CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre Set for WWE SummerSlam with Seth Rollins as Guest Ref
Jul 23, 2024
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 29: CM Punk drops a Pipe Bomb at T-Mobile Center on April 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
CM Punk announced on this week's episode of Monday Night Raw that he has been cleared to wrestle after suffering a torn triceps at Royal Rumble in January.
Punk called out Drew McIntyre and attempted to fight him, but Raw general manager Adam Pearce announced that the two of them would face each other at the SummerSlam premium live event on Aug. 3. Pearce added that any contact between Punk and McIntyre before the event would result in the cancellation of the match. To make things even more interesting, Seth Rollins was announced as the special guest referee.
Punk recently made his presence felt in a big way at Clash at the Castle in June, as he cost McIntyre the chance to win the World Heavyweight Championship in his home country of Scotland.
While the referee was down and out, McIntyre covered Damian Priest, prompting another ref to run down to the ring. However, the official turned out to be Punk, who stopped counting at two and then hit Drew with a low blow, which allowed Priest to retain.
Just a few weeks later, McIntyre won the men's Money in the Bank ladder match at the Money in the Bank premium live event, and he attempted to cash in during the World Heavyweight Championship match between Priest and Rollins.
McIntyre perhaps wasn't expecting Punk to be there since he beat his rival to a bloody pulp on SmackDown a few weeks earlier, but Punk showed up nonetheless and cost McIntyre his Money in the Bank contract.
The rivalry between Punk and McIntyre has been ongoing since before Royal Rumble when McIntyre expressed his dislike for "The Best in the World" following his return to WWE in November.
After it was announced that Punk tore his triceps in the men's Royal Rumble match and would not be able to compete at WrestleMania 40, McIntyre reveled in his misfortune, claiming that he prayed for Punk to get injured.
That proved to be a massive mistake on his part, as Punk ruined McIntyre's WrestleMania moment in retaliation.
After McIntyre beat Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship on the Grandest Stage of Them All, Drew decided to taunt Punk, who was on commentary. Despite his injury, Punk attacked McIntyre, which allowed Priest to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and beat The Scottish Warrior for the title.
In the weeks that followed, McIntyre and Punk traded verbal barbs, but there was no significant physicality between them until Clash at the Castle when Punk kicked Drew below the belt and cost him his title match.
At that point, it seemed obvious that WWE was going full steam ahead toward a Punk vs. McIntyre match, and the only question was when Punk would be cleared to compete.
With Punk announcing that he has been medically cleared, fans will surely be hyped to see him finally return to the ring to take on McIntyre at SummerSlam in August.
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Joe Hendry Eyes John Cena; WWE Rumors on Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin & SummerSlam Card
Jul 19, 2024
TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 6: John Cena makes his way to the ring during Money in the Bank at Scotiabank Arena on July 6, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Hendry Believes He Will Wrestle Cena
Joe Hendry has been a key figure in the working relationship between NXT and TNA in recent weeks, but he is setting his sights even higher in the WWE pecking order.
Speaking recently to pro wrestling reporter Denise Salcedo (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), Hendry expressed his belief that he will have a match against WWE legend John Cena before he retires at the end of next year:
Hendry went on to explain that facing Cena in a match would be of great importance to him since Cena called him and had a conversation with him when he was unable to attend a wrestling event at the age of 15.
Hendry said his friend had a VIP ticket to the show, and when Cena was informed that Hendry had to miss the event, Cena took it upon himself to call Hendry:
"John Cena was the first pro wrestler I ever talked to, so for me to be one of his final matches would mean a lot. To me, that is a demonstration of how to treat your fans and how valuable a moment can be for people. I do think it had a very positive effect on me and it showed me what this business is actually all about."
Now, Hendry is one of the most viral stars in wrestling, and the 36-year-old from Scotland is getting regularly featured on WWE programming.
Over the past several weeks, TNA and NXT have been doing a talent exchange, and it has allowed Hendry to show up on NXT three times, including this week.
Hendry is hugely over with the WWE audience already despite being based in a smaller company in TNA, which suggests he has the momentum needed to potentially be a big star in WWE at some point.
Cena announced at Money in the Bank that 2025 will be his final year as an active in-ring competitor, and he noted that he will make between 30 and 40 appearances during the year as part of his retirement tour.
That suggests Cena will have several matches before stepping away from the squared circle for good, but there will likely be plenty of competition to earn a match against the 16-time world champion.
Hendry has yet to appear on a WWE main roster show, so he has an uphill climb ahead of him, but because of how big of a fan favorite he already is, a match against Cena next year can't be completely ruled out.
WWE Reportedly Expected to Sign Motor City Machine Guns
One of the top tag teams of the past 20 years is reportedly set to sign a contract with WWE.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestle Ops), the Motor City Machine Guns are "expected" to join the company.
Comprised of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley, the Motor City Machine Guns first teamed together in Japan in 2006, but they truly became beloved by pro wrestling fans during their stint in TNA, which began in 2007.
The Motor City Machine Guns went on to become three-time TNA world tag team champions, and they competed in some of the best tag team matches of the past two decades during that time.
They also held New Japan Pro-Wrestling's IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships and Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, and the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championships.
Sabin and Shelley stopped teaming for a time in 2012, but they both went on to enjoy success as singles wrestlers, holding the TNA Heavyweight Championship one time each.
The Motor City Machine Guns reunited in ROH from 2016 to 2018, and they reformed in TNA in 2020 as well.
When it became clear recently that Sabin and Shelley were about to become free agents, there was plenty of speculation regarding where they would land.
AEW was considered a strong contender, but the chance to prove their worth as a team in WWE may have been too much to pass up.
Although both Sabin and Shelley are over the age of 40, a brief stint in NXT to bring along some of WWE's younger tag teams could be possible before making the move to the main roster and facing established teams such as DIY, New Day and The Street Profits.
WWE Reportedly Planning Two Big Additions to SummerSlam Card
A stacked card has already been announced for SummerSlam, headlined by a Women's World Championship match between Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, and a WWE title match between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa, but more major bouts are reportedly set to be announced soon.
According to Meltzer (h/t WrestleTalk), one of the top matches on the card is slated to have a special guest referee, and while it isn't yet clear which match that will be, Meltzer speculated Seth Rollins may be the referee for CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.
WWE has yet to announce that Punk has been medically cleared from the torn triceps he suffered in January, but he has gotten physical with McIntyre on numerous occasions, and it is widely expected that he will be good to go on Aug. 3.
Punk screwed over McIntyre during his attempted Money in the Bank contract cash-in at the Money in the Bank premium live event, but he also cost Rollins, as Damian Priest retained the world heavyweight title amid the chaos.
Rollins was in a heated feud with Punk before he got injured, and now that their issues are bubbling up again, Rollins would be the perfect special guest ref choice.
Meltzer (h/t WrestleTalk) also reported that current plans call for intercontinental champion Sami Zayn to face off with Bron Breakker in a one-on-one rematch at SummerSlam.
Zayn beat Breakker to retain the title at Money in the Bank, but Breakker made it clear in the weeks since then that he wants another shot.
Ilja Dragunov has also gotten involved, and he was granted a title match this week on Raw, but Breakker got involved, resulting in a disqualification.
Despite Dragunov now being part of the storyline, Meltzer noted that as of this week, the plan was still to run back Zayn vs. Breakker at SummerSlam rather than a Triple Threat.
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Mami was back and things became interesting for women's world champion Liv Morgan, Dominik Mysterio, and the rest of The Judgment Day Monday night on WWE Raw.ā¦
WWE Rumors on Wyatt Sicks Schedule, Natalya's Contract and SummerSlam 2024 Match Card
Jul 15, 2024
HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 3: Natalya enters the ring during Monday Night RAW at Giant Center on June 3, 2024 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
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Wyatt Sicks Aligned Exclusively with Raw
The Wyatt Sicks have become a regular feature on Raw, and that will remain the case moving forward. Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp (via Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News) reported the members of the faction "are considered to be RAW talents for right now."
That doesn't come as a big surprise.
WWE has leaned into treating the Wyatt Sicks like chaos agents, having them seemingly disrupt multiple episodes of The Pat McAfee Show in June. Their portrayal on WWE programming has been relatively consistent, though.
The Wyatt Sicks have shared their disconcerting VHS tapes on Raw while going out of their way to zero in on a Raw superstar, Chad Gable.
Sapp's report puts any lingering uncertainty to bed. For now, Gable appears to be the sole source of the Wyatt Sicks' ire. The rest of the Raw roster is left to wonder whether they might be targeted next.
Inside Natalya's Contract Negotiations with WWE
Natalya won't be hitting the wrestling free-agent ranks after all. The two-time women's champion re-signed with WWE, according to multiple reports.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Wrestling Inc's Sam Palmer) reported on May 31 that Natalya's contract was inching toward its expiration date with no new deal in place.
Sapp reported (via H Jenkins of Ringside News) "that the agreement was finalized in late June, just before her previous contract expired. While she wasn't present at WWE Raw last week, sources indicated the deal had already been secured by then. Since re-signing, she hasn't appeared at any WWE events."
The 42-year-old hasn't been a major player on the main roster across 2024. Even after getting drafted to Raw in April, she has bounced between that show and NXT. Her last in-ring appearance was on the June 4 episode of NXT.
Natalya's continued absence only added to the uncertainty about her future. Given her vast experience in the business, she would've been able to land on her feet at any number of other promotions if she was ready for something new.
Instead, the Queen of Harts will stay right where she has been since 2007.
Tentative SummerSlam Card Reported
WWE has already telegraphed its biggest matches for SummerSlam and now fans may have a better picture for how the Aug. 3 event will shake out. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via WrestleTalk) listed off seven matches that are "on the schedule."
The matches currently confirmed as "on the schedule" for WWE SummerSlam:
- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa - Undisputed WWE Championship
- Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley - Women's World Championship
- CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre ("comes down to whether Punk is cleared, but atā¦ pic.twitter.com/Ho3plv3SPj
Two of those are locks. Gunther and Nia Jax secured world title shots by virtue of respectively winning the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments in May. As a result, they're on collision courses with Damian Priest and Bayley.
For the main event, a singles bout between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa is the logical next step in Rhodes' long-running feud with The Bloodline. A six-man tag between The Bloodline and the trio of Rhodes, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens headlined Money in the Bank. Absent the return of Roman Reigns to provide something different, it wouldn't make a lot of sense to basically run that back at SummerSlam.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre is the biggest wild card.
All signs are pointing toward a confrontation between these two, but it's still unclear whether Punk has been cleared to compete again. His right elbow remained wrapped up when he showed up at Money in the Bank to spoil McIntyre's MITB briefcase cash-in.
Punk has been out of action since January due to a torn triceps. The Straight-Edge Superstar set a recovery timeline of six to eight months, so early August would be right in the middle of that window.
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WWE Hot Take: Fickle Fans Are Missing the Big Picture With Triple H Era
Chris Roling
Jul 13, 2024
It took a matter of seconds after Money in the Bank's ending to see fans lash out at WWE over CM Punk spoiling Drew McIntyre's cash-in attempt on Damian Priest on the very same night he won the briefcase.
A man named Daniel Bryan once infamously called fans "fickle," though, and it sure feels appropriate here.
Those fans most upset are also most likely to still miss the big picture with this new era of Triple H booking that has led to a golden eraāit's all about the long-form storytelling.
So much so, one could argue a gimmick like the Moeny in the Bank briefcase could almost classify as a dinosaur.
That's especially the case this year on the men's side of things. WWE didn't spend two years building up Cody Rhodes' story to have him lose the title on a cash-in attempt from anybody else on the roster. This is especially true when another feud with Roman Reigns, or The Bloodline, or even The Rock are possible still, to name a few options.
And for those who want to argue in favor of the briefcase winner cashing in on the Raw champion, fine, but there's a big problemāGunther. Those fans who want to see a briefcase winner go after the Raw title probably align with those who want to see Gunther win a big one to the point the overlap is a perfect circle.
Which is to say nobody is cashing in on Gunther and winning when he finally wins a big title. Not McIntyre, not Seth Rollins, not anybody else. He's headed for a long-term story as champion too, which in turn, elevates those so-called mid-card titles that haven't felt so mid during this era, either. Overcoming champions just isn't so easy anymore.
Which is to also say that, 10 months from now or whatever it turned out to be, fans would have complained anyway that the would-be cash-in failed. That the briefcase was wasted on a failed attempt that didn't build somebody up.
That's wild to consider given what fans just went through with Priest himself. Despite having the most dominant non-Bloodline stable at his back and Shinsuke Nakamura basically breaking Rollins' back in a storyline, Priest made constant excuses or failed attempts to win the title for months and it made him look like a goofball.
Those same upset fans, when asked, probably can't name the last time a MITB briefcase was used well on the men's side, anyway. Big E's brief run? Austin Theory not cashing-in on a top title? Otis losing his briefcase?
This year's briefcase usage was just smart on many fronts. A McIntyre that isn't strategic but blinded by rage and desiring instant gratification gambled his opportunity on the same night he won it and lost. Punk, blurring the lines between real and fake, leaned into the feud and remained as strategic as ever while again ruining the chances of the man who legitimately injured him last year.
In the process, Punk screwed Rollins, who has a very public, well-known beef with Punk. So that feud is in the pipeline, too, whenever WWE feels like making it happen. This could, by the way, also dominate the Raw title scene when Gunther isn't holding the strap, so there wasn't exactly room for a briefcase to be floating around in the background.
If the end result of the briefcase being used properly as a storytelling tool is a near-SummerSlam main event for perhaps the best feud in pro wrestling right now (that hasn't even had a match yet!), then it's a win. If its usage also leads to Punk and Rollins finally getting to main event a 'Mania, even better.
And if it's any consolation, WWE figures to use a briefcase like the upset fans desireāby building Tiffany Stratton up over the long-term in the women's division.
Maybe classifying some fans as "fickle" isn't totally fair. Like anything on the internet, fans upset about something are more likely to take to social media and the like with complaints, while the happy fans, well, enjoy what they're seeing.
But WWE dismissing the men's briefcase, at least this year, removes a possibly year-long problem from the equation and gives the top title scenes and overall top feud room to breathe.
The writing, as they say, was already on the wall. It's fresh ink, but it's thereāthe picture now is about long-form storytelling and character work, with the briefcase sacrificed for something that can rival Bloodline levels of fan investment.
While the Triple H era hasn't been infallible by any means, it beats the tar out of what preceded it. Odds are, especially with Punk, McIntyre and Rollins involved, even the most disgruntled of fans will come around eventually and enjoy the possible historic feud about to unfold.
WWE Rumors on CM Punk Injury, Damian Priest Botch; Speculation on John Cena Title Win
Jul 8, 2024
TORONTO, CANADA - JULY 6: CM Punk shows up during Money in the Bank at Scotiabank Arena on July 6, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
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Punk vs. McIntyre Reportedly Likely for SummerSlam
CM Punk foiled Drew McIntyre's plans once again at Money in the Bank on Saturday night in what may have been a SummerSlam precursor.
According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestler Observer Radio (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Punk vs. McIntyre is "not 100 percent" for SummerSlam, but sources indicated it is "probable."
Meltzer added that people within WWE are "pretty confident" Punk vs. McIntyre will be able to happen next month at SummerSlam even though it isn't yet locked in.
At Money in the Bank, McIntyre won the men's Money in the Bank ladder match and attempted to cash in his contract during the World Heavyweight Championship match between Damian Priest and Seth Rollins.
However, Punk interfered by attacking McIntyre and hitting him with a steel chair and the title belt. That allowed Priest to win and retain, and it squandered McIntyre's Money in the Bank contract.
Punk and McIntyre have been at odds since the start of the year when McIntyre reveled in Punk tearing his triceps in the Royal Rumble and being unable to compete at WrestleMania 40.
That led to Punk costing McIntyre the world title at both WrestleMania and Clash at the Castle, although McIntyre did get some revenge on a recent episode of SmackDown by beating Punk to a bloody pulp.
Punk got one over on McIntyre again at Money in the Bank, though, and provided he is cleared for in-ring competition in the coming weeks, all signs point toward them doing battle in one of the top matches at SummerSlam.
Details Surrounding Pin Botch During Priest vs. Rollins
One of the main talking points coming out of Money in the Bank was an awkward moment during the World Heavyweight Championship match between Damian Priest and Seth Rollins.
At one point, Rollins hit Priest with a Falcon Arrow, but Priest never kicked out. Even so, the referee did not count to three, so the match continued.
Drew McIntyre came down the ramp seconds later and cashed in the Money in the Bank contract he won earlier in the night, making it a Triple Threat. However, CM Punk interfered, and Priest pinned McIntyre to retain the title.
According to Meltzer (h/t Mukherjee), sources with knowledge of the situation said Priest "just didn't kick out."
While he didn't receive much information other than that, Meltzer suggested that a timing issue may have been to blame for the miscue, as it is possible McIntyre's music was supposed to hit during the count.
His music didn't hit until after the count, though, which may have messed up the timing and resulted in Priest not kicking out.
Meltzer also addressed speculation that Priest didn't kick out due to an injury, but he could not confirm that.
Priest was able to finish and win the match, and Triple H said during the post-show press conference that nobody suffered any significant injuries.
Although the botch unfortunately overshadowed the match to some degree, Priest and Rollins still put on an entertaining bout, and the storyline involving McIntyre, Punk and Rollins took a significant step forward.
WWE May Consider Cena Breaking World Title Record
John Cena announced Saturday at Money in the Bank that 2025 will be his final year as an active WWE in-ring wrestler, which led to plenty of speculation and fantasy booking for how his retirement tour will take shape.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WrestleTalk), Meltzer discussed the possibility of Cena winning a world title one more time in order to become the most-decorated champion in WWE history.
Currently, Cena and Ric Flair are tied for the most career world title reigns with 16. Meltzer noted that WWE "may want" Cena to break the tie so the company can "market him as the greatest of all time" moving forward.
Meltzer also noted that he got the "impression" Cena may win either the 2025 men's Royal Rumble match or the men's Elimination Chamber match to earn a world title match at WrestleMania 41.
Cena made it clear that next year's Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania will all be his last, but he also said his career won't end at WrestleMania.
The legendary Superstar noted in a post-show press conference that he intends to work between 30 and 40 dates of the course of the entire year.
With Cena working a semi-regular schedule compared to the part-time schedule he has worked in recent years, another world title reign can't be ruled out.
Winning either the WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania seems entirely possible considering he will continue wrestling for several months after that.
Cena doesn't need another world title reign to cement everything he has already accomplished during his career, but given his status as one of the all-time greats and one of the most popular Superstars in WWE history, there is likely a good chance that WWE will give Cena that distinction.
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Drew McIntyre Suspended Indefinitely amid CM Punk Feud After WWE Money in the Bank
Jul 7, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 24: Drew McIntyre speaks while wearing CM Punk's bracelet during Monday Night RAW at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Drew McIntyre's actions during the Money in the Bank post-show on Saturday night resulted in a suspension.
Raw general manager Adam Pearce announced on X that McIntyre has been indefinitely suspended.
McIntyre won the men's Money in the Bank match earlier in the night and cashed in his briefcase during the Damian Priest-Seth Rollins bout. CM Punk wound up getting involved, costing the Scottish Warrior the title for the third time since WrestleMania.
During the post-show, McIntyre crashed the set and shoved multiple officials before elbowing Pearce in the head.
The feud between McIntyre and Punk has been going on since the Royal Rumble when McIntyre took credit for the legit injury suffered by the Best in the World.
McIntyre has continued to make fun of Punk in his promos for several months. Punk has been able to get revenge by preventing his adversary from winning the world title.
The first time Punk screwed McIntyre was at WrestleMania. McIntyre did technically beat Seth Rollins to win the title, but his reign only lasted a few minutes because he got in Punk's face at the announce desk. Punk beat him up using his arm brace, allowing Priest to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase to steal the championship.
In a rematch between Priest and McIntyre at Clash at the Castle: Scotland on June 15, Punk came to the ring dressed as a referee and stopped his count at two before delivering a low blow to McIntyre.
Punk's attack at Money in the Bank came two weeks after he was taken out by McIntyre in a backstage ambush on Friday Night SmackDown in Chicago on June 21.
Punk's actions at Money in the Bank added a new wrinkle to the feud because Rollins was also screwed out of the title and made it known he was unhappy Punk interfered.
It's still unclear if Punk has been medically cleared to wrestle after undergoing triceps surgery in February. If he hasāor will within the next few weeksāthe long-awaited match between Punk and McIntyre could be set for SummerSlam on Aug. 3.
Of course, this assumes McIntyre's suspension will be lifted by that point. He did quit on the June 17 episode of Raw and was back four days later on SmackDown to unleash his attack on Punk, so it's a safe bet he will be reinstated within the next four weeks.
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WWE Money in the Bank is officially in the books, which means SummerSlam is just four weeks away. The Biggest Party of the Summer will emanate from Clevelandā¦
Quality Storytelling for CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre Sets WWE Apart
Chris Roling
Jul 7, 2024
At the 2024 edition of Money in the Bank on Saturday night, the CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre saga ensnared Seth Rollins and officially joined the ranks of the Bloodline and Judgment Day as masterful storytelling.
Impressively, it continues to do so without an official match for either feud.
At Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Punk returned from a presumed medical sidelining after suffering a beatdown at the hands of McIntyre on weekly programming and interfered in the World Heavyweight Championship match.
It wasn't just any regular old interference, though. McIntyre just so happened to be cashing in the Money in the Bank contract he won in the ladder match that opened the show while champion Damian Priest and Rollins were on their last legs.
Long story short, Priest wound up retaining with Rollins out and Punk getting major revenge by beating down McIntyre.
The whole ordeal was a layered stroke of storytelling genius that fans don't usually see outside of The Bloodline and The Judgment Day. And this time, it's not just as simple as making the Punk-McIntyre feud all the more personal.
No, this time it helped WWE weave around the annual problem that is the Money in the Bank briefcase.
The item hasn't often been used to boost up-and-coming Superstars. More often than not, it has been a hindrance (even Priest looked bad often over the last year for not cashing-in on an injured Rollins) that the company clearly had issues booking around, especially with the emphasis on long-form storytelling around lengthy title reigns.
So just like that, the briefcase goes poof on the same night it's earned, enriches the beef between two of the top Superstars and guarantees the silly green thing won't hinder Priest's title or awkwardly lurk in the background of the Cody Rhodes-Bloodline stuff.
Then there's the Rollins factor. Even the most casual of fans understand that there has, at least in the past, been some real beef between him and Punk.
To highlight a few big points, Rollins' public bashing of Punk even when The Best in the World wasn't in WWE said quite a bit, as did his blurred-lines anger when Punk returned to the company at Survivor Series last November.
Saturday brought another rendition of the latter, with Punk officially in Rollins' sights for the first time in a feud sense after losing his chance at the title because of the interference. Like his animated reaction at Survivor Series, it was only commentator Corey Graves getting between the two.
Meaning, this isn't just angling toward Punk-McIntyre. Now, it's very clear Rollins will get a shot at his nemesis, too. And one has to think it will eventually loop in that title around Priest's waist, giving fans perhaps the best main event scene around the non-Roman Reigns or Rhodes title to date.
All of this isn't meant to undersell the impact on the McIntyre angle, though. In fact, this felt unexpected because WWE had already gone to such great lengths to build up the personal feud.
We're hardly just removed from Punk costing McIntyre a title win in front of a home Scottish crowd, so the fact that he's now taking away his cash-in attempt is, well, borderline psychopathic in its levels of hatred (and entertaining as it gets for fans).
And just to reiterate, this has all unfolded between these two while Punk hasn't been medically cleared. One could argue it's the best-ever modern feud to not even feature a match. One really couldn't blame fans for feeling like it's the outright best story and feud going in pro wrestling as a whole right now.
This measured storytelling, on paper, could mean a bloody payoff between Punk and McIntyre that headlines SummerSlam outright. Then, Punk and Rollins blaze a personal, line-blurring path to WrestleMania 41 that might just include a championshipāand a main event both guys never got this year.
Overall, Saturday night was another story beat for the crowning achievement of the Triple H era. Progressing not one, but two feuds at once while eliminating an annual problem in a jaw-dropping way is a chef's kiss moment for those at the controls.
And it's the fans who will keep winning courtesy of moments like these, with Punk-McIntyre and Punk-Rollins boasting all-timer potential if the character and story elements keep progressing like this.
Updated 2024 WWE Money in the Bank Card and Predictions for Match Order
Jul 5, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 24: Seth Rollins and Damian Priest speak during Monday Night RAW at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 24, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
Two Superstars will have their career trajectories changed forever when they win the Money in the Bank ladder matches at the Money in the Bank premium live event on Saturday.
The MITB card is highlight by both a men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches with the respective winners earning a future world title opportunity at a time and place of their choosing.
A few other significant matches will also be contested north of the border, including a World Heavyweight Championship bout that will see Damian Priest put the title on the line against Seth Rollins in the latter's first match since WrestleMania 40.
Here is a complete look at the Money in the Bank card and projected match order, along with further analysis on the top bouts fans won't want to miss.
Where: Scotiabank Arena in Toronto
When: Saturday, July 6 at 7 p.m. ET
Watch: Peacock
Money in the Bank 2024 Card and Projected Match Order
Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Iyo Sky vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi vs. Zoey Stark
Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Bron Breakker
Six-Man Tag Team: Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu and/or Tonga Loa)
Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Jey Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade vs. Chad Gable vs. LA Knight vs. Drew McIntyre
World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest (c) vs. Seth Rollins
Top Money in the Bank 2024 Matches to Watch
Men's MITB Ladder Match
Naturally, much of the focus tends to be on the Money in the Bank ladder matches when it comes to the Money in the Bank premium live event, and it can be argued that most of the intrigue is surrounding the men's match this year.
The field in the men's MITB ladder match is absolutely stacked, and a legitimate case can be made for any of the six Superstars winning.
Jey Uso and Dre McIntyre are arguably the co-favorites due to their star power and how they have been presented, but it is easy to envision both of them falling short.
Chad Gable has been pushed as a top heel on Raw recently, LA Knight is one of WWE's most popular babyface, Carmelo Hayes is a strong heel on the rise and Andrade is someone who could receive a huge boost with his first major singles win since returning to the company.
Unpredictability is one of the best parts of a Money in the Bank ladder match, and the men's bout has it in spades this year.
Women's MITB Ladder Match
It can be argued that the women's Money in the Bank ladder match feels easier to call than the men's match this year, but few things are ever certain when it comes to MITB.
On the surface, Tiffany Stratton appears to be the clear favorite. She consistently gets fan reactions whenever she appears, and she is the total package in terms of character, look and in-ring ability.
Even so, the other five women in the match can make a strong case for themselves as well, and since they're all highly athletic, they have a chance to put on one of the best women's MITB matches ever.
Lyra Valkyria and Zoey Stark are talented wrestlers in search of their first main roster titles, Naomi is an accomplished veteran who wants to return to the top of the division, Iyo Sky is fresh off a recent Women's Championship reign and Chelsea Green is one of the best heels in WWE, who could benefit greatly from the briefcase.
Like the men's match, any of the performers in the women's MITB match could make for a great Ms. Money in the Bank if given the opportunity.
Damian Priest vs. Seth Rollins
Arguably the most important match on the entire Money in the Bank card will see Damian Priest put the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Seth Rollins.
Priest has been world champ since cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre after McIntyre beat Rollins at WrestleMania 40, and Seth arguably represents his toughest test yet.
Rollins returned from a knee injury much sooner than most expected, and Priest was immediately open to giving him a title shot given that he held the World Heavyweight Championship for nearly a year leading up to WrestleMania.
Aside from the fact that Priest vs. Rollins should be a great match from an in-ring perspective, there is additional intrigue surrounding the bout since Priest agreed to leave The Judgment Day if he loses.
Since Priest and Judgment Day stablemate Finn BƔlor haven't been on the same page lately, there is some belief that BƔlor could either purposely or inadvertently cost Priest the match and the title.
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