Hangman Adam Page's decision to go off-script with a series of choice remarks about CM Punk was the spark that lit the match when it came to the Best in the World's issues with The Elite.
Since "Brawl Out," Punk has returned to the company but is being kept separate from Page, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks on Saturday night's AEW Collision. The show has received positive reviews and exceeded expectations in terms of ratings, with Punk thought to be heavily involved in creative.
The Elite, meanwhile, just signed new contract extensions but, as far as we're aware, there are still no plans to bring any of these wrestlers together for a match which will pay off what happened backstage.
Things took an interesting turn this past Saturday, though, after Punk cut a promo on Page after Colission went off the air. Saying Page is called the "Hangman" because his action figures sit on store shelves as peg warmers, the former AEW Champion went on to say Page is "unlike me, who moves merchandise and pops ratings and sells toys."
Dave Meltzer, a close friend of The Elite's, has since chimed in to say, "Regarding questions about the C.M. Punk off-screen promo on Adam Page, this was not storyline or anything like that."
"Page was actually sent to Greensboro last night to do a pre-tape interview backstage for Wednesday's Dynamite show and when he got there was told that they would have to do it away from the Coliseum and not to go to the show," the wrestling historian added. "As noted before, the Young Bucks and Punk do have an agreement to not say anything negative publicly about each other, but that does not include Page."
We find it hard to believe either Punk or Page will be willing to work with each other again, leading us to wonder what the former was thinking when he decided to make these comments. Is he just playing the heel and having fun or can he not let past grudges go? Whatever the answer is, this may worsen tensions backstage.
Check out Punk's promo in the video below.