Bobby Fish and CM Punk wrestled on the October 27 episode of AEW Dynamite with Punk picking up the victory.
Punk won with his trademark GTS, though Fish kicked out at 3.1, leading to some confusion as to whether or not the match was over.
Speaking to Joey G of Wrestling Headlines, Fish explained why he kicked out when he did.
"The match that I had with Punk, where things go wonky at the end of that match with the kick out on the GTS, which isn't even his move. That's me giving into my desire to be a little bit petty in that regard. It's KENTA's move and you didn't even have the decency to change the name. Regardless, the confusion at the end of our match was the fact that he did what's called 'the office' or an 'iggy.' This is some inside baseball stuff here. He did that before the three count was over. Having been in the business for a long time, I recognize what that is and have done it myself to somebody to say, in our way, 'whatever, good match.' He did it before the three count was over. That's also a way to alert your opponent that, 'Hey, let's change something.' In that moment, I can liken it to what Tony Khan might have been feeling when he's going off on the EVPs. You don't know what to do. In that moment, I know for myself, I had to make a split-second decision, couldn't weigh out this or that. I had to kick out or not kick out and lose the moment forveer. I kicked out. Being whatever it was," he said.
"You ask me to put my shoulders down for Phil Brooks, I go out and do it."
— Will Washington (@WilliamRBR) September 9, 2022
Well, kinda. Might've been a part of the issue. https://t.co/Ck0CLyiu2q pic.twitter.com/tGcdofD4AC
Fish continued, comparing his thought process to what Tony Khan may have been thinking as Punk aired his issues with Colt Cabana, The Elite, and Hangman Page.
"Only reason I bring it up is because we're talking about it and I do want to extend some grace to Tony in that regard, just because I've been there. To be caught in that position, he definitely should have reacted differently, Hunter [Triple H] or Vince McMahon would have potentially folded Phil like a wet nap in that moment, which is probably the right reaction. In Tony's defense, that might not be his personality. Here it is, in this moment, he's hitched the cart of his company to the back of this guy, given him not only a lot of money, but a lot of trust, and you're kind of shitting all over that right next to him. It's a sucky position for everyone," he said.
Fish and AEW parted ways at the end of August as the two sides couldn't agree on a new contract.
In the weeks after his departure, Fish has issued an invitation to CM Punk to fight him. You can learn more about Fish's issues with Punk by clicking here.
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