Jon Moxley Defeats CM Punk, Unifies AEW World Titles
AEW's first two-time World champion
Aug 25, 2022
Jon Moxley is the undisputed AEW World champion, after defeating lineal champion CM Punk on Wednesday's AEW Dynamite in Cleveland.
In what turned out to be a very short match, Moxley took advantage of an injury on the part of Punk, who re-injured his foot throwing a high roundhouse at Moxley's head. With Punk crumpled up holding his foot, Moxley battered him with hammer-and-anvil elbows, wrenched at Punk's injured foot, and hit two Death Riders to win.
Moxley celebrated with both belts while trainers and referee Paul Turner helped a disconsolate Punk away.
The win makes Moxley the first official two-time AEW World Heavyweight champion. He had been the interim champion since Forbidden Door on June 26, when he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in a match to crown the interim titleholder. Moxley previously reigned for over nine months as AEW World champion in 2020.
Punk's reign ends at just 87 days. He won the title from Adam Page at Double or Nothing on May 29, but was sidelined days later, due to needing foot surgery.
