AEW video: CM Punk captures first pro wrestling title in 9 years, Paige VanZant successful in debut

CM Punk is a champion again in the industry in which he first became a star.

Eight years after leaving the WWE, and four years later after he entered the UFC, Punk won the All Elite Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Adam “Hangman”, Page at the main event in AEW’s annual Double of Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas.

This is the first time in nine years that Punk, 43, has held a professional wrestling title. He was most recently the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in January 2013, a belt that he famously wore for 434 days.

Punk and Page engaged in an entertaining, hard-fought contest, that saw both performers hit plenty of their signature spots (including utilizing each other’s finishing maneuvers) while riling up a voracious Vegas audience. This was the seventh scheduled championship defense for Page, whose reign had already included thrilling encounters with veterans like Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and Lance Archer after taking the title from Kenny Omega this past November.

In conclusion, Page was portrayed as a champion struggling to decide between his desire to win and the humiliation of Punk. Page’s downfall came after teasing that he would hit Punk with the title belt, deciding against it, and then falling prey to Punk’s “Go 2 Sleep” finishing move.

Punk appeared to legitimately be in tears following the win, which was the culmination of his decision to return to professional wrestling following a seven-year hiatus that was caused by an acrimonious departure from the WWE.

Watch his reaction above to being crowned AEW Champion.

Punk is well known to MMA fans for signing with the UFC six years ago and going winless at UFC 203 and UFC 225, and he wasn’t the only former UFC fighter to shine on Sunday.

Current BKFC competitor Paige VanZant was also successful in what was her first-ever pro wrestling match. VanZant was paired with veteran Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page to face the three-man tag team of Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti.

While the more experienced wrestlers handled most of the match, VanZant had her moment in the spotlight in the middle of the contest as she showed off her MMA skills with a double leg takedown and then her newfound pro wrestling skills as she connected with an impressive spinning DDT.

She looked natural during her first match, and it was a smart decision to put her in the ring alongside skilled wrestlers like Conti or Guevara. Sky pin Kazarian gave her team the victory. VanZant’s husband, Bellator middleweight Austin Vanderford, was shown in the crowd cheering loudly in celebration.

Watch more of Punk and VanZant’s big nights below: