"I will be defending All Elite Wrestling FROM you!"

Tony Schiavone: "For the last number of weeks we have watched, [to CM Punk] you have joined us in the broadcast position, while he has put on the 'Go to sleep', [to Adam Page] you have watched from the broadcast position while he executes the 'Buckshot Lariat'. It's been a lot of talk. It's been a lot of... back and forth, and now for the first time, you are face to face. Gonna go to the challenger here first. [to CM Punk] I think the fans would agree... And you said the biggest match of your life, that you are prepared at 'Double or Nothing' to become the next AEW World Champ" [There is a mixed reaction from the crowd, which the challenger acknowledges with a wry smile. Half the crowd are booing heavily while the other half show their support with chants of 'CM Punk']

CM Punk: "I think it's safe to say that the biggest moment of my career happened, right here in Las Vegas. [see Note 1] I'm grateful to be in the position I'm in. I love all of you fans across the world. And I plan on walking into Sunday 'Double or Nothing' the challenger and, very respectfully, walking out the champion."

Tony Schiavone: [To Adam Page] "Champ, there is no doubt you know who you have to face. You know, as the world does, about CM Punk, but the confidence level, is off the charts for the challenger."

[A similar mixed reaction from the crowd with loud chants of 'Cowboy Shit' heard alongside a cacophony of booing. It's clear the crowd is divided in their support]

Adam Page: "I said EXACTLY what I was going to do to you CM Punk, and did I stutter? There is nothing, there is nothing, that you can do to me, to take this championship away from me"

Tony Schiavone: "We've got a determined champion."

CM Punk: "I'm not exactly sure why you seem to be taking this so personally: You're the champ for a reason. You're 'Hangman' Adam Page. You're possibly the toughest son of a bitch on this roster, and you hold the gold for a reason. There's a locker room full of people like me, waiting in line to get their shot. This is just business to me. It's my title shot: This is not personal."

Tony Schiavone: "Seems like there's a lot of respect here. But... [Adam Page holds out his hand, asking for the microphone] Go ahead."

Adam Page: "I said three weeks ago exactly what I was going to do to you: I said I was going to destroy you. I said I was going to annihilate you, to embarrass you. And I did not mean at 'Double or Nothing'. I meant... Right. Now. [The crowd cheers] See I've been waiting for this moment, not for weeks but for months. I imagined myself maybe sitting up at the top of that ramp cross-legged. And I would pull out a lighter and I would light a pipe bomb and roll it right down to your feet and watch it blow up in YOUR FACE! [Page's voice is becoming ragged with emotion] How CATHARTIC it would feel. How GOOD it would feel... And how full circle for you, huh? Right here in Vegas... But now that we're here... [A loud chant of 'CM Punk' breaks out, causing Page to pause]

Now that we are here, in this moment I realize I... I can't do it... I can't do it. And not because I'm afraid I'd get fired when I go back through the curtain. And not because I'm afraid of you, that's for damn sure. But the more I thought about what I really wanted to say about you, the more I realized it's exactly what you would do. And I don't think fighting your hatred, your pettiness, your cowardice with more of the same, I just... I don't think it's the right thing to do. But I will tell you face-to-face, man-to-man, how I feel about you: I don't hate you, I almost pity you. And I have no respect for you and what you've done since you've gotten here. You want this AEW World Championship? You wanna-- I don't think you understand what it means to be a champion after all these years, I don't think you get it, because it's not just about what happens in this ring. It's what happens when that red light turns off. What happens when you go back through the curtain, those small... Quiet... Moments when you think no one's watching... That's what makes a champion. You talk a big game about workers rights, yeah? Well you've shown the exact opposite since you've gotten here. [see Note 2] I love this place! I care about this place! This is my home! And this Sunday at 'Double or Nothing' I will NOT-- I will NOT be defending this championship against you, no for the first time in my life I will be defending All Elite Wrestling FROM you!" [The crowd chants 'Cowboy Shit' in support of Page, but there is booing too. The two opponents are standing face-to-face; Punk shows no emotion, despite the clear vitriol Page has just delivered. Page takes a step back and offers the microphone to Punk, who makes no attempt to take it. Tony Schiavone steps in, taking the microphone, shrugging slightly, and holds it up for Punk to speak]

CM Punk: "Like I said man, I don't know why you're so angry. I don't know why you're taking this personally. It makes me a little bit confused. You're kind of talking in circles and it's a big riddle, but if you're so upset... that I'm here... you're gonna have to do something about it on Sunday. Win lose or draw, I respect you 'Hangman'. But remember those roads you traveled to get here? They were paved by me. This house that you built? It was constructed with lumber from trees that I chopped down. [see Note 3] The world you travelled to get here, to create All Elite Wrestling, happened, because I gave you the blueprint. You will shake my hand Sunday. In fact, you know what Hangman? You're going to shake my hand right now. [Punk holds out his hand to Page who makes no move to reciprocate]"

Adam Page: [off microphone] "I'm going to shake your hand?"

CM Punk: [Still with his hand extended] "All your misplaced anger: You ain't mad at me, you're mad at myse-- yourself.Shake my hand [Punk pushes his hand into Hangman's chest]

Adam Page: [off microphone] "You think I'm going to shake your hand? You think I'm going to shake your hand? You're out of your damn mind!" [Punk pushes Page who responds with a punch that knocks the challenger to the floor. Punk sits there rubbing his jaw and, as he looks up at the champion, a smile slowly spreads across his face]

- Note 1: A reference by Punk to his iconic 'Pipe Bomb' promo from WWE Raw #944 which was held in Las Vegas on the 27th June 2011.

- Note 2: Likely a reference to the unsubstantiated rumours that Punk had used his influence within AEW to have Colt Cabana taken off television (Cabana and Punk were former friends who fell out over legal issues that originated from a November 2014 episode of "The Art of Wrestling" podcast) Punk has repeatedly and publicly denied that there is any truth to these rumours, and stated that the allegations are completely unfounded and wholly false.

- Note 3: Punk is known for including references to wrestling history in his promos, as well as for his love of Roddy Piper. As such, it's reasonable to consider this a reference to "If it wasn't for us, paving this smooth road, you might not be so damn cool"