short and sweet. As the team captain, I take full responsibility for the loss. I want you all to know, even though I lose sometimes, I’m going to keep on coming back and fighting, just like your Toronto Maple Leafs.”

At tonight’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view, CM Punk faces off against NJPW legend Satoshi Kojima in the Quarterfinals of the Owen Hart Cup. If Punk loses that match, it would be a big surprise.