[8.0] "Just barely edges out the Roman match as my favourite CM Punk match of the year, I suspect the result is negatively impacting the rating here but I do not mind the result. Hometown hero CM Punk taking the title from deluded heel Sami Zayn is a fine story to tell assuming Zayn gets a proper title reign down the line. It was a excellently wrestled TV main event with an electric crowd that popped at every move Punk made, so no complaints from me."
[8.0] "This was a cool match. I'm sure it would've been a big surprise that Punk not only returned for the home crowd, but then won the title. Sami Zayn was seen as a bit of a gold watch champion, but they made sure to give him a proper go at being a defending champion. He and Punk worked their socks off to have a compelling match. And it got better as it went on as they worked finishes and submissions into the mix. The highlight of the match was Punk applying the Anaconda Vice and Sami escaping with the headscissors. Strong ending sequence too. ****"
[9.0] "Every moment felt earned, and both men felt like they had a fire behind them, and that urgency was never wasted. I'm a Punk guy, despite everything, so I love him winning in Chicago with THAT crowd behind him the entire way."
[8.0] "8. Some of the best ever have held this belt, it has plenty of blemishes but none can deny it being the top prize in the sport. It isn't booked to feel as important as it is, lots of that due to the Roman and Brock wars of years ago, or Vince himself deciding to hold the belt. Sami and Drew's recent reigns were, well, short. But it's good for the sake of the record book that those guys held the belt. Wrestlemania 40 also did a wonderful job establishing this title as something incredibly meaningful. When it is booked as well as I know it can be, it is a signifuer of who is the top dawg in the worlds largest promotion."
[0.0] "Voice Of The Voiceless! What A Joke On June 27, 2011, CM Punk threw his famous pipe bomb promo on Raw, with John Cena sitting fidgeting in front of him at the broken table. He said John Cena kisses Vince McMahon's ass, but that wasn't even the worst of it compared to the Rock. He said the idea of the Rock (a part-timer) being in WrestleMania's main event pissed him off, because he grinds it out in the ring all year while this Hollywood idiot just shows up and takes the opportunity handed to him on a silver platter. And then it happened. On July 23, 2011, in one of the classic examples of Vince McMahon's stupidity, after Rey Mysterio won the WWE title in the tournament final held after Punk left the company in the storyline, John Cena went and faced Rey and took the belt off him just so Punk could come back and take the belt from Cena, and they could face each other at SummerSlam. Yeah, I know, I get it they did this dumb thing for the sake of the story, and Rey Mysterio got disrespected that day for nothing. At the Raw 1000 episode, two years later, Punk hit the Rock and gave him the Pipe Bomb (verbally) again, protesting that the Rock was getting a title opportunity handed to him. They set up the match five months ahead of time, and the Rock didn't just beat Punk once he beat him twice. And when Punk finally got the chance to face Cena on Raw before WrestleMania and they had one of the best matches in Raw history Punk still lost, in a stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid decision, and we all cursed out the Rock and McMahon, and we were all invested in Punk and upset for him, and the Once In A Life Time become twice in a life time that no one ask for it. Nice. Then he kept getting screwed over in 2013, and couldn't even win the Money In The Bank briefcase so he could go into a hyped-up storyline with Brock Lesnar, just to have another legendary match with Lesnar at SummerSlam he lost that one too, and we all got pissed off again. In 2014, at the Royal Rumble, after all that, he got eliminated in that absurd way by Kane, and the whole crowd was ready to tear the arena apart on all the wrestlers and he left the company and his name kept getting chanted in arenas for ten years straight. Until he came back at Survivor Series and before that, when he came back in AEW and made all his problems there, and did everything he'd criticized Cena and the Rock for abusing their power and he got into it with the Elite. He came back to WWE and forgot all his problems with Hunter, and Hunter likewise forgot his problems with him, for the sake of business. So Punk spent his whole run in WWE with no issues with anyone everything's fine even though he literally said the opposite of what he'd claimed years before, that he'd never come back to wrestling, never come back to WWE and he came back because he realized he was going broke. Okay, fine, let it go, right? No, of course not. After he disappeared for months after losing the World Heavyweight Title to Roman, he came back on Raw in Chicago and won the belt from Sami Zayn who had just won it himself after years of chasing that title and the Chicago crowd, the Cool Kids bandwagon fans, cheered for Punk and booed Sami Zayn. The Chicago crowd, from the privileged cool kids class, who don't actually care about wrestling and whose whole goal is to hype up the moment and pop off like idiots for whoever's in the ring that night like Jey Uso and Trick Williams those same fans are the ones cheering for Punk just because he's Punk. If this had happened ten years ago in front of the real Chicago crowd, they would've thrown trash at CM Punk and chanted "bull**it" and "give us our money back, " and they would've called Punk a hypocrite and a company man, and he would've been treated worse than ECW fans treated John Cena. Bottom line f WWE, f Punk, f Triple H, f the Rock, f TKO."
[9.0] "Was for sure a great match with a predictable, but enjoyable return and winner. But honestly, it was. great match with some very enjoyable wrestling. It was kinda sad that Sami only held the title for 9 days, but it still doesn't take anything from this awesome match that was Sami Zayn vs. CM Punk. [****3/4]"
[10.0] "I found this to be an excellent match. I have not at all liked the follow up to this as I feel Sami deserves a proper One on One feud with Punk rather than the wierd semi heel crazy guy thing theyre doing. The match itself was very good and had nice in ring psychology from both the guys."
[10.0] "An excellent match, with Punk returning straight away to take the title from Sami--who, unfortunately, only held the world championship for nine days. It was a magnificent bout that lived up to the caliber of both men; I loved the Chicago atmosphere--especially when the hometown hero was wrestling--and the shifts in pacing in a match where psychology played a key role. 4.5/5"
[10.0] "Another fabulous match from both competitors. It was incredible to experience considering that CM Punk's entrance gave off the aura of surprise with an old-school feeling of the garage door opening slowly revealing Sami's unfortunate fate. Sami Zayn did an incredible job of showing expression and the Chicago fans bit right into it and found it hilarious that Sami was so upset by their home-town boy. The heat was on a different level of what we get on a normal basis, and I attribute some of this to Sami's incredible response to Punk, pushing him away by the face when he entered the ring almost as to say, "thanks for ruining my moment." The ring work was brilliant and unpredictable. Most people were worried this would be a quick win for Punk, but that was not the case as it was very back and forth and they made a real match out of it. These are two guys that have mastered their craft, and they made it look easy. Most people will watch this and agree that TV matches are rarely this good for RAW anymore and the WWE creative should be studying this approach."
[8.0] "I was worried Punk was going to come in and kill Sami in under five minutes, but they actually went out there and had a great match. The Chicago crowd was on fire for Punk, of course, and there were a lot of nice nearfalls that the crowd really bought into. I have to admit, as much as I'm a huge CM Punk fan, I can't help but be disappointed for Sami. This just felt like a huge slap in the face to not only Zayn, but to all of his fans that waited so long for him to finally become WWE Champion. I have to hope that he gets another chance someday soon but with the current state of WWE, you can't be too certain."
[8.0] "The booking was entirely predictable, with CM Punk conveniently returning to take the title from Sami Zayn, and the Chicago crowd treating him like a conquering hero. Still, whatever the reservations about Punk's position, both men delivered an excellent twenty-minute match that made the result feel earned rather then inevitable."
[8.0] "You can criticize the booking for sure. CM Hogan magically appears to rob poor Sami Zayn. I have no nostalgia for Punk. For me he's just another shopworn, middle-aged part-timer sucking the oxygen out of the room. The Chicago crowd drank the bath water and called it fine wine. I have to give props to Punk and Zayn for delivering a riveting 20-minute match that made Punk's win feel earned rather than the foregone conclusion it was."
[6.0] "This was a solid match, but it never reached the level I expected from CM Punk and Sami Zayn. The wrestling itself was technically sound, and both men did a good job telling a simple story, yet something felt missing throughout the contest. The pacing was steady, but there weren't many moments that truly raised the excitement or made the audience believe the finish was near. There were a few nice counters and believable near falls, but the match lacked the intensity and emotional investment that usually define their best performances. It's definitely worth watching once, but it falls into the category of "good, not great.""
[10.0] "The clash was an absolute masterclass in storytelling and professional wrestling psychology. From the opening bell, the chemistry between these two veterans was electric, with every exchange feeling consequential and earned. They navigated a perfect ebb and flow of technical transitions and high-stakes drama, keeping the audience in the palm of their hands throughout the entire duration. This match stands as a rare television highlight that felt like a main-event-caliber spectacle; it was a gritty, emotionally charged, and technically brilliant performance that perfectly showcased why both men are considered among the best in the business. It was nothing short of a modern classic that will be remembered as one of the definitive bouts of 2026."
[6.0] "**** A good match, both could be MOTY Contenders, but this particular encounter didn't quite reach that level. If they faced off at PLE, they could achieve that. They had great chemistry, complementing each other perfectly and naturally building a good match with good sequences, good intensity, and good pacing. The match had its moments, but at the same time, it suffered from poor booking. Punk struggled much more than Sami, who fell to a single GTS and didn't seem to put up enough of a fight to retain the title. The ending was interesting and unexpected, as it seemed like a kick-out, but Sami lost after a Helluva Kick followed by the GTS. It was a sad end to Sami's first reign, lasting only nine days, but this should serve as a springboard for a possible coronation at WrestleMania"
[8.0] "At the start of the show, Gunther attacked Cody, and Punk (making his return in front of his home crowd) replaced him. The match itself was good quality, and the quality was promising. A quick stat: in two matches, Zayn has never managed to beat Punk. However, I have several problems with this match. First, the Cody-Jey match was pointless since Punk was the one who challenged. Second, it reminds me of Christian losing to Orton in 2011. Zayn lost his title far too quickly. We even saw imitations of finishers (Punk's Helluva Kick and Zayn's GTS)."
[8.0] "Heading into the night when Cody was still set to compete, I probably was going to give this match a 5 or 6. After Cody was taken out though, I knew that CM Punk's return was going to be to replace Cody. Punk knows how to to work his hometown crowd so well that the crowd was the best part of this match for me. As expected, Sami and Punk put on a great match that kept me watching the whole time. I thought that Cody would interfere and cost Punk the match because he replaced him or something like that and that would lead to a non title match at SummerSlam; however, to my shock, Punk won clean so that the WWE title could be involved in the match. It hurts to see Sami's title run be only 9 days long. Overall, good match quality, crowd, and unexpected outcome. 8/10"
[8.0] "Booking malpractice 101. Punk returning in Chicago and winning the WWE title should be pro wrestling magic. Yet here we are with a return so cheap and ultimately predictable that it takes away from the moment. Don't get me wrong, Punk returning in Chicago is awesome, but the timing and the outcome feel downright wrong. It's a shame because it's an excellent TV match. Punk looks sharp, their chemistry is on point, there's some very good back-and-forth, that GTS x Blue Thunder Bomb combo is neat, Sami almost stealing it exactly how he won the title is nice, him slapping the piss out of Punk is great, the finish is good but the outcome is all kinds of fishy. Aside from WWE doing Sami kinda dirty, it's still a very good match with the Chicago crowd eating it all up for their guy. ****"
[9.0] "I think these guys have very very very good in ring chemistry. I think a big thing why is because there very similar in how they put there stuff together and structure it out. They both do a LOT of Terry funk and Bret hart old trobes. The moment was magic and the win was incredible. This only helps with sami current character. (****1/4)"
[9.0] "I know ppl are upset about Sami Zayn having a 9 day reign but he was super cold when he won the title & it's not like he was going to do anything with it anyway. Regarding the match this is the best TV match of the year, CM Punk at his age still putting on incredible matches is amazing to watch"
[9.0] "CM Punk's return in Chicago was absolutely massive. The crowd's reaction was incredible, and that electric atmosphere carried directly into the match. Punk also returned in excellent physical condition, which was evident in both his stamina and overall in-ring performance. Despite being away for months, he showed virtually no ring rust. While he isn't as explosive as he was a decade ago, he looked sharp, confident, and completely comfortable back inside the ring. The chemistry between Punk and Sami Zayn was outstanding. Their timing and understanding of each other's style made every sequence feel natural. The finisher exchanges and near falls created genuine suspense, with several moments making it feel like the match could end at any second. One aspect I particularly appreciated was Sami's determination to protect his championship. Even if the outcome felt predictable heading into the match, he fought with desperation and resilience until the very end, making him look like a fighting champion rather than someone simply there to lose. The Title Change: Why Sami Lost After 9 Days Now, onto the biggest talking point: Sami Zayn losing the World Championship after only nine days. It's understandable why many fans were disappointed. Watching someone spend years chasing the biggest prize only to lose it almost immediately is never easy. However, looking at it from a business and booking perspective tells a different story. Based on WWE's recent booking philosophy, it appears Sami was never intended to be the long-term face of the company. His championship victory was designed to create a memorable, emotional moment in Saudi Arabia--a payoff to years of fan investment--rather than the beginning of a lengthy title reign. Whether he lost the championship to CM Punk or later to Cody Rhodes, the direction suggests that his reign was always intended to be relatively short. The Business Decision: Why Punk Won While some fans argue that CM Punk didn't necessarily "deserve" another World Title opportunity, the decision makes sense from WWE's business perspective. Punk remains one of the company's biggest attractions. His presence immediately raises interest in any show he's featured on, and moving him to SmackDown as World Champion gives the brand a significant boost. His ability to deliver compelling promos, create emotionally engaging rivalries, and attract mainstream attention makes him an ideal centerpiece for the brand. If WWE's goal is to strengthen SmackDown heading into the second half of the year, making Punk champion is a logical move. While nothing is guaranteed, the booking strongly suggests that the company sees him as a central figure for the brand moving forward. Ultimately, regardless of debates over who "deserved" the championship more, CM Punk has consistently proven to be one of professional wrestling's biggest draws. He generates attention, sells tickets, drives discussion, and makes major events feel even bigger. Sami Zayn is an outstanding wrestler and one of WWE's best storytellers, but from a business standpoint, Punk currently offers a level of mainstream attraction that very few performers in the industry can match."
[8.0] "This was a very good match, crazy how pink comes back and he's back in top form to being one of the few most featured guys who puts on actually great matches not littered with shenanigans. Sad for Sami and I hope there's a follow up for how he was basically robbed for having to face someone he wasn't ready for."
[8.0] "i liked this match, pure wrestling, this is one of the fewest match that i have enjoyed this year. if you do not consider that punk came out of nowhere and got a title shot, it was good match."
[2.0] "Watching this match was a chore because I had no doubt the Punkster was going over, brother. How fitting on the eve of the anniversary of Hogan's turn, Hulk Punkon strikes again. WWE and it's most loyal fans live moment to moment with a complete disregard for the bigger picture. Throwing another title reign on a guy pushing 50 without earning it is ridiculous. All that crowing about Goldberg showing to beat Bray Wyatt and for Punk it isn't nearly as bad. Sting won a world title from age 47-49 and again at 52. Not many were upset about it because Sting isn't the whiny little baby Punk is."
[5.0] "For a main event of a weekly show, the exceptional circumstances of this matchup might be acceptable, but it's for a world championship, which perfectly defines the company and its vision. I think the match was decent, even though there were several mishaps and miscoordinations, and poorly executed moves. I believe the hometown crowd's support for the challenger helped a lot."
[0.0] "I knew Sami would be nothing more than a transitional champion, but this is an absolute joke. The guy finally wins the title, only to lose it in his very first defense against Punk. Not even a proper reign, not even a single title defense on a PLE... At this point, why even put the belt on him? What's even worse is how this makes Cody losing the title to Sami look completely pointless. Cody drops the championship so Sami can become champion... only to go right back to challenging Punk. Super Cody to the rescue. In the end, Sami's reign feels like nothing more than a plot device in Cody's story. And don't tell me Punk vs. Cody needed the title to sell the match. It was already one of the biggest matches they could have done without a championship involved. Instead, they sacrificed Sami's credibility and devalued the title just to speed up a feud that would've sold itself anyway. The biggest irony, though, is CM Punk himself. The Punk from 2011 who rebelled against the system has become everything he used to despise. He spent years fighting against "the boss" and everything corporate in wrestling. Now he's become the definition of Corporate Punk, standing with the very establishment he once claimed to hate. The worst part is that he keeps referencing the Pipe Bomb--the kiss at the end of the show, the belt in the refrigerator as if nothing has changed. Those moments don't feel rebellious anymore; they feel like nostalgia for a version of himself that no longer exists. He's fooling himself. I honestly think the CM Punk of 2011 would be ashamed of what he's become."
[7.0] "A good match but it didn't really wow me. Punk's return was a cool moment and it was neat seeing a crowd super invested in their hometown hero, but the bout itself kinda felt by the numbers. Thankfully, the final ten minutes were pretty competitive and intriguing, and it's nice to see actual selling in a WWE match again."
[7.0] "for weekly WWE tv standards in 2026 this really stands out as a good match but that's honestly not saying much. Punks return here was really done well and i'm obviously bias i'm from chicago but i was not at this event. I'll tell you why, NOBODY WHO ACTUALLY WATCHES THE PRODUCT CAN AFFORD TO GO ANYMORE. AEW haters will tell you there are too many kickouts in any match but then will watch this and say it's good wrestling. This match was nothing other than big move, kickout, hit opponents big move, kickout over and over again. The only reason it was a good match was because of the Chicago crowd and the shock win. I will say this makes absolutely zero sense in the realm of things to have Zayn win in Saudi and lose 9 days later. I would have kept the title on Cody and have him lose it in Chicago. But it does seem like this is another story booked by AI or Triple H which honestly which is worse at this point. A mindless robot or a mindless corporation, you decide CM Punk. And it seems like you have decided to surround yourself with trump supporters, nothing punk or chicago made about that sadly. Rating: ***1/2"
[10.0] "Sorry, I thought this was an EXCELLENT TV main event, and most of the criticisms stem from fans being understandably upset about Sami Zayn having a short transitional WWE title reign. Nonetheless, BOTH men delivered big time here. I give Sami Zayn vs CM Punk a 9.5 out of 10 overall, but I am leaning closer to a 10 on this site here."
[8.0] "The pace of the match wasn't the highest, although it increased over time. Therefore, I didn't initially like it, but towards the end of the match, including when they started using each other's finishers, I appreciated it. I want to say that Sami sold the last GTS in a high-class manner. It was a great RAW main event. At certain points, Zayn didn't even look like an underdog but like a true champion."
[8.0] "Great, returned match for CM Punk. Crowd was really hot and loud. Sami worked great as the heel of the match. The near falls were great it honestly did feel like ether man could have won. Can't wait for Cody VS Punk at Summerslam."
[9.0] "This match was phenomenal. Back and forth with many near falls, where I thought either man could win. While I thought Sami got done a little dirty, he never would've been taken seriously as world champion and is a better title chaser than champion. I am also glad to see Punk back in Chicago, and looking forward to the inevitable Punk vs Cody match at SummerSlam."
[9.0] "This was an absolutely phenomenal match. Sami and punk worked so hard and well and smooth that it didn't look like cm punk had taken time off. Also we needed cm punk as the world champ, Sami isn't gonna cut and what Sami did to Melo and Gable years ago is what a punk"
[10.0] "The best television match of the year. CM Punk has the best PLE match of the year with Roman and now TV with Sami. I do feel bad that Sami only held the title for 9 days but he has Mick Foley in him there. He's a great talent and doesn't need the belt to tell great stories. Punk has been off for months and showed no signs of ring rust. The Chicago crowd. Enough said. They brought their A game. Obviously they were team Punk. Punk and Sami have tremendous chemistry. The shove that Sami hit Punk in the face with before the match started was awesome. It was unscripted and lit a fire in Punk. Tremendous match."
[8.0] "[4.0*] Another lovely classic pro wrestling match between two absolute all timers of the game. A rough, gnarly, old-school rasslin contest for the World Title, there's almost nothing better in wrestling than this lol. My only complaint about the match was the little finisher exchange stuff because it didn't suit with the kind of match they were going at all, felt like a TikTok viral video attempt in the middle of a NWA 80's bout. Kinda weird. Anyways, the rest of the bout was beautiful, there was one punch exchange where I started shadow boxing, shit felt like Lawler vs Savage lmao. Absolutely amazing. Cool finish tho, I loved how this wasn't pretty or perfectly executed, sometimes wrestling needs to be more raw."
"As for the storytelling... it wasn't exactly the match anyone was asking for, but it was still a really fun fight! Both Sami Zayn and CM Punk did a great job selling each other's offense. There were a few too many countered finishers for my taste, but both Superstars delivered. 8/10"
[9.0] "CM Punk is back, and what a comeback that was, a mood changer in the company and a very refreshing restart, that was really necessary in my opinion, and it's a match that just provides an incredible feeling. We were supposed to have Zayn vs Cody as a rematch, and Punk was expected to return in Chicago, but we didn't know how, and the most probable scenario would be an after match angle, but there was an angle to take Rhodes out of the match, and Punk emerged as a surprise opponent. The bout was fantastic, even better than the previous one they've had, which was incredible as well, but here the stakes were higher and we had more elements, because it was a huge title match. Punk and Zayn wrestled an old school style with a great psychology... Punk continued the struggling old man formula, which is fantastic, and the entire bout was just super smart and cohesive, fun to watch. For a TV-match that was almost unbeatable, it had the perfect structure, and it's a joy to watch those matches where you can see the input was well thought, it's rewarding. The ending moments were really tense, and we had plenty of elements to be amused, like Zayn stealing Punk's GTS, and trying to win the same way he did at Night of Champions to steal the title in the first place. My favorite moment of the match was the escalation when Zayn started to slap Punk very hard, and Punk answered with an old fashioned comeback, eating the slaps, and answering with punches, tremendous moment. After a lot of struggle, Punk won the title, a very reinvigorating moment to begin another Summer of Punk - {****1/4}"
[8.0] "A really good main event, helped (obviously) by a hot crowd. I would've loved this to have been in front of an equally hot, but more split, crowd, but I digress. The reason this goes into really good territory for me is because it felt like a struggle. It felt gritty, and it rarely felt like two people working together to put on a fight scene. Quite often the moves felt a little slower, a little tougher to execute, than we normally see. A touch too many borrowed finishers down the home stretch for my taste, but the crowd lapped it up."
[3.0] "Unlike most, I'm alright with Sami dropping the belt early if he is to continue this arc and come out of this as an ultimately bigger name; that said, I have little to no faith in WWE actually using this short reign to achieve any of this. Punk rarely impresses these days and, despite the big on-the-night crowd response, him being the one to show up after time away and win a championship which he has no business challenging for (a real heel move) makes no sense; I also have very low expectations of his reign. A fair few comments here reference exemplary in-ring work that somewhat compensates for the saddening result, but this was honestly very average at best and arguably very dull until the final minute or so. If Punk is going to be hypocritical and win the belt in the face of emerging talent, then having him do so as the babyface is completely illogical."
[3.0] "This was the very definition of a "we need to do a 20 minute tv main event but we don't want to do anything particularly interesting or different." It was a "safe" match that revolved more around the MOMENT than the actual story. WWE's go to seems to be "let's do eachother's finishers, that always gets a pop." I was annoyed. SOS. And the result was embarrassing. I would say Sami deserves better but I'm pretty sure he know what he's got himself into at this point."
[6.0] "There are two ways to look at this match. On the one hand, there's the purely sporting perspective, and that's perfectly fine, since the match certainly delivers in terms of intensity and substance. But then there's the 'title politics' interpretation, and from that angle, things don't look so rosy anymore. Zayn is exposed as a placeholder because they obviously didn't want to step on anyone's toes from the upper echelons of the pecking order by having that person take a fall for Punk's comeback. I don't like that at all--it hurts the title and it hurts Zayn. And I say that even though I really, really enjoy watching Phil Brooks."
[8.0] "[4.25 Stars] The in-ring quality is beyond question, but the big problem is the absolutely disastrous booking--if they had to send someone into the lion's den, it should have been anyone but Zayn."
[8.0] "Strong main event, where the first half was just a simple wrestling match, with some intresting moments where Sami looked agressive, and the last 7 minutes - so great. Tension, dynamic, drama and many other things. The even stole each others finishers, but it not looked necessary for me. CM Punk is a new champion, what is debatable, because I'm sorry for Sami, but that is much better than Cody's another victory."
[9.0] "[4.50] A match titled "The Value of Moves" -- even the Bulldog that Punk usually hits directly had its suffering built up before execution. Not to mention the great quality in how the GTS was built up. With every nearfall, you genuinely expect the match to be over, and it doesn't feel "cheap.". The previous match was simpler and slower, which is natural since it was Babyface vs. Babyface. But this match took on a different narrative because of the location -- Chicago -- and that's a point in favor of the duo who understood their position. Honestly sad for Sami. He's an excellent wrestler who deserves a much better run, but unfortunately..."
[5.0] "This is absolutely ridiculous. Sami spent his whole life on this title, and Punk took it from him right as soon as he came back. Don't you ever dare to represent the man who resists authority and be the voice of the voiceless? If this match is on PPV and Sami loses, I won't say much about the booking. In short, this match is decent, but let's be honest Sami Zayn deserves better."
[6.0] "The irony of wearing the Hitman colors when really CM Punk should've been in the red and yellow. Sami Hogan? I'll show you Hogan say Punk as the washed up old man shows up and takes the belt off of someone who has busted his ass to get his feel good moment. I can't imagine this would've gone over well had it not been in Chicago which makes me dislike that city a bit because this booking is kind of insulting. Thankfully this is better than their last match which I thought was insanely overrated. This match at least had decent strikes from Punk and some great aggression from Sami but as a whole this barely represents anything I love about wrestling. It's sluggish, uninventive, relies solely on Pink being over in his hometown. Punch kicky mediocre stuff that is to its credit is at least well executed. The finish is the only part that shits the bed. The Helluva Kick is a terrible finish as whenever it's reversed Sami can't commit to it so it always looks telegraphed. In this match however Punk doesn't even dodge the kick in time and stiff gets hit by it which the commentators cover for by saying it was a block. So we get two back to back Helluva Kick reversals and then The GTS for the finish and the WWE once again has no interesting champions"
[8.0] "The match was very good but the result pissed me off. It was such a feel good moment when Sami won that belt and then they do nothing with it and have Punk win. You couldn't have at least given Sami a little bit more time with the belt? The crowd was obviously going to be behind punk because they are in Chicago but man what a garbage booking decision. Triple GBT can't book for shit and he needs to be fired. Also isn't this the shit that Punk has been against all throughout the 2010's? Dude is a flaming hypocrite. An absolute shitbag of a person. John Cena wasn't lying when he said he's not against TKO he is Mr. TKO. With all this being said, the match was fire. Punk is pretty 50/50 when it comes to match quality but this was one of the good ones. Good reversals and good moves throughout. It's just unfortunate it had a terrible result."
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