Top AEW Star Teases Heel Turn On Dynamite?
Is AEW World Champion Hangman Page on the verge of a heel turn?
On this week's Dynamite, Page appeared to cut a heel promo by stating that fans won't be treated to be a "masturbatory Bret Hart tribute" when he defends his title against CM Punk at Double or Nothing.
"At Double or Nothing, there's not going to be a handshake," a fired up Page said. "There's not going to be a masturbatory Bret Hart tribute match. I am going to destroy CM Punk."
Furthermore, Page called out a fan in the audience for wearing a CM Punk shirt, warning him that he will be running to the merchandise stand for a refund after Double or Nothing.
We noted earlier how Punk's AEW debut match against Darby Allin was a beat-for-beat tribute to Hart's match against The 1-2-3 Kid on a 1994 episode of RAW. Furthermore, during his Dog Collar Match against MJF at AEW Revolution, Punk replicated the exact finish to the Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper match at WrestleMania 8. Punk also paid tribute to The Hitman when he executed a small package to pin Wardlow earlier this year on Dynamite. That match, especially the finish, was reminiscent to the Bret Hart vs. Diesel match from the 1995 Survivor Series.
Most recently, Punk's match against Dustin Rhodes was a tribute to a Bret Hart vs. Goldust match from 1997. Even the finish was a Hart reference as Punk's roll-up of Rhodes was similar to how the British Bulldog defeated The Hitman for the Intercontinental Championship in the main event of SummerSlam 1992.
Besides Hangman Page vs. CM Punk, AEW has announced three other matches for the upcoming Double or Nothing pay-per-view – Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Serena Deeb for AEW Women's World Championship, the Men's Owen Hart Cup Tournament Final, and the Women's Owen Hart Cup Tournament Final.
#AEW World Champion #Hangman @theadampage vows to destroy @CMPunk at Double or Nothing! It's #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/ceYn4I9Vao
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 5, 2022
Some serious words by the #AEW World Champion #Hangman @theadampage to challenger @CMPunk ahead of their World Title match at #AEW Double or Nothing #AEWDon Sunday May 29 on PPV! pic.twitter.com/bqrvBunYLO
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 5, 2022