WWE Bash in Berlin: CM Punk Puts Drew McIntyre To Sleep in Strap Match

As a fan with over two decades of wrestling fervor under my belt, I must admit that today’s WWE Bash in Berlin was nothing short of electrifying! The Strap Match between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk was a spectacle that truly lived up to the hype.

This afternoon saw the ongoing WWE Bash in Berlin featuring a significant grudge bout between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk. Following Punk’s defeat in his comeback fight at SummerSlam earlier this month, it appeared that their rivalry was far from settled. McIntyre has persistently provoked Punk with a bracelet embellished with the names of his wife, AJ Mendez (previously WWE star AJ Lee), and their dog Larry. With this backstory, it was only fitting for their rematch to carry a significant condition: a Strap match. This is an uncommon wrestling stipulation, even rarer in the WWE, but both combatants have previously engaged in a Strap match during their careers with the organization.

In the past, CM Punk has been involved in three contests, two of which were with Ohio Valley Wrestling and one against the late Umaga during his final WWE bout. CM Punk, who’s never lost a Strap match throughout his career, is aiming to add another victory to his record. As for McIntyre, this is his second match in total. His previous encounter ended in defeat at the hands of Karrion Kross, which occurred in 2022.

In a Strap match, played on a four-sided arena, contestants are tethered by a 13-foot leather strap. There’s no room for pinning opponents or forcing submission. Instead, to emerge victorious, one wrestler must swiftly and sequentially touch each corner of the ring without being interrupted.

McIntyre surprises Punk before the match starts, delivering a series of blows throughout the ring. Since neither wrestler had the championship belt yet, McIntyre used it as a whip against Punk who cried out in agony. With a swift move, “The Scottish Warrior” placed the title around Punk’s wrist, prompting the referee to start the contest by ringing the bell.

RED LIGHT
GREEN LIGHT
Who will win the #StrapMatch at #WWEBash?
— WWE (@WWE) August 31, 2024

Initially, McIntyre tapped the edge of the wrestling ring, prompting the lights to illuminate. So far, Punk hasn’t managed any significant attacks. In an attempt to shift the momentum, he executes the GTS, causing the lights to black out due to the impact of his physical move. Instead of interacting with the turnbuckles, Punk opts for retaliation and whips McIntyre. Their battle spills beyond the ring’s edges, landing them on the commentator’s table. Here, McIntyre attempts a Future Shock DDT, but…

In a surprising twist, Punk counters McIntyre by slamming him forcefully onto the table with his back. After a series of intense exchanges, McIntyre gains significant momentum, scoring three victories. However, Punk manages to prevent the fourth win, causing all of McIntyre’s successes to turn into failures and securing his own victories instead. As he attempts the fourth time, McIntyre halts him, sending him crashing through a table this time around.

WHAT A MOMENT!#WWEBash
— WWE (@WWE) August 31, 2024

McIntyre hoists Punk onto his back and circles around the ring, intending to strike the lights. However, unbeknownst to him, Punk is doing the same. They nearly reach the final light, but due to an error, McIntyre has to restart, preventing Punk from securing a victory. Instead, they exchange powerful kicks that send each other crashing to the mat. Punk executes two more GTS moves and aims for the ropes again. He manages to land two, but lifts McIntyre up for a FOURTH GTS, striking the third light. Limping, Punk heads towards the fourth corner, pulling McIntyre in for a fifth GTS. With a swift move, Punk removes his bracelet and strikes the fourth turnbuckle to claim victory in the match.

WWE Bash in Berlin

Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) def. Kevin Owens
Women’s Tag Team Title Match: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill def. The Unholy Union (c)
Strap Match: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre
Mixed Tag Team Match: Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan
World Heavyweight Championship Match: Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton

Stay tuned to ComicBook for news and updates on WWE.

2024-08-31 22:09

WWE Bash in Berlin

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