Drew Mcintyre

Drew McIntyre fanned the flame in his feud with CM Punk on Saturday.

CM Punk was asked to say "one nice thing" about McIntyre during an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York City, and his reply was a backhanded compliment.

"One nice thing about Drew McIntyre," CM Punk said. "He's the fourth-best wrestler to ever wear a kilt."

McIntyre then took to social media to voice his response.

"Poor question. S--t answer," he wrote on X. "Phil has really been living off that pipebomb for 13 years. Let's see if these guys bring that energy when I'm with them at Fanatics tomorrow."

Poor question. Shit answer. Phil has really been living off that pipebomb for 13 years 💀

Let’s see if these guys bring that energy when I’m with them at Fanatics tomorrow. https://t.co/XUDUfR1ZpS

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) August 17, 2024

McIntyre arrived to Fanatics Fest on Sunday and kept his promise of keeping the energy up, immediately proceeding to call out CM Punk as he walked out in front of numerous excited fans:

Do I have your attention now? pic.twitter.com/5B5w6rJGz4

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) August 18, 2024

The rivalry between CM Punk and McIntyre intensified recently when CM Punk whipped McIntyre with a belt on Monday night during Raw. Shortly after, it was reported that a Strap Match between CM Punk and McIntyre is planned for Bash in Berlin later this month.

The two wrestlers also fought earlier this month at Summer Slam, but it didn't quite have the intensity that some expected considering the rivalry.

While it hasn't been confirmed by the WWE that CM Punk and McIntyre will face off in Berlin, it would certainly be a good chance to give fans an entertaining fight amid a rivalry that is very clearly heating up.

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In a long-awaited grudge match, with Seth Rollins serving as special guest referee, Drew McIntyre beat CM Punk at SummerSlam on Saturday.

The simmering tension between Rollins and Punk finally boiled over. The two got into an argument midway through the match, with The Best in the World questioning The Visionary's impartiality.

Eventually, Punk hit the guest referee with his Go To Sleep.

SETH TOOK THE BRACELET!!! 😲😲😲#SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/fL0Nh2kXUj

— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2024

With The Visionary down, however, McIntyre landed a low blow and then connected with his Claymore finisher. Rollins regained his senses enough to count to three.

However, Punk was so focused on recovering the bracelet bearing the names of his wife and his dog from McIntyre that he missed opportunities to win the match.

To rub salt into the wound, McIntyre again took the bracelet from the prone Punk before leaving the squared circle.

Issues between Punk and the Scot date back to shortly after The Second City Saint returned to WWE in November, as McIntyre made his dislike for him quite apparent, but the Royal Rumble is what kicked their feud into overdrive.

Punk made it to the final two in the men's Rumble match before getting eliminated by Cody Rhodes, but he suffered a torn triceps during the bout, putting him on the shelf for months and keeping him out of WrestleMania 40.

When Punk announced what had happened, McIntyre confronted him, told him that he had prayed for him to get injured and then attacked him.

Punk's loss was The Scottish Warrior's gain in many respects since it seemed The Best in the World was destined to face Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania, only for McIntyre to take his spot in that match.

The Scot beat Rollins at The Show of Shows to become the new world champ, but the celebration lasted only a few minutes, as Punk emerged from his spot at the announce table to attack McIntyre while Drew was taunting him.

That allowed Damian Priest to run down and successfully cash in his Money in the Bank contract on McIntyre.

From that point forward, Punk and McIntyre vowed to make life miserable for one another, and that is precisely what they did.

Punk cost McIntyre in his World Heavyweight Championship match against Priest at Clash in the Castle in his home country of Scotland, and the Scot retaliated on a subsequent episode of SmackDown by beating Punk to a bloody pulp in his hometown of Chicago before removing his bracelet.

Then, after McIntyre won the Money in the Bank contract at the same-titled premium live event, he attempted to cash in that same night during the world title match between Priest and Rollins, only for Punk to interfere again by hitting him with a steel chair, allowing the champion to retain.

That reignited Punk's rivalry with Rollins as well since The Visionary expressed his belief that The Second City Saint cost him the title and should not have been getting involved in his business.

When Punk recently announced that he was finally cleared to wrestle, Raw general manager Adam Pearce came up with an idea to maintain order by making Rollins the special guest referee for Punk vs. McIntyre at SummerSlam.

The match was expectedly chaotic nonetheless, and McIntyre thrived in that environment to take down Punk in the first televised singles match he has competed in since returning to WWE.

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WWE will head to Cleveland this Saturday to host the 37th annual SummerSlam.

The company's third "Big Four" pay-per-view of 2024 looks to advance some of the year's biggest storylines and potentially crown a new set of champions. Straight away, fans will wonder if this will be the night Gunther transitions from Raw's workhorse to the brand's official flagbearer.

Conversely, this event could signal the end of The Judgment Day as we know it. There is still some uncertainty surrounding Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio following Liv Morgan's attempt to split them up, and tension between Damian Priest and Finn Bálor has been bubbling under the surface since last year.

This could all come to a head this weekend. Meanwhile, LA Knight hopes to secure championship gold in his long-awaited matchup with Logan Paul, and Bron Breakker could cement himself as the next big thing if he unseats Sami Zayn.

There are enough high-stakes matches and pro wrestling drama on this concise seven-bout card to entice the most ardent fans. However, some of the entries on this show have high expectations to live up to.

WWE has been on a hot streak lately, but some of its calculated risks must pay off at The Biggest Party of the Summer.

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CM Punk In-Ring Must Deliver

CM Punk's improbable return to WWE has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. The polarizing figure is still one of the most talked-about stars in pro wrestling, a top merchandise seller, and a consistently entertaining talker.

Amazingly, the company has managed to squeeze so much juice out of his feud with Drew McIntyre even though the Chicago native hasn't wrestled since January. It has been six months since an unforeseen tricep injury halted his chance to headline WrestleMania for the first time and limited a rousing start to his second run with WWE.

As a result, Punk started yet another road to recovery in hopes of ending his career on his terms. In the meantime, Raw and SmackDown have devoted so much time to the six-month build to his showdown with The Scottish Warrior.

Although this move has created a mountain of anticipation and an intricate story for this high-profile matchup, it's hard not to question if it will be worth it. One could argue that this rivalry kept McIntrye running in place until his opponent could compete when he had the momentum to become the next world heavyweight champion in his homeland at Clash at the Castle.

It's also fair to ask if it was wise to bet it all on a star who has unfortunately been riddled with injuries since 2022. This could be one of the biggest matches of Punk's career, and he has so much to prove to himself and his legions of detractors.

We already know that he can still be a provocative onscreen character, but can he still compete on a high level with this era's wealth of talented performers? This match needs to be a slam dunk for him and WWE.

Even more, the outcome and its execution must justify McIntyre's dedication to this feud and Seth Rollins' inclusion as the special guest referee. A strong payoff could propel all three men into WrestleMania season and keep viewers interested, but a dud could make this all feel like a colossal waste of time.

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Cody Rhodes' Persistent Conflict With The Bloodline

Elsewhere, Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against the self-proclaimed Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa.

The newest iteration of The Bloodline continues to produce great segments, and Jacob Fatu has emerged as a breakout star. In addition, Sikoa has grown into his role as its de facto leader and loathsome antagonist on SmackDown. Nevertheless, many fans hoped The American Nightmare would be the brand's focal point as its champion.

Sure, Rhodes remains one of the most popular superstars in the company and a top babyface character in the industry. It was also risky to keep the man who dethroned him so closely linked to his stable and potentially set the Samoan wrestler up to get the loudest reaction of the night at SummerSlam.

After weeks of repetitive beatdown segments, Rhodes needs to come out of this main event looking like a competent champion and a worthy face of the company. It's hard to imagine WWE can stick the landing and properly reintroduce Reigns, but it's far from impossible.

It will be a difficult task for the company, but the possibilities could be worth the risk. Let's hope that both scenarios pay dividends.

One of WWE's biggest events of the year will converge on Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday when SummerSlam is held in front of an expected live crowd of about 50,000.

Many of WWE's top stars will be in action, and six of the most important championships in the company are scheduled to be on the line.

Both of the men's and women's world titles will be up for grabs in addition to the Intercontinental and United States Championships.

However, the most highly anticipated match on the card may be one that doesn't involve any titles at all in the form of CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.

Here is a complete rundown of the SummerSlam card, including a closer look at the matches that have the best chance to steal the show.

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Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland

When: Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: Peacock

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SummerSlam 2024 Card and Projected Match Order

• World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs. Gunther
• United States Championship: Logan Paul (c) vs. LA Knight
• WWE Women's Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Nia Jax
• Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker
• Seth Rollins as Special Guest Referee: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
• Women's World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa

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Top SummerSlam 2024 Matches to Watch

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

CM Punk has been out of action since tearing his triceps in January, but he has still managed to be part of arguably the most compelling storyline and rivalry in pro wrestling.

After Punk tore his triceps in the men's Royal Rumble match, McIntyre took satisfaction in it and said he had prayed for it to happen, which set the wheels in motion for a heated feud.

Over the past several months, Punk and McIntyre have both attacked each other on occasion, and Punk cost McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship multiple times, including in his home country of Scotland at Clash at the Castle.

At Money in the Bank, Punk spoiled McIntyre's Money in the Bank contract cash-in during a world title match between Seth Rollins and Damian Priest, and the fact that Priest was victorious meant Punk's rivalry with Rollins was rekindled as well.

In an effort to maintain control over what is likely to be a hard-hitting and hate-filled match, Rollins was chosen to be the special guest referee.

Punk vs. McIntyre would have the chance to be a special match on its own, but throwing Rollins into the mix as well adds another layer since he has history with both Superstars.

The end result of Punk vs. McIntyre is highly unpredictable as a result, and that should ensure that fans are captivated throughout.

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Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley

If Punk vs. McIntyre is not the top feud in WWE, that distinction likely belongs to Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley.

Morgan and Ripley have a long and checkered history together, dating back to 2022 when Ripley turned on her while they were a tag team.

Ripley later put Morgan on the shelf for months due to injury, and Liv returned the favor by injuring Rhea shortly after WrestleMania 40 and forcing her to vacate the Women's World Championship.

During Ripley's absence, Morgan won the women's title, and she also attempted to infiltrate The Judgment Day and seduce Dominik Mysterio.

Her plan seemed to be working, but Ripley blew it up by returning and instantly making it clear that Liv and the Women's World Championship were firmly in her crosshairs.

Ripley has seemingly gotten Dominik to fall back in line as well, but Dom denouncing Liv on Raw infuriated the champ and seemingly gave her even more resolve to beat Rhea and retain her title.

Dominik figures to almost certainly got involved in the match at SummerSlam, and the possibility of him being involved in a swerve of some sort adds to the intrigue.

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Damian Priest vs. Gunther

While Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa for the WWE Championship is the likely main event of SummerSlam, the World Heavyweight Championship feels like it should be the better match on paper.

Damian Priest has held the world title since successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania, and he has built up a great deal of equity since then by beating the likes of McIntyre, Jey Uso and Seth Rollins.

Meanwhile, Gunther's record 666-day IC title reign ended with a loss to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania, but he rebounded by winning the King of the Ring tournament and earning a world title match at SummerSlam.

All signs point toward Gunther being primed and ready for a World Heavyweight Championship win, and SummerSlam could be his coronation.

However, Priest has gained popularity and appears headed toward becoming a full-fledged babyface, so it remains possible that WWE could want to keep his momentum going.

Whatever the case, Gunther and Priest are two big, skilled and hard-hitting Superstars and they should be able to put on a spectacular match.

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CM Punk returns to the ring Saturday at WWE SummerSlam for a marquee matchup with Drew McIntyre that has been months in the making.

Not only is it the long-awaited blowoff to one of the most intensely personal feuds in WWE, but it's also the biggest contest of Punk's illustrious career.

That may seem like hyperbole given the fact that The Best in the World has battled John Cena in his hometown of Chicago, squared off with The Undertaker at WrestleMania, clashed with Brock Lesnar in a grudge match and is a two-time men's Money in the Bank winner.

It's not, though.

Punk is one of the most respected and popular Superstars in WWE history and one of the faces of this generation of professional wrestling. He has emerged from the independent scene to achieve greatness on a level few imagined possible for someone of his background, and he has done it despite the controversy that tends to follow him.

He is also at a crossroads in his in-ring career.

Since returning to the squared circle in 2021 as a part of the All Elite Wrestling roster, Punk has suffered some hugely significant injuries. First, there was the broken foot when he stage-dived into the fans before tearing his left triceps during his All Out 2022 match with Jon Moxley.

In his first match back with WWE at the 2024 Royal Rumble, he again suffered a torn triceps, this time to the other arm.

it has been a snakebitten few years for Punk that have, fairly or not, left him labeled as injury-prone late in his career. There are questions about his ability to still go as a full-time competitor and about how much time WWE should dedicate to him creatively if he cannot keep up physically between the ropes.

Some of those questions and criticisms are unfair, but they do exist and will only get louder if the 45-year-old delivers anything less than a superb performance on Saturday against one of the consistently great workhorses in WWE, McIntyre.

The match with the Scot is the biggest of Punk's career because he has something to prove, not just to his doubters and critics, but also to himself.

Can he still go without the dark cloud of injury hanging over his head? Can he turn in a performance worthy of the story that is not adversely affected because of his worries about getting hurt?

After months of promo work and major premium live event screwjobs, can Punk back it up in the squared circle with a match that is deserving of all the hard work that went into getting the contest to the ring?

If his previous performances at SummerSlam are any indication, the answer is a resounding "yes."

Punk has been part of three extraordinary matches at the seasonal showpiece, including a TLC match for the World Heavyweight Championship against Jeff Hardy in 2009, an all-timer against John Cena for the WWE Championship in 2011 and, arguably, the most underrated match of the last two decades in 2013 against Brock Lesnar.

The Second City Saint is a big-time performer who saves his best for the grandest stages, against the most formidable opponents. If this were baseball, he would be what players and fans call a "gamer."

No matter how great the individual performance is, though, if the match underwhelms or Punk is again injured, the doubters will get louder.

They will call for his retirement and criticize him for trying to get back in the ring when his body continues to break down. He will find himself at the center of comments calling him "washed" and suggesting he sticks to cutting promos and helping the young stars in NXT.

However, producing a show-stealer with McIntyre will solidify Punk in the pantheon of greats, if he was not already there. Much time and energy has been put into producing this bout and getting it to Cleveland for SummerSlam so it could be one of the biggest on a stacked card.

If Punk shows up and shows out, he passes a major test and again reminds the wrestling world why he is what he says he is: The Best in the World.

Leaning heavily into the new era of WWE creative, Drew McIntyre has rewritten the playbook on heel work in professional wrestling.

McIntyre has done this over many months while steadily building a blood feud for the ages with a not-medically-cleared CM Punk.

But the man ascended to another plane of heel work this past week when he shared a "real" photo of himself with AEW star Jack Perry, including "cry us a river" in the caption:

Drew McIntyre posted a photo with Jack Perry 😭 pic.twitter.com/aYvSPdOLv3

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) July 25, 2024

For those out of the loop, a quick summation of lore here: Perry was the wrestler involved in Punk's second major backstage altercation in AEW, which ultimately led to his departure. Perry saying something to the effect of the title of a hit Justin Timberlake song (Cry Me a River) into the camera is what sparked it all.

So…McIntyre, a WWE Superstar who was speculated as a possible AEW signing if he hit free agency, linking up with an AEW star is one thing—snapping a photo with an AEW wrestler who played a hand in all of the real-life drama is a stunning blurring of the lines.

To top it all off, McIntyre eventually deleted the tweet and has apparently deactivated his social media accounts in the past, so that could be coming, too.

Real? Did WWE and/or AEW get mad about it and tell him to yank it? Or are all involved getting a hearty chuckle about the whole thing behind the scenes while fans get worked?

Either way, it's the magnum opus for McIntyre, whose journey on this path started with that infamous "I prayed for this, and it happened" after Punk announced his serious injury, which cost him a WrestleMania match on his comeback tour.

This is an injury that, for the record, McIntyre himself seemed to cause in the Royal Rumble. Fans have always speculated that the two just didn't like each other very much in real life–just like with Seth Rollins and Punk.

Since then, McIntyre has been in expert troll mode, and examples abound. He's slammed Punk's merchandise rollout, to name the one of many recent shots.

A famous one:

pic.twitter.com/9FZJQYlkgu

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) January 30, 2024

Yes, by the way, the man's profile picture is currently a bloodied Punk after a backstage beatdown, too.

This has played into his character, too, as he's made several miscues in spots where he used to be strategic, such as making it clear he would cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase and later getting suspended for his post-PLE actions.

Punk has gotten him, too. He cost McIntyre a title at Mania, then at Clash at the Castle in Scotland, and then his briefcase, spoiling the cash-in attempt. He's mostly won the cat-and-mouse game on weekly shows when he appears, too.

I have my own emoji, #DrewMcIntyre

So does #CMPunk 🤡💩

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) April 1, 2024

This is another point–McIntyre's strong year-round heel work has enabled Punk to remain on weekly programming in batches that make sense. In the past, injured stars would just disappear until a surprise return. The work McIntyre has put into building up this feud and Punk himself means this feud doesn't even suffer from one-half of it being on the shelf with an injury.

There is a possible caveat to all of this. One wouldn't be wrong to suggest that perhaps McIntyre wouldn't have caught fire like this if Punk had remained healthy. But without the Best in the World actually medically cleared for a match, he's had to get creative on a weekly and monthly basis to drag this thing out.

Of course, it helps that we're talking about Punk. When it comes to in-ring psychology, mic and promo work and sheer understanding of the medium, there are few doing it like him. Talk about a perfect dance partner.

You buy all the crap he spews.
You trust him when all he’s done is betray your trust.
I don’t like to call people stupid.
But if you’re a CM Punk fan you’re stupid. pic.twitter.com/VnHMZc7kRB

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) May 14, 2024

Still, McIntyre deserves his flowers. He's gone from seemingly having one foot out the door and headed for AEW after never getting his moment despite carrying WWE through the pandemic era to being one-half of what could be the best feud of the decade or more.

Heck, McIntyre's gone from a fairly generic WWE trope–a big guy with a mean streak but liked by fans, predictable promos, etc.—to a more modern-feeling, medium-defining presence.

McIntyre, more than most, clearly thrives in this new WWE creative that gives talent more wiggle room to be themselves and steer story and characters where they see fit. He's become the ultimate troll, which is a compliment, is easily the Hater of the Year with no competition and is now trailblazing the way for modern heel work while crafting pro wrestling's hottest feud in ages.