We’ve reached the presumed conclusion of CM Punk’s first feud since returning to WWE on November 25th, 2023. Their first match was met with mixed reviews, with many saying that the bout was plagued with overly dramatized and common WWE tropes.
It wasn’t the definitive statement match many expected or had hoped for in CM Punk’s first singles match back in WWE. It was a bit of a disappointment for many.
It was a massive missed opportunity for both CM Punk and Drew McIntyre to steal the show, and it was not quite the MOTY contender people expected.
Drew McIntyre picked up the victory after some Seth Rollins shenanigans, but the feud wasn’t over. The second match was marked as a strap match, and the build once again had fans buzzing with excitement to see their second attempt at the two making a proper statement in WWE.
So, on August 31st, 2024, the bell rang, and the two went to war again.
Going For Round Two and Three
The second match was received better, but it still received similar criticism. To put it bluntly, many were turned off by the basic format of WWE’s version of a strap match.
A match with this much hatred and intensity having a wacky gimmick and giant lights just felt a little off. The two tried their best to deliver a great performance.
It was a massive improvement from the first match, even with working around the stipulation. CM Punk picked up the victory this time which kept the feud even 1-1. We needed a tiebreaker, and we got it,
This past Saturday, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre opened WWE Bad Blood with a Hell in a Cell Match. This was their last chance to deliver the game many were crying for.
There was no more room for mixed reviews; they needed to provide the proper ending to this feud. One showdown for this feud to give a definitive conclusion.
The crowd was hot, and the bell rang. Neither spared any time going at each other. To put it simply this match was a bloodbath.
Both were busted open by the end, with Drew McIntyre needing 16 staples after the match. Neither held back. While this match was a gimmick match, it didn’t really feel like it at times.
It just felt like two people who would go to any length to try and inflict pain and revenge on the other person for around 30 minutes.
They built off the other two matches they had, with a lot of anticipating moves and trading counters/reversals. There was a callback to the bracelet, with Drew McIntyre teasing thumbtacks, only to pour out beads instead. In the end, CM Punk picked up the victory in the match, thus winning the feud 2-1.
The match was praised way more than either of the last two. It was a true period of their feud. I liked their first two matches but understood the criticisms of both. It took them a while to find their footing.
The weekly TV was so hard; it seemed hard for them to match that intensity in the ring. Both men come out great from this feud that has taken up almost their entire year. Even with a loss, this win cemented Drew McIntyre’s return to the main event conversation.
This final match showed that CM Punk still has a lot more to offer in WWE if he can stay healthy. Not just in the ring but also week to week, elevating other talents. For me, it was truly in the MOTY category.
Even after liking the first two matches, this one blew my expectations out of the water. When it comes down to it, Punk winning his first feud back was the best decision, especially with Drew still looking great coming out of the feud.
What do you think? Do you think that Punk winning was the right decision?
And now that CM Punk’s first feud is in the books it’s most likely time for him and Drew McIntyre to move on. What do you think is next for both of them? Do we see CM Punk vs. Gunther at Survivor Series, or does he finish up his lingering feud with Seth Rollins?
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