WWE Bad Blood: CM Punk Brutally Ends Drew McIntyre Feud, Now Where Do They Go From Here?

As an old-school wrestling fan with over three decades of fandom under my belt, I must say that the Bad Blood Premium Live Event was nothing short of spectacular! The Cage match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre was the highlight of the night, a testament to their incredible skill and raw emotions.

The WWE’s Premium Live Event “Bad Blood” began with the much-awaited Cage battle between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. Their intense blood feud, which has lasted nearly a year since Punk rejoined WWE, reached its climax here. From SummerSlam to the Strap match to their current confinement within a cage, there was no escape for either fighter. In the early stages of the fight, Punk held the upper hand, choking McIntyre with the metal legs of a table. However, he attempted to end it swiftly by pinning McIntyre with the table legs; yet, that wasn’t the outcome.

McIntyre recovers his sense of direction, fixedly gazing at Punk within the ring as he clutches the stairs. Injured, Punk is seated when McIntyre strikes him with the edge of the stairs, repeatedly pounding his head and trampling on it. He vows to make him bleed, bring an end to his career, and that AJ Mendez, his wife, will abandon him. He drives a wrench directly into his forehead.

The game goes on as McIntyre attempts to deliver the Claymore to conclude it, but Punk deftly avoids danger. Following that, Punk executes the GTS, yet it is McIntyre who manages to roll clear. Out of nowhere, McIntyre strikes with the Claymore again, but Punk manages to kick out. The Sharpshooter, a move that ended things in Berlin for Punk, was locked in this time, but McIntyre was able to break free when he hit Punk with a wrench. McIntyre then lifts Punk and both crash through a table. For the second time, Punk performs the GTS, but once more, McIntyre manages to kick out.

PAYBACK ACHIEVED.#WWEBadBlood
— WWE (@WWE) October 5, 2024

In this wrestling match, McIntyre lands a strike on White Noise, targeting the steps, yet Punk persists in his fight. McIntyre implores Punk to halt, but manages to deliver a low blow instead. McIntyre then tosses a plastic beads bag at Punk, but Punk retaliates by forcing McIntyre’s back onto the steps. With a chain wrapped around his knee, McIntyre executes the GTS for the victory.

With the year-long rivalry now settled, let’s ponder what lies ahead for these two divisive WWE figures. We’re considering several possibilities for their respective narratives that might eventually lead them to cross paths again. For Drew McIntyre, he himself has declared that WWE won’t discover a more suitable storyline than this one for him.

In simpler terms, McIntyre expressed to Sports Illustrated’s Takedown that whatever he does next will be unique and different, as it is not just a storyline but genuine dislike. He added that for him to fully embrace it, the concept must be authentic and something he can genuinely invest in because of its truthfulness, allowing him to have fun with it due to his belief in it.

The Ring General

After the conclusion of “Bash in Berlin“, Punk, under the impression his conflict with McIntyre was settled, aimed his next challenge at Gunther. He left no doubt that he intends to confront him eventually. The specific timing remains uncertain, but for now, Gunther is entangled in a dispute with Sami Zayn, who aims to capture the World Heavyweight Championship.

Instead, McIntyre might find a rivalry with Gunther advantageous to maintain his progress following his battle with Punk. Their last individual showdown was at SummerSlam last year for the Intercontinental Championship. Given how his conflict with Punk revolved around seeking retribution for losing the World Heavyweight Championship, Gunther’s current absence could provide the perfect opportunity for a new challenge.

Seth Rollins Getting His Revenge

Prior to McIntyre’s entrance into Punk’s storyline, it appeared that Seth Rollins was gearing up for a significant feud following his comeback to WWE in the fall. However, Punk’s injury disrupted those plans, but they’ve been crossing paths since then. After losing the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40, Rollins took a short break from TV to recover from injuries. He made his return right before Money in the Bank, where he challenged then-champion Damian Priest and McIntyre for the title.

Following a recent incident on WWE Raw, where Bronson Reed delivered several Tsunamis to him, resulting in an extended suspension, he has returned with intense determination after avenging the Curb Stomping. His actions and plans for Punk suggest that he is ready to confront him sooner rather than later. Given that they didn’t get their match at WrestleMania last time, it appears that this rivalry could stretch through the upcoming WrestleMania season if they handle it strategically.

NXT Star Ethan Page

Over the past period, CM Punk has been devoting considerable time in Florida working alongside the NXT roster, offering guidance and aiding them in training sessions. With whispers suggesting that he aspires to control the brand eventually, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to anticipate his involvement in matches at some juncture. Although Punk wrestled for NXT before retiring, the current state of NXT is vastly different. Given their transition to The CW, a showdown between him and one of their top stars could serve as the key ingredient to solidify this new epoch.

That leads me to Ethan Page, someone that’s had it out for Punk since it was announced he’d be the special guest referee in his title match with Trick Williams. They were definitely at odds during the match, possibly even hinting at Punk being the one to put Page in his place.

I’d be happy to share my perspectives about the potential futures of CM Punk and Drew McIntyre within WWE. Here are my thoughts on their prospects:

2024-10-06 03:09

The Ring General

Seth Rollins Getting His Revenge

NXT Star Ethan Page

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