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CM Punk and Kevin Owens have never been on the same page. That certainly won’t change now that they’re tussling for the undisputed WWE championship. On Friday, fans got the first taste of a feud between the two longtime fan favorites.
Punk and Owens followed similar paths to the mountaintop. The independent darlings were crucial to the success of Ring of Honor and the independent professional wrestling scene in the mid-2000s. Somehow, they’ve never wrestled each other before. After winning their respective SummerSlam matches, they’re on a collision course weighed down by old baggage.
This week’s show also featured two title matches. Chelsea Green, who was introduced as the WWE women’s champion days after winning the interim title, tried to double up the hardware by challenging for the WWE women’s tag team titles. Elsewhere, Baron Corbin and Trick Williams ran back their United States championship from SummerSlam.
CBS Sports is with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Xfinity Arena in Philadelphia.
Kevin Owens demands CM Punk showdown in Canada
“The American Nightmare” is living one in the aftermath of SummerSlam. Cody Rhodes’ former mentor cost him the undisputed WWE championship at SummerSlam. Now, Rhodes is hunting for Orton. Enter Punk. Rhodes asked him, point blank, if he had prior knowledge of Orton’s interference in their match. Punk was insulted by the question but denied having to do with it. In fact, he offered to help Rhodes with his search. Rhodes declined the assistance, insisting this was his battle.
Rhodes rolled out of the ring and made his way to the back. Before he could complete the walk, Owens emerged. Fresh off winning a No. 1 contender’s match at SummerSlam, Owens marched straight towards the champion. Punk and Owens jawjacked in proximity as SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis watched from the apron. They assured him they would keep things professional.
Owens and Punk continued trading barbs. Owens labeled Punk the same arrogant sociopath he’s always been. Punk argued that he should be thanked for his arrogance. It’s what broke barriers for people like Owens. After all, they both cut their teeth on the independent scenes and as ROH stalwarts. Owens wondered how lonely Punk must feel putting himself on such a pedestal. If there’s anything Owens should be grateful for, it’s that Punk inspired him not to let the business turn him into a “miserable piece of shit” like Punk. The challenger’s remark was the last straw, leading to a shoving match that Aldis and WWE staff had to break up.
Backstage, Owens proposed that his undisputed title match against Punk should take place in Toronto on Aug. 21. He and Sami Zayn, who was speaking with Aldis, had a heart-to-heart. Owens acknowledged that his surprise return ruined Zayn’s plans to recapture the title. Zayn conceded that he would’ve done the same in his best friend’s shoes. Owens declined Zayn’s offer to help him beat Punk, and the two hugged it out.
Orton made his entrance partway through the show, but barely got two words out before Rhodes’ music hit. Orton rolled out of the ring before Rhodes could initiate a brawl. Orton toyed with him, teasing a scrap without ever committing to it. Aldis and his security detail pulled double duty to keep the peace. Rhodes wondered what the point was. Their issues must eventually be settled in the ring. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t get his wish on Friday.
Later that evening, Punk and Zayn got into a verbal altercation backstage. It ended with Punk saying that Zayn had to go to the back of the line, behind even Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae, for another title shot.
There’s only so much to grade here. WWE is in the beginning stages of new storylines involving the talent mentioned above. There was authenticity to the dialogue between Owens and Punk, boosted by the fact that they’ve never wrestled each other. Rhodes and Orton’s deeply personal feud probably benefits without the undisputed title distracting them. It’s always a good thing when the WWE environment feels alive. There’s enough moving parts here to keep things interesting. Grade: B+
What else happened on WWE SmackDown?United States Championship — Baron Corbin (c) def. Trick Williams via pinfall to retain the U.S. title after hitting Williams in the head with it. The outcome was an unnecessary rehash of SummerSlam designed to get Williams out of the title scene. It’s a wonder why they bothered with the rematch; it’s not like the company strictly adheres to rematch clauses.
WWE Tag Team Championship — Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) def. Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton via pinfall after hitting Green with a Fatal Flaw. Per the match condition, Jacy Jayne earned a shot at Stratton’s title next week. Post-match, The Irresistible Forces attacked the fan favorites, teasing a WWE women’s title showdown between Green and Jax. A fine tag team match, but it was awfully disappointing to see Green eat the pin immediately after becoming WWE women’s champion.
Charlotte Flair def. Jade Cargill via pinfall after hitting a top rope Natural Selection. A returning Alexa Bliss, flanked by former NXT women’s champion Tatum Paxley, helped level the playing field against The Baddies. Bliss and Paxley, the latter of whom emerged from darkness, perched on the top rope before diving onto The Baddies, made a memorable entrance. Unfortunately, Flair’s finisher was mistimed, deflating the ending a touch.