CM Punk

CM Punk evened things up in his rivalry with Drew McIntyre at WWE Bash in Berlin on Saturday, beating The Scottish Warrior in a strap match.

McIntyre blindsided Punk before the contest started and dominated for much of it as a result, but The Best in the World shifted the momentum in his favor and hit the Scot with the GTS multiple times en route to touching all four turnbuckles and winning the match.

Perhaps most importantly for Punk, he also took back the bracelet bearing his wife and dog's names from McIntyre.

WHAT A MOMENT!#WWEBash pic.twitter.com/ZmeSegMJAs

— WWE (@WWE) August 31, 2024

Saturday's bout was a long time coming, as the two men have been at odds since shortly after Punk returned to WWE in November last year at Survivor Series.

Punk tore his triceps during the men's Royal Rumble match in January, which rendered him unable to compete at WrestleMania 40. McIntyre reveled in that fact, and his rival vowed to eventually get revenge.

He got some measure of it at WrestleMania when he served as a guest commentator for the World Heavyweight Championship match between McIntyre and Seth Rollins. After winning, the Scot taunted Punk, so Punk attacked him, and Damian Priest took advantage by successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank contract.

Punk also screwed over McIntyre at Clash at the Castle in his home country of Scotland, posing as a referee and hitting the two-time WWE champion with a low blow, which allowed Priest to retain the world title.

McIntyre got some payback by beating Punk to a bloody pulp and stealing the previously mentioned bracelet, and that further fueled The Second City Saint's desire to make the Scot's life miserable.

When McIntyre tried to cash in his Money in the Bank contract during a world title match between Priest and Seth Rollins at the same-titled premium live event, Punk emerged and cost The Scottish Warrior once again.

All of that led to a grudge match between Punk and McIntyre at SummerSlam once the former was cleared to compete, and it was made even more compelling by the presence of Rollins as special guest referee.

Punk had his opportunities to win, but he got distracted by McIntyre and then Rollins being in possession of the bracelet, and the Scot took advantage to win.

McIntyre suggested after SummerSlam that he was ready to move on from Punk, but The Best in the World insisted on another match, and he pressed the issue by attacking the Scot with a strap, which is how Saturday's stipulation came into play.

With Punk getting his win back against McIntyre at Bash in Berlin, it stands to reason that a rubber match could be in the offing in the near future.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.

For the first time in WWE history, a premium live event will take place in Germany this weekend.

Bash in Berlin will emanate from Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday, and it will feature many of the top stars WWE has to offer in several high-stakes matches.

The main attraction will arguably be world heavyweight champion Gunther, who will get the chance to wrestle close to his home country of Austria against bona fide WWE legend Randy Orton.

Other major bouts include Cody Rhodes defending the undisputed WWE Championship against his close friend Kevin Owens, and CM Punk and Drew McIntyre continuing their heated rivalry in a strap match.

Here is everything you need to know about Bash in Berlin, including a full look at the card and predictions for the match order.

---

Where: Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany

When: Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: Peacock

---

WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 Card and Projected Match Order

• Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest vs. Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio
• Strap Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
• WWE Women's Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
• World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton

---

Top Bash in Berlin Matches to Watch

Gunther vs. Randy Orton

Gunther won his first world title in WWE by beating Damian Priest at SummerSlam, and it wasn't long before his first challenger was determined.

Randy Orton lost to Gunther in the King of the Ring finals back in May, but it wasn't without controversy, as Orton's shoulder was clearly up during the pinfall.

WWE head of creative Triple H said at the time that he would run it back when the time was right, and that time came once The Ring General won the World Heavyweight Championship.

Orton was granted a world heavyweight title opportunity as restitution for what happened at King and Queen of the Ring, and he vowed to beat Gunther and become a 15-time world champion.

While the in-ring acumen of Gunther and Orton is rarely questioned, they both did an excellent on the mic during the build toward their match, which added even more excitement.

Gunther and Orton showed back in May that they have plenty of in-ring chemistry, and there is plenty of reason to believe they will raise the bar and put on an even better showing at Bash in Berlin.

---

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

The long-running feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre will see another chapter written at Bash in Berlin when they clash in a strap match.

The issues between Punk and McIntyre date back to late last year, and they were intensified when McIntyre took great joy in Punk getting injured during the men's Royal Rumble match.

Punk subsequently screwed McIntyre out of the world title on multiple occasions, including at WrestleMania 40 and in his home country of Scotland at Clash at the Castle.

In return, McIntyre brutally attacked Punk at one point and stole a bracelet that bears the names of his wife and dog, and Punk has been on a mission to get it back ever since.

That obsession cost Punk dearly at SummerSlam, as he was more worried about the bracelet than finishing off McIntyre, and The Scottish Warrior took advantage by scoring the victory over their Punk.

With things between them being far from resolved, they will do battle once again at Bash in Berlin, and it will be in a match type that could yield bloody results.

---

Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest vs. Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio

One of the hottest storylines in pro wrestling will be featured at Bash in Berlin when Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest team up to face Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio in a mixed tag team match.

Ripley and Priest were long the pillars of The Judgment Day, but it all came crashing down at SummerSlam when Dominik turned his back on Rhea and helped Liv beat her to retain the Women's World Championship.

Then, during Priest's World Heavyweight Championship defense against Gunther, Finn Bálor turned on him, marking a new era in The Judgment Day.

Ripley has made it clear that she intends to get revenge on Dom and Liv, and while Priest wants to get his hands on Bálor, he first decided to lend his support to his Terror Twins partner.

While Ripley and Priest are the heavy favorites at Bash in Berlin should everything be on the straight and narrow, the possibility of The Judgment Day interfering could give Dominik and Liv a shot.

Regardless of the result, fans are eagerly anticipating the possibility of Rhea taking the fight to Dominik and making him pay for his actions.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

---

CM Punk Taunts Stone Cold, Teases Dream Match

For years, WWE fans fantasy-booked a match between CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin. The idea looked dead and buried after Punk's abrupt exit from WWE in 2014 and with Austin only getting older.

Punk hasn't given up, though.

At Fanatics Fest on Saturday, the Straight-Edge Superstar goaded Austin a bit by saying "his six-shooters might be buried in the Nevada desert" but that he's ready and waiting if the Hall of Famer wants to step in the ring again.

CM Punk is open to a match with Stone Cold Steve Austin 👀 pic.twitter.com/o7tTNjLCMD

— Teffo (@Teffo_01) August 17, 2024

Austin, for his part, fanned the flames in February when he told ESPN's Marc Raimondi he wasn't ruling out having one more match and offered praise of Punk.

"I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me — so, as long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner," he said. "I consider him a great friend, a great guy and a great wrestler who's had a great career. We'll see."

WWE provided the blueprint for how to utilize the Texas Rattlesnake in his No Holds Barred match with Kevin Owens to close out the first night of WrestleMania 38. It made for a great spectacle that covered for the fact Austin is clearly limited physically in what he can do.

It appears Punk and Austin are at least open to exploring something similar down the road.

---

Cena 'Will Not Miss' Raw Debut on Netflix

Starting in January, WWE will be breaking new ground by airing Raw on Netflix. The debut show figures to be a star-studded affair as the promotion will want to make as big a splash as possible.

John Cena confirmed in a red-carpet interview with Complex he will be on hand.

"It's an event I will not miss," he said. "I will be there."

The 16-time world champion first announced at Money in the Bank in July he intends to retire from wrestling after enjoying one last run with WWE in 2025. He provided a few more details about his farewell tour in the post-show press conference, telling reporters he expects to compete across the year and work between 30 to 40 dates.

Given their prominence on the WWE calendar, it's safe to assume the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania will be two of those occasions. Raw's inaugural Netflix show would be a good place to point toward how Cena might be used at the Rumble and along the "Road to WrestleMania."

---

Bobby Lashley No Longer Signed to WWE, Future Appearances Still Possible

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported Bobby Lashley isn't under contract with WWE, making him a free agent. "Sources within WWE said that the door was open for eventual appearances," Sapp reported.

Sapp first reported in July the former world champion was likely on the way out after the company had removed him from its internal active roster. Lashley is now listed in the "WWE Alumni" section of its website.

It's unclear when or even if the 48-year-old intends to return to WWE or sign with another wrestling company. In an appearance on The Laboratory with Plaz, he sounded excited to explore new athletic avenues.

""I love to be able to push myself to do things that are ridiculous. I set goals for myself every day," he said. "What can I do? How far can I push myself? How much can I do? I want to run a marathon. I'm going to try to do that pretty soon. I'll do jiu-jitsu, I'm going to try and win a world championship in jiu-jitsu. I'm going to do a boxing match. We've already talked about this boxing match. I might have an opportunity to do it. I'm boxing somebody in Vegas. There is an opponent."

For now, fans have seen the last of Lashley in WWE for the foreseeable future and he might be ready to leave wrestling behind altogether.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.

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.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.

WWE Superstar CM Punk presented legendary NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski with a New England Patriots championship belt at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Friday.

After getting the crowd hyped with his presence, Punk introduced Gronk and handing him the belt, which is part of WWE's Legacy collection:

LET’S GO! The BEST IN THE WORLD @CMPunk is here at @FanaticsFest with a gift for @RobGronkowski! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/b1cCkpH6Pl

— WWE (@WWE) August 16, 2024

Gronkowski spent nine of his 11 NFL seasons with the Patriots from 2010 to 2018, winning three Super Bowls and earning five Pro Bowl nods and four First Team All-Pro selections during his tenure.

After spending one year in retirement, Gronk returned to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and 2021, reuniting with quarterback Tom Brady. Gronkowski won his fourth career Super Bowl in 2020 and retired again at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign.

During his initial retirement, Gronk made several appearance on WWE programming, including hosting WrestleMania 36. He also won the 24/7 Championship at the show and held it for nearly two months.

Punk's presentation of the Patriots belt to Gronk came on a big day for WWE, as it revealed a new line of legacy belts featuring collegiate teams on Friday:

Who wouldn’t want a collegiate WWE legacy title belt featuring official branding & colors of select SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 & ACC schools? pic.twitter.com/ueDxX3bgHt

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 16, 2024

The college belts join NFL and MLB belts in WWE's portfolio, and they are all available for purchase on WWE Shop.

WWE is producing belts featuring the logos of 20 of the top collegiate programs in football and basketball, including Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia and many more.

---

10 questions, one life. Tap in to play Streaks, B/R's daily sports trivia game.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.