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CM Punk defeated Seth Rollins in a grudge match on the first episode of WWE Raw on Netflix on Monday night.
WWE @WWE
A WINNER IS PUNK<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawOnNetflix?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#RawOnNetflix</a> <a href=”https://t.co/oJFFmZG8cz”>pic.twitter.com/oJFFmZG8cz</a>
The two certainly battled with demons driving their actions, taking the match all over the arena in an attempt to gain an edge.
Rollins delivered a devastating pedigree on the announcer’s desk before dragging Punk back into the ring and hitting him with another pedigree. Just when it seemed like the end for Punk, he kicked out just before the three count.
WWE @WWE
🗣️ LET’S GO ROLL-INS!<br>🗣️ CM PUNK!<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawOnNetflix?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#RawOnNetflix</a> <a href=”https://t.co/KvnaxFSw5U”>pic.twitter.com/KvnaxFSw5U</a>
Rollins followed up with a crushing curb stomp on a battered Punk, seemingly sealing the match. However, Rollins misjudged his distance to the ropes, allowing Punk to place his leg on the bottom rope and break the count.
Out of nowhere, Punk delivered back-to-back GTS finishers, knocking out Rollins and securing the victory via pinfall.
Netflix @netflix
GO TO SLEEP <a href=”https://twitter.com/CMPunk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@CMPunk</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawOnNetflix?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#RawOnNetflix</a> <a href=”https://t.co/E01b96f9EQ”>pic.twitter.com/E01b96f9EQ</a>
Monday’s bout was a long time coming, as it was clear from the time that Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 that Rollins had an issue with him and wanted to get his hands on him.
All signs pointed toward a match between Punk and Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship happening at WrestleMania 40, but Punk got injured during the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match, which caused him to miss multiple months.
While Punk was out of action, he began feuding with Drew McIntyre, and he went on to have a trio of matches against McIntyre once he returned.
Punk returned to the ring at Survivor Series 2024 by teaming with Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn in a WarGames match, defeating the new Bloodline.
Zayn initially tried to recruit Rollins for the WarGames team, but Rollins turned him down due to his disdain for Reigns. Rollins then seemed to take issue with Punk agreeing to help Reigns out.
Rollins and Punk engaged in a war of words on multiple occasions, both on Raw and during the press conference to promote Raw’s move to Netflix.
The Visionary criticized Punk for leaving WWE in 2014 and for trying to take some level of credit for WWE’s success since he was among the company’s top stars while Punk was out of the picture for nearly a decade.
Rollins also called Punk a “bootlicker,” leading to the adversaries coming to blows in a wild brawl through the crowd on a recent episode of Raw.
Raw general manager Adam Pearce made a match between them official for Raw’s Netflix debut, and although Punk was victorious, the rivalry is likely far from over.
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