From armories and high school gyms to Wembley Stadium, CM Punk and Samoa Joe wrote the latest chapter in their historic and influential rivalry Sunday in the opening contest of the All In pay-per-view.
Punk overcame a focused, punishing assault at the hands of Joe that included him being slammed head-first into the commentary table in a spot that left him busted open.
Joe appeared to be the better man, countering everything his opponent threw at him.
That is until Punk dipped into his arsenal and pulled out a rare Pepsi Plunge to score the pinfall victory.
This was a star-studded match with competitors that fans care about, exactly the type of contest you start a show off with.
The crowd was hot, not to mention decidedly split for Punk, and rode on the rollercoaster the "Real" World's champion and his destructive challenger took them on.
Punk likely moves on to a new opponent, be it Ricky Starks or someone else, with All Out in his hometown of Chicago next Sunday.
Perhaps, he tests that claim to the world title against the man who leaves Wembley with the officially recognized version of it?
ResultPunk defeated Joe to retain his title
Top MomentsPunk sported a ring jacket similar to the one he wore throughout his Ring of Honor career and, specifically, during the original trilogy with Joe.
Punk broke out John Cena's Five Moves of Doom, then dropped a Hulk Hogan leg drop on Joe, who no-sold it and hulked up in a fun sequence.