CM Punk

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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WWE Reportedly Considering Changes to SummerSlam Card

WWE has announced a seven-match card for Saturday's SummerSlam premium live event, but there reportedly could be some changes on the horizon.

According to Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), a WWE source said to "not be surprised" if there are some additions or alterations to the current SummerSlam card.

As of now, all seven SummerSlam matches are singles bouts without any stipulations, aside from Seth Rollins serving as special guest referee for Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk.

Since Triple H took full control of the creative process in WWE, he has generally opted for smaller match cards. Most premium live events have featured about five matches under his leadership, although there have been some exceptions.

WrestleMania 40 was a two-night affair with 14 matches in total, and since an argument can be made for SummerSlam being WWE's second-biggest event, a slightly larger card than usual was expected.

With SummerSlam now just days away, it is difficult to envision what additional matches could be put on the card, especially since two major matches have already been booked for Friday's SmackDown.

DIY is set to defend the WWE Tag Team Championships against Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu of The Bloodline, while Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn will put the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships on the line against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.

Because of that, it is perhaps more likely that some of the existing SummerSlam matches will have stipulations added to them in order to make them a bit more intriguing to fans.

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Undertaker Praises CM Punk's UFC Stint

CM Punk's brief foray into the world of MMA with UFC may have been ill-fated in retrospect, but WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker admires the fact that he even tried it.

During an appearance on MightyCast with Demetrious Johnson (h/t Jenkins), Taker gave Punk his proverbial flowers for having the guts to step outside his comfort zone:

"One thing with Punk that I do respect is the fact that he tried it. He had a huge name in wrestling before he tried mixed martial arts. He had a lot to lose because [wrestling] was his money maker and then you go over [to MMA] and get your ass handed to you. I had a lot of respect for him and the fact that he gave it a shot. It was something he wanted to do. He did it. It didn't work out and he's back where he should be and everything is right in the world."

After Punk left WWE in January 2014, he was seemingly disenchanted with professional wrestling, so he decided to try his hand at another one of his passions.

UFC signed Punk in December 2014, and after nearly two years of training, he made his debut inside the Octagon, facing Mickey Gall at UFC 203 in September 2016.

Punk lost that bout via first-round submission, and then went the distance in a unanimous-decision loss to Mike Jackson at UFC 225 about nine months later.

The result was later overturned to a no contest after Jackson tested positive for marijuana, but it marked the end of Punk's MMA career nonetheless.

Punk made his long-awaited return to pro wrestling in 2021 when he debuted in AEW to plenty of fanfare, but just two years later, he was released from the company in the wake of some backstage issues and disagreements.

It was unclear if Punk would ever return to WWE, but he shocked the pro wrestling world by showing up at Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago in November.

Now, Punk is set to compete in one of the biggest matches on the SummerSlam card this weekend, as he will clash with Drew McIntyre.

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Cargill Provides Update on Head Injury

Jade Cargill gave a positive update on her health Tuesday after suffering a cut on her forehead during WWE's recent tour in Japan.

Per Nikunj Walia of Ringside News, Cargill posted a photo on her Instagram Stories last week showing a cut on her forehead, along with some dried blood on her face.

A fan expressed hope that Cargill had healed up in a post on X on Tuesday night, and Cargill suggested that she had:

It’s better! Lost some blood but it comes with the fight 🥰😎 https://t.co/kEAIVJhcr7

— Jade Cargill (@Jade_Cargill) July 31, 2024

Cargill and WWE are fortunate that her injury does not appear to be serious since she has a major match on tap for SmackDown on Friday.

Cargill and Bianca Belair are set to challenge Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships, which they previously held for 42 days.

At Clash at the Castle in Scotland back in June, Cargill and Belair dropped the titles to Fyre and Dawn in a Triple Threat tag team match that also included Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.

Cargill and Belair lost the titles despite not being involved in the decision, and they have made it their stated goal to get the championships back ever since.

On SmackDown, Cargill and Belair will finally get their opportunity to potentially become two-time tag team champs.

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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.

Ahead of his highly anticipated match against Drew McIntyre at WWE SummerSlam on Saturday, CM Punk appeared Tuesday on ESPN's First Take and gave some insight into his preferences as a wrestling fan.

When asked by First Take panelist and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky to name his five favorite wrestlers of all time, Punk chose "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Eddie Guerrero, Harley Race, Terry Funk and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

Given that Punk was born in 1978, it came as little surprise that his list was heavily weighted toward wrestlers who were among the biggest stars of the 1980s and 1990s.

Punk initially had Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat on his list, but when asked how he first got into wrestling, he realized that he had omitted Piper.

The 45-year-old veteran credited Piper with making him a wrestling fan, citing his trash-talking ability and the fact that he was able to excel despite not being among the biggest or strongest wrestlers of his time.

Perhaps the most intriguing member of Punk's list was Austin since Punk vs. Austin is considered an all-time dream match by many wrestling fans and one that could technically still happen.

Back in 2012, WWE held a sit-down interview involving Punk and Austin with Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross as the moderator in anticipation of the release of the WWE '13 video game.

Punk and Austin worked an angle with each other, which got fans excited about the possibility of them wrestling each other, however, Punk departed WWE in January 2014, and it never came to fruition.

It seemed as though Austin would stay retired for good after having his final match at WrestleMania 19 in 2003, but two years ago at WrestleMania 38, he shocked the wrestling world by returning to face Kevin Owens.

Then, Punk returned to WWE in November 2023 following his departure from AEW, which made a match against Austin a possibility again.

In an interview with ESPN's Marc Raimondi in February, Austin didn't rule out a match against Punk, saying: "I like Punk, and I think Punk likes me—so, as long as he can take a [Stone Cold] Stunner. I consider him a great friend, a great guy and a great wrestler who's had a great career. We'll see."

For now, Punk's focus is on McIntyre, who has been his chief rival ever since Punk suffered a torn triceps in the men's Royal Rumble match back in January.

After McIntyre reveled in Punk's misfortune, Punk cost him the World Heavyweight Championship multiple times, leading to their grudge match at SummerSlam with Seth Rollins serving as special guest referee.

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CM Punk Interested in Tagging with Cena

John Cena is set to embark on a retirement tour next year, and at least one longtime rival wants to get in the ring with him one more time—just not as an opponent.

CM Punk said it would be "pretty interesting" to see himself and Cena team up when the 16-time champion returns to WWE in 2025.

"If I had to tag up with somebody to beat some people up, it would probably Larry," Punk said, referring to his dog. "Everybody's asking me because (John) Cena has announced his retirement that, you know, obviously they wanna see us fight each other. I think there's something to me and him tagging. I think that can be pretty interesting."

Punk and Cena were longtime rivals in the early 2010s, with some fans viewing Punk at the anthesis of Cena. The pair have not squared off since Cena defeated Punk in a No. 1 contenders' match in February 2013.

Punk returned to WWE at last year's Survivor Series pay-per-view after a nine-year absence. During Punk's WWE hiatus, Cena went on to become one of the most decorated stars in wrestling history before leaving to embark on a successful Hollywood career.

With more than a decade having passed since the height of their rivalry, it would be a nice full-circle moment to see them on the same side.

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Punk Says AJ Lee Will Make Own Decision on Return

Ever since WWE's prodigal son returned, there have been questions about the prodigal daughter also making her return.

Punk's wife, AJ Lee, is one of the most celebrated women's wrestlers of her time, often looked at as one of the biggest reasons WWE transitioned away from the Divas era. Lee left WWE in 2015, with a combination of a spinal injury and Punk's relationship with the company playing a part in her departure.

Lee has not wrestled since leaving WWE but was involved in the Women of Wrestling promotion from 2021 to 2023. Punk admitted he would love to see Lee make a comeback but the decision is ultimately hers.

"I'm the wrong guy to ask those questions about. I know there's a lot out there of that, but I certainly am not pushing her to do anything. I think she knows that there's options," Punk said. "I think she sees how happy I am and how things are different. But if the right situation presented itself, it would have to be a discussion between her and certain people. I don't necessarily want to be in the middle of that just because it could get kind of weird. Selfishly, yes, I would love to make out with my wife on television again."

Punk and Lee met during their time in WWE, when an on-screen storyline led to an off-screen romance. They have been married since June 2014.

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Jeff Hardy Only Wants WWE HOF if Matt Inducted as Well

Jeff Hardy still doesn't want to be in the WWE Hall of Fame unless his brother joins him.

Hardy recently appeared on Busted Open Radio and said would still prefer to join the HOF with Matt.

"For sure, man. When I denied it the first time, it didn't feel right going in there without Matt [Hardy]," Hardy said. "I mean I cried after that phone call. I was just thinking about all the really cool moments I've given to the pro-wrestling world. I'm so proud of it, but it didn't feel right at all. So, I just wanted to wait. If I did do this, I'm definitely doing that with Matt, you know. It'll be a Hardy Boyz thing. I just want one ring, I don't want two rings."

It's a virtual certainty that the Hardys will wind up in the Hall of Fame at some point. They're on the shortlist of the best wrestlers in the world who have yet to receive their induction.

Now that both Matt and Jeff are no longer with AEW, they could wind up getting their due by the time 2025 comes along.

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Beth Phoenix No Longer With WWE

Could Beth Phoenix be following Adam Copeland to AEW?

Maybe. Maybe not. But WWE is no longer a hurdle.

PW Insider reported Phoenix's contract recently expired, and she was not given a Legends deal or offered a new contract. Whether that was by her choice or WWE's is up to interpretation.

Phoenix has largely been retired from in-ring competition, wrestling only 11 times since 2012. That said, she's still young enough to go in the ring if she chooses to make a return and also has value as a coach and commentator.

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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.

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

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WWE Reportedly Approached Punk About New Contract

Based on the success and popularity CM Punk has achieved in the eight months since returning to WWE, and company is reportedly already looking to restructure his contract.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t Nikunj Walia of Ringside News), WWE recently approached Punk about negotiating a new deal, and it was described by multiple sources as a "bigger" contract.

Punk reportedly signed a three-year pact with WWE when he returned to the promotion back in November, meaning he is under contract through November 2026. PWInsider.com added that prior reports about Punk having only signed a short deal were incorrect.

In January 2014, Punk left WWE on bad terms, and he remained out of pro wrestling until 2021 when he debut with AEW. After the partnership between Punk and AEW dissolved last year, WWE signed him and had him return at Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago.

Despite having been back for eight months, Punk has only competed in one televised match, that being the 2024 men's Royal Rumble match back in January.

Punk suffered a torn triceps during the match and could not compete at WrestleMania 40, but he has remained a key figure on WWE programming and has been involved in arguably the most compelling rivalry in wrestling with Drew McIntyre despite being out injured.

After announcing recently that he has been cleared to compete, Punk's match against McIntyre was made official for SummerSlam with another Punk rival in Seth Rollins serving as the special guest referee.

Punk has long been viewed as something of a volatile personality, which is perhaps part of the reason why is first stint with WWE ended, as well as his time with AEW.

However, Punk appears to be happy in his current role in WWE, and there has been no indication of any issues whatsoever between the two sides.

In fact, WrestleVotes reported that WWE is "extremely happy with Punk's attitude, commitment, drawing power and big merchandise sales," so it comes as little surprise that they reportedly want him to stick around for the long haul.

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McAfee to Reportedly Take Time Off from Raw During College Football Season

With Pat McAfee set to return to ESPN College GameDay for the 2024 college football season, his ESPN announcing schedule will reportedly be impacted.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), it is "expected" that McAfee will be pulled from the Raw announce team while he fulfills his College GameDay obligations this fall.

McAfee previously served as the color commentator alongside Michael Cole on SmackDown, but when he was added to ESPN College GameDay in 2022, he took a step back from those duties.

However, following the end of the 2023 college football season, McAfee returned to serve as the full-time color commentator on Raw, once again alongside Cole.

Until recently, it was not clear if McAfee would be part of ESPN College GameDay for the 2024 season, but it was cleared up this week.

During Wednesday's episode of the Pat McAfee Show, the former West Virginia University and Indianapolis Colts punter said he would be back on the College GameDay panel during the upcoming season:

I can't wait to get back on the road with the entire @CollegeGameDay crew #PMSLive https://t.co/II5altOdAK pic.twitter.com/ola2BhvFFT

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 24, 2024

McAfee doing College GameDay and his WWE duties would perhaps be more doable this time around since two days separate the weekly college football schedule and Monday Night Raw, whereas SmackDown airs one day before the CFB slate.

Even so, it sounds like McAfee will be taking a WWE hiatus, which could open the door for either Corey Graves or Wade Barrett to move from SmackDown to Raw once Joe Tessitore officially joins WWE as SmackDown's play-by-play announcer.

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Conflicting Reports Regarding WWE's Handling of Lashley, MVP Contracts

Amid reports that Bobby Lashley and MVP are set to leave WWE soon, some conflicting accounts of the events leading up to it have surfaced.

According to Meltzer (h/t Walia), one source said WWE declined to offer new contracts to Lashley and MVP, whereas another claimed Lashley was offered a new deal, however, he turned it down, and the expectation is that he will leave when his current deal expires.

WWE head of creative Triple H did little to dispel the rumor that Lashley and MVP are on their way out of the company when asked about their status this week.

While speaking to the Daily Mail (h/t Mukherjee), Triple H said: "You know, just like any sport, any business, we sign talent, talents' contracts run out, we release talent, it's just part of the process. So it's an ongoing thing."

Meltzer (h/t Bryan Rose of F4WOnline) previously reported that Lashley and MVP were set to see their WWE contracts expire "relatively soon," and there has been talk of them trying to resurrect their popular Hurt Business stable in AEW.

The quartet of Lashley, MVP, Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander dominated WWE programming throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but the group broke up in early 2022.

There have been calls from fans for WWE to bring the Hurt Business back, but it hasn't happened, and it seems that could lead directly to a two-time WWE champion in Lashley leaving the company.

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