In the final match, Punk was the one expected to shine and had the best chance to win since he was reserved for victory. However, as the match seemed dull from the start, it quickly descended into chaos near the end. Just as Punk was about to defeat Breakker, Reid suddenly appeared, clearly visible to the referee, and repeatedly elbow-dropped Punk, causing major confusion because gauntlet matches typically result in disqualification for such interference.
Unexpectedly, this turned out to be a no disqualification gauntlet match—though this was only confirmed when Michael Cole declared the rule change. Many questions remain unanswered. Lio returned to gain a clear advantage in the photos but soon vanished. Punk managed to win, enduring some punishment from both Lio and Breakker. Then, USO showed up again for a save, followed by the ruler’s arrival to stop further damage.
If this was a no DQ gauntlet match, why didn’t Reid continue to act as a handicap advantage for the rest of the match? Why did the ruler only appear after the damage was done? Why didn’t he try to help his cousin win or even compete in the match? Why didn’t anyone capitalize on opportunities to attack Paul Heyman, who had been inactive for 40 minutes? Why were weapons not used? Why was the referee seemingly clueless and hesitant to call a disqualification? Most importantly, why did it take so long for the announced rules of the match to be properly enforced?
Michael Cole only acknowledged the no disqualification rule at the exact moment a disqualification should have happened. This raises questions about the quality of his commentary. WWE’s attempt to rewrite history and deny that disqualifications are common in gauntlet matches is misleading. For years, heels have been disqualified in such matches to protect their reputations without losing outright. On the night Punk needed a decisive win, the no DQ stipulation was inconvenient and seemed designed to confuse fans, despite Punk being positioned as a serious contender for Gunther’s title, fresh off defeating Goldberg.
It’s like following a GPS route only to realize it’s taking you nowhere — Paul Levesque himself would call this forgetting the fundamental rules that were set to keep things under control.
Written by Max Everett
Fan Take: This match’s confusing finish highlights WWE’s struggle to balance storytelling with consistent rules, leaving fans frustrated and questioning the legitimacy of outcomes. For WWE enthusiasts, how these matches are booked moving forward will be crucial in maintaining interest and credibility in wrestling storylines and future title challenges.
