CM Punk probably wasn’t expecting to leave WWE’s latest live event with a loss, but that’s exactly what happened when Chad Gable pulled off a major upset and pinned the former WWE Champion clean in the middle of the ring.
The surprising result took place during WWE’s Road to Survivor Series: WarGames live event on October 29 at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. Punk went one-on-one with Gable in the semi-main event, and what initially looked like a competitive match ended with Gable scoring one of the biggest victories of his career.
The finish saw Punk and Gable exchange several pinning combinations as both men tried to catch the other off guard. However, it was Gable who ultimately managed to keep Punk’s shoulders down for the three-count, securing a clean victory without outside interference.
Footage of the finish quickly surfaced on social media, showing the final moments of the match and confirming that Gable had legitimately scored the pinfall within the storyline. The result was especially notable because the match marked the first singles encounter between Punk and Gable. Despite Punk’s status as one of WWE’s biggest stars, the company gave Gable a significant victory during a non-televised event.
There were no hard feelings afterward, either. Additional footage from the event showed Punk shaking Gable’s hand and raising his arm, giving his opponent recognition following the surprising outcome.
Gable, who currently holds the WWE Intercontinental Championship, has been enjoying a strong run, but defeating someone of Punk’s stature is still a major accomplishment. Whether WWE plans to revisit the matchup on television remains to be seen.
What do you think about WWE having Chad Gable defeat CM Punk clean at a live event? Should WWE bring this matchup to television and build a storyline around the upset? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
