As everyone knows, AEW Rampage and WWE SmackDown went head-to-head last Friday as SmackDown ended up beating Rampage in the overall viewership ratings (see link below for more ratings details).
The show opened up with CM Punk wrestling Matt Sydal, with Punk picking up the win as the two men embraced and had a very good match. According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Tony Khan’s booking for the show didn’t change, as Punk vs. Sydal would have been first regardless. CM Punk himself asked Khan not to change the show as a response to the WWE news. Reportedly, Punk asked Khan to keep him first head-to-head “because I can take that bullet.”