As expected earlier, the AEW Owen Hart Tournament 2023 final matchup will consist of the biggest star power, CM Punk. In one of the most anticipated matches from recent times, the former WWE Champion rekindled a top feud from his Ring of Honor days against Samoa Joe on this week’s AEW Collision and came out on top.
Punk and Joe had previously battled in promotions like ROH, PWG, and AWA in their illustrious career. Last night, they featured in a match of AEW Owen Hart Tournament semifinal match to secure a spot in the finale for a future championship shot. Joe dominated the bout for the most part using his brute force but ultimately it was the Second City Saint who pinned him with a roll-up.
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As if it wasn’t enough proof for the match to be a one-off thing, an altercation took place after the AEW Owen Hart Tournament semifinal to solidify that a big feud between Punk and Joe is coming. As the two were exchanging greetings after the match, Joe attacked Punk and passed him out with the devastating Coquina Clutch submission.
The Samoan Submission Machine wanted the punishment to continue and he brought out a chair but Punk’s current allies FTR – Dax Harwood and Dash Wilder came out to make the save. But before leaving, Joe claimed that he was always better than Punk.
Punk vs. Joe in a bigger capacity would be booked in the future on AEW programming but for now, Punk will be focused to win the AEW Owen Hart Tournament 2023 edition as he goes up against Ricky Starks in the final match.
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In another semifinal match on Collision, Starks advanced to the finals by defeating Powerhouse Hobbs. Hobbs, long-time friend QT Marshall inadvertently cost Hobbs the matchup outcome and this led Hobbs to turn on him after the match. Even, he also beat down Aaron Solo to end up ties with QTV.
In the women’s side of the AEW Owen Hart Tournament, injuries continue to make an impact as the scheduled semifinal on Collision couldn’t take place. Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Athena was set to face off with Willow Nightingale but the latter was not medically cleared to wrestle.
This came after Nightingale was injured at NJPW STRONG Independence Day and also lost her NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship to STARDOM’s Giulia in a grueling battle. Nightingale vs. Athena has been postponed to next week’s Rampage while the other semifinal of the AEW Owen Hart Tournament between Ruby Soho and Britt Baker will take place on Dynamite.