As much as The Bloodline has dominated WWE storytelling this year, it's Drew McIntyre's feud with CM Punk that's perhaps going to be 2024's most memorable pro wrestling angle.
It all started at the Royal Rumble when the two Superstars clashed in the 30-man bout and Punk ended up with a torn tricep after taking a Future Shock DDT. McIntyre followed that up by saying he'd prayed for Punk's injury and, well, things quickly escalated from there.
Damian Priest cashed in on McIntyre at WrestleMania to become World Heavyweight Champion thanks to an assist from Punk, and they continued to butt heads in the months that followed (McIntyre, for example, won the Money in the Bank briefcase but ended up wasting it when Punk cost him the win).
When the Second City Saint was finally cleared, they clashed in a SummerSlam match which saw McIntyre pick up the win. However, at Bash in Berlin, the Best in the World earned a win over the Scottish Psychopath in a brutal Strap Match.
Now, their feud looks set to culminate inside Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood. Talking to PWInsider, McIntyre shared some insights into what's made his long-running rivalry with Punk so effective.
"I mean, if I had a chance to really think about it, initially, I was pretty annoyed [that CM Punk returned to WWE], but I understand business and I understand why it was done. But, I found it interesting that everybody started going, 'Oh, it’s obviously going to be this, or obviously going to be this guy.'"
"I was sitting there thinking, there’s a lot of real history here, and a lot of real feelings I’ve got and if I get the opportunity, I know we could tell the most compelling story of all, because no matter my real feelings, I’m still a professional, you know? He’s still a professional, and we’ve been given the platform to show the world what we can truly do creatively."
"Our creative team, obviously led by Triple H is very much, you go out there and you take this creative as far as you can take it. You make people feel, you make people believe, and it’s not so hard to make people believe when you truly feel what’s good on-screen, inside and out."
It's hard to predict who will come out on top when Punk and McIntyre square off again next month, but we'd imagine at least part of the reason the former came back to WWE was to put over talent.
Then again, we are expecting him to get the WrestleMania main event he missed this year in 2025, so Punk emerging from this feud with the win would be no bad thing.
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