Powerhouse Hobbs remembers being the opponent for CM Punk's second match in All Elite Wrestling.
During a recent discussion with veteran journalist Mike Johnson of PWInsider, the Team Taz member reflected on sharing the ring with "The Best in the World" for what was only his second match back following a lengthy hiatus from pro wrestling that included a run as an aspiring MMA fighter in the UFC.
Featured below are some of the highlights from the interview where Powerhouse Hobbs looks back on his in-ring showdown with CM Punk from the Grand Slam edition of AEW Rampage at Arthur Ashe Stadium in September 2021.
On his memories of that significant match and moment, and what it meant to him as a younger talent: “I looked at it as a test. There are a lot of other talents that could have had that opportunity but I remember Punk going online on social media and mentioning my name as 1 of 5 guys that he’s been watching, that meant the world to me. And being his second match in the company, in 8 years I believe it was, it meant a lot and I felt I had to showcase what I could do. A lot of eyes were on me, a lot of eyes were on Punk and I believe that we delivered that night. I don’t think anyone left disappointed. I remember walking back to the locker room, walking past the fans and getting pats on the back, and later on hearing comments from Punk that he was proud of that match, so it meant the world. I’ve been on record before saying what that match meant, being my mom passed away a month prior to that match, so he knew that and he knew we had to go knock it out the park, and that’s what we did.”
On recalling how Punk reassured him that his mother was watching: “Punk reassured me that my mom was there, she was watching the match, let’s put on a match for her, and that’s what we did. I think after that match, a lot of people, if they didn’t know who I was, they did after that night."
Check out the complete interview at PWInsider.com.
