Adam Page Refuses to Endorse CM Punk for Teamsters President

["The Natural" Bustin Loads]

I knew he didn't like the guy, but that was a weird turn.

[Lizuka #BLM]

I genuinely have no clue what the hell that promo was about. It feels like Page exists in like a completely different storyline from the rest of the show and I have no idea what point he was trying to make. Looking forward to the match but it's a very strange, clumsy build.

[Deleted]

When confronted, Page points to Brandon Cutler.

"It was him. Let's get him, fellas."

[Tiger Millionaire]

Will the Jesse Ventura gimmick ruin Hangman Page?

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

May 25, 2022 21:19:31 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I genuinely have no clue what the hell that promo was about. It feels like Page exists in like a completely different storyline from the rest of the show and I have no idea what point he was trying to make. Looking forward to the match but it's a very strange, clumsy build.

It was so weird, because the vibes seemed very coherent. Punk was doing all this smug body language to make it feel reasonable for Page to be so angry, like ugh, just look at this guy. But the words just did not match it and left way too many blanks to fill in for the go-home.

[Facetious]

I feel like Page was trying to say Punk is a phony and he hates phony, but he just rambled on a bunch of stuff instead. But I do hope we get Crow Page

[nihilismizhawt]

I thought it was pretty straight forward that Punk is someone who came in when he felt like it, and tries taking whatever he wants, while Hangman was working hard to build AEW. Punk doesnt care about people, he only cares about himself.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'll share my thoughts from the show thread on why I love this feud:

I really love this world title build. I think either man could be the heel depending on the lense you see it through. On the surface, Punk is just here to prove he's the best and win the world title. As he says, it's just business. Page is the guy taking it personally and going after a guy who is by all accounts in kayfabe, a good guy. However, if you're a Page fan, you could say Punk is just being his usual self. Disingenuous. He's acting like he's above it. He's not actually the man of the people. He's a guy who got paid a ton to come in and sees himself as a superstar who deserves to be champion. Page sees through him and doesn't want someone like him representing the company he built from the beginning. And in reality, both represent two distinct eras of AEW. Page won his first world title shot on the very first show. Punk set the course for AEW out of the pandemic when he came in. And either man can win. It's the hardest to call world title match they've ever booked.

["The Natural" Bustin Loads]

May 25, 2022 21:24:04 GMT -5 Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby said:

May 25, 2022 21:19:31 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I genuinely have no clue what the hell that promo was about. It feels like Page exists in like a completely different storyline from the rest of the show and I have no idea what point he was trying to make. Looking forward to the match but it's a very strange, clumsy build.

It was so weird, because the vibes seemed very coherent. Punk was doing all this smug body language to make it feel reasonable for Page to be so angry, like ugh, just look at this guy. But the words just did not match it and left way too many blanks to fill in for the go-home.

I *think* the point he was making is that he hates Punk's goody-goody act and sees through it even if Punk has deluded himself into believing it. He seemed to genuinely be saying certain things off the cuff which is what kept it from being bad for me. I've certainly been annoyed by/disliked people without even being able to say why.

But it still seems out of step with what's been presented on-screen. Like the worst thing Punk's done is steal his finisher and win a match against Dark Order guys? Unless I missed something.

[The Captain]

I kinda see Page as a Don Quixote like figure and Punk is his windmill.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

May 25, 2022 21:33:35 GMT -5 "The Natural" Bustin Loads said:

May 25, 2022 21:24:04 GMT -5 Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby said:

It was so weird, because the vibes seemed very coherent. Punk was doing all this smug body language to make it feel reasonable for Page to be so angry, like ugh, just look at this guy. But the words just did not match it and left way too many blanks to fill in for the go-home.

I *think* the point he was making is that he hates Punk's goody-goody act and sees through it even if Punk has deluded himself into believing it. He seemed to genuinely be saying certain things off the cuff which is what kept it from being bad for me. I've certainly been annoyed by/disliked people without even being able to say why.

But it still seems out of step with what's been presented on-screen. Like the worst thing Punk's done is steal his finisher and win a match against Dark Order guys? Unless I missed something.

That's one of those things where there's a difference between realistic storytelling and clear storytelling. Page's stuff tonight was extremely realistic, but it wasn't complete as a story.

[Convoy]

It feels like this is building to a Punk turn. For those that might remember, they did this in Chikara with Claudio/Cesaro. Eddie Kingston kept telling everyone he could see how fake Claudio was, and everyone thought “oh that crazy Eddie” until he was proven right and the BDK formed. Kingston even had an earlier feud with Punk in AEW that held similarities, going on about how he could see through his disingenuous nature, and since then Punk has taken shots at Eddie for no reason. Or is the reason that Kingston is the one guy that knows the truth?

Maybe Hangman has seen enough to know that Punk is full of bullshit, and needs to retain so that Punk’s big plan can’t come to fruition. If/when Punk wins at the PPV, we could have another Summer of Punk scenario where he becomes the worst big bad yet in AEW.

[Ecks Ecks Ringout Ecks Ecks]

I don't know if my interpretation is correct, but based on that, it landed for me.

Punk has definitely not been a babyface his entire career, and he's specifically played up being a charismatic manipulator during his heel runs. Page is accusing Punk of playing himself up as a nice guy and a champion for everyone backstage, when in reality he's the same snake he's always been, and AEW would be better off without him.

Maybe I've got it wrong, but that's how it's coming across to me.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I liked it, because Punk seems to be speaking so politely and sportsmanlike and Page isn't trying to get suckered in. But he still threw the first punch, and that smirk by Punk was everything

I really think we're seeing a title change Sunday

[Facetious]

May 25, 2022 21:46:34 GMT -5 Convoy said:

It feels like this is building to a Punk turn. For those that might remember, they did this in Chikara with Claudio/Cesaro. Eddie Kingston kept telling everyone he could see how fake Claudio was, and everyone thought “oh that crazy Eddie” until he was proven right and the BDK formed. Kingston even had an earlier feud with Punk in AEW that held similarities, going on about how he could see through his disingenuous nature, and since then Punk has taken shots at Eddie for no reason. Or is the reason that Kingston is the one guy that knows the truth?

Maybe Hangman has seen enough to know that Punk is full of bullshit, and needs to retain so that Punk’s big plan can’t come to fruition. If/when Punk wins at the PPV, we could have another Summer of Punk scenario where he becomes the worst big bad yet in AEW.

"You stupid old man, I'm a snake"

[Deleted]

May 25, 2022 21:25:42 GMT -5 Facetious said:

I feel like Page was trying to say Punk is a phony and he hates phony, but he just rambled on a bunch of stuff instead. But I do hope we get Crow Page

Punk's going to turn heel and we're going to see emo Hangman in the crowd with a look on his face that says, "I told y'all so."

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

May 25, 2022 21:52:50 GMT -5 Facetious said:

May 25, 2022 21:46:34 GMT -5 Convoy said:

It feels like this is building to a Punk turn. For those that might remember, they did this in Chikara with Claudio/Cesaro. Eddie Kingston kept telling everyone he could see how fake Claudio was, and everyone thought “oh that crazy Eddie” until he was proven right and the BDK formed. Kingston even had an earlier feud with Punk in AEW that held similarities, going on about how he could see through his disingenuous nature, and since then Punk has taken shots at Eddie for no reason. Or is the reason that Kingston is the one guy that knows the truth?

Maybe Hangman has seen enough to know that Punk is full of bullshit, and needs to retain so that Punk’s big plan can’t come to fruition. If/when Punk wins at the PPV, we could have another Summer of Punk scenario where he becomes the worst big bad yet in AEW.

"You stupid old man, I'm a snake"

"You stupid Millenial Cowboy, I'M A SNAKE!"

[Celgress]

May 25, 2022 21:17:04 GMT -5 "The Natural" Bustin Loads said:

I knew he didn't like the guy, but that was a weird turn.

"You know who doesn't give a crap about the boys and girls in the back, that damn politician CM Punk! I have to put up with CM Punk backstage playing bs politics all day long!" Says Vinny Ru er I mean Adam Page.

[Final Countdown Jones]

I've been calling a Punk turn from his first promo and I stand by it. Page isn't quite finding his mark on the mic against him but the story all makes clear sense to me; Punk's dialed up his "I'm happy to be here I do this for the fans" stuff even harder than before for this program, and Page sees through his act because he knows it's just an act. It builds on the past stuff with Eddie. Punk's been the "happy to be here" guy for like eight months now and it peaked with the MJF feud, but it's really time he move on from that. I think we see Punk finally let his mask come off in this match and Page's anger be justified. He talked about 'when the cameras are off' and I think he kind of fumbled connecting the setup a bit but it all connects pretty easily for me.

[The Ichi]

I've been fairly certain that Hangman retains on Sunday, but now I'm not sure. I think Punk could win with a heel turn and it goes straight into continuing the feud with Kingston.