Opinion

Bash in Berlin was a massive success for WWE but the show goes on as it prepares for the next premium live event.

On Oct. 5, the global juggernaut will return to Atlanta, Georgia to host Bad Blood at the State Farm Arena. The company hasn't used the pay-per-view title since 2004 when it was a Raw exclusive event.

Nevertheless, this is the perfect time to re-establish it as a replacement for Extreme Rules, which WWE discontinued in 2022.

The Hell in a Cell match has been a staple at the event throughout its brief history. Expect the demonic structure to return at State Farm Arena in a few weeks. No one has used the stipulation since WrestleMania 39.

With one month until the next PLE, let's examine what's next for three of the company's top stars.

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Gunther's Next Challenger

Gunther successfully defended the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a tremendous match against Randy Orton.

Now, the field is wide open as we wait for his next challenger to emerge. However, The Viper's jump from SmackDown to avenge his loss at King and Queen of the Ring underscored Raw's lack of established contenders for the top prize.

WWE would like viewers to think that CM Punk will challenge for the world title after his win at Bash in Berlin. Still, it's hard to believe Drew McIntyre will just let him move on after everything his bitter rival has done to cost him a shot at championship gold this year.

What's next for CM Punk?!#WWEBash pic.twitter.com/IUQh2HToin

— WWE (@WWE) August 31, 2024

Elsewhere, many potential challengers are already involved in the current number one contender's tournament for the intercontinental title. So, it's difficult to predict who will step up to oppose The Ring General ahead of Bad Blood.

This could be Sami Zayn's chance to throw his hat in the ring. After all, he managed to do the impossible and end Gunther's historic IC title run at WrestleMania 40.

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CM Punk Plans To Get Back On Track

One year after Punk wrestled his final AEW match at All In London, The Straight Edge Superstar secured his first win with WWE in 10 years.

The 45-year-old delivered an impressive performance in front of the Uber Arena crowd as he regained the bracelet McIntyre stole from him and vanquished The Scottish Warrior. Later, he told Cathy Kelley he's coming for the winner of the night's main event and championship gold.

As stated earlier, that seems way too easy. McIntyre isn't just going to let him have peace after the Chicago native played spoiler for months. This feud is far from over, and a third matchup at Bad Blood is highly plausible.

The two currently hold win-a-piece, so expect a rubber match before they move on to their next opponents. Punk will likely pursue the world title later this year or enter the Royal Rumble in 2025.

After this week's strap match dialed up the intensity, it will be interesting to see what kind of stipulation they would employ. In fact, WWE could reintroduce Hell in a Cell here to wrap up this feud.

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The Growing Target on Cody Rhodes' Back

Cody Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens in this weekend's opening match to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.

However, it didn't quite feel like a definitive win because the challenger hesitated when he had the chance to exploit his injuries. Afterward, the two embraced and left the ring as friends, but it doesn't seem like Owens was satisfied with his effort.

As such, there's a very good chance we could see a rematch. Meanwhile, The Bloodline is looming as Solo Sikoa declared that he would challenge the winner of their match at Bash in Berlin during the latest episode of SmackDown.

Roman Reigns also has unfinished business with Rhodes and Sikoa, which could set up a multi-man match soon. The American Nightmare is also bound to clash with Orton after his loss to Gunther.

So, there are several options for his upcoming opponent at Bad Blood in his hometown Atlanta, Georgia. The event could be the right destination for his third match with Reigns, but a triple threat featuring Sikoa seems like a safer bet.

Although McIntyre vs. Punk could lead to a Hell in a Cell match, the stipulation would fit Rhodes' current storyline with The Bloodline as well. Using the structure to keep the stable from interfering would help the champion even the odds.

This Saturday, Cody Rhodes will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against his friend and ally, Kevin Owens, at Bash in Berlin.

This unexpected matchup will be the second-generation star's fourth title defense in a reign that undoubtedly came with high expectations and some insurmountable preconceived notions. Let's face it: it would be difficult for anyone to follow Roman Reigns' historic run.

Even though The Tribal Chief was a dominant heel, the Samoan superstar grew more popular than ever due to his extraordinary character work and an excellent display of long-term storytelling. After 1,316 days, some of his most die-hard fans still weren't ready to see him drop the title to the best opposition to his unchecked rule.

As such, it's hard to tell how much of the criticism Rhodes has received is valid and how much is confirmation bias from viewers who never bought into him in the first place. Yes, WWE inadvertently turned "finish the story" into an irksome catchphrase with a debatably unnecessary level of added adversity, but it stuck the landing at WrestleMania 40.

The conclusion of the second night of this year's festivities was one of the most satisfying moments in the event's history. It was a fitting end to Reigns' megalomaniacal dominance and a gratifying crowning achievement for his final challenger.

So, why are some fans turning on the follow-up to such a tremendous finale? Is this the usual impatience that most new champions face in an era where the audience is fixated on instant gratification?

Maybe, The American Nightmare gave a great chase and the realization of his dream hasn't been nearly as interesting. That argument has become a bit cliche, but it's a fair question in the face of inevitable critiques.

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The Epilogue Following Heavy Confetti

WWE regularly suffers a lull after WrestleMania season as it resets its rosters and starts new storylines. Nevertheless, Rhodes and AJ Styles delivered an incredible match at Backlash France, and their dream match produced a solid feud.

The 39-year-old's side quest to face the reigning United States champion, Logan Paul, wasn't as strong. Still, their bout at King and Queen of the Ring lived up to the hype and gave fans another high-quality defense.

The problem is that his tenure never quite made it out of the shadow of The Bloodline. His exchange with The Rock during the Raw after Mania ensured that some viewers would be waiting for the next chapter in their rivalry, and whatever happened in the meantime would seem less important.

Even more, SmackDown still feels like The Bloodline's show because Solo Sikoa's rise and Reigns' eventual return were presented as the main storyline. As a result, Rhodes never came off as the leading character of the brand that The Head of the Table loomed over for so long.

This became abundantly clear during the build to SummerSlam and the growing anticipation for Reigns' response to the man who usurped his throne. It never felt like the champion would definitively beat Sikoa because the moment was reserved for Reigns to outshine him.

It almost became a self-fulfilling prophecy for skeptics waiting to say Rhodes couldn't match his aura as he stole the show at The Biggest Party of the Summer. The storyline and build were designed to start his face turn, but it basically made Reigns' successor feel like an afterthought.

The main event also wasn't much to write home about, but it was never meant to top the match-of-the-year candidate he and Styles put together in Lyon, France. It was merely set dressing for the highlight of the night.

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A Different Approach to Creating A Legacy

Many fans of Reigns' nearly four-year reign also grew accustomed to his style of matches and ongoing story. For that crowd, anything else would pale in comparison and appear regressive.

There's a common refrain from several critics of Rhodes' current run that it lacks captivating storylines. That's not entirely true because his noteworthy feuds outside of The Bloodline have an overarching story, but it's not as nuanced and dramatic as his predecessor's long-term storyline.

That doesn't mean it's non-existent or even particularly bad. It's just a notably different approach.

His long-awaited encounter with Styles represented a milestone he couldn't complete during his travels post-WWE. In many ways, The Phenomenal One created the blueprint for his success during his six-year odyssey to go from undesirable to undeniable, but they never crossed paths.

Facing him after he achieved his childhood dream was the ultimate test and the changing of the guard for two of the greatest success stories in pro wrestling history. Even his biggest detractors have to admit that it created memorable moments.

Similarly, Owens is a meaningful opponent because of his ties to Ring of Honor and The Young Bucks. More to the point, Rhodes' guilt over allowing The Bloodline's most stubborn adversary to throw himself back in the line of fire on his behalf led him to offer him a title shot.

In return, he now has to look over his shoulder because he's facing a challenger who has notoriously turned on his friends when a world title match is involved. The story of whether The Prizefighter can control his baser instincts and Rhodes can trust one of his last allies is intriguing.

It immediately lays the groundwork for a potential feud with Randy Orton, a man he admittedly aspired to be. This title run isn't just about achieving something his father never did. No, it's about creating his own legacy by surpassing some of the wrestlers who inspired him.

It's too soon to say his reign as the undisputed WWE champion failed because the story isn't done. The American Nightmare remains one of the company's most popular stars, and there's still more room to create an enduring offering as a top guy.

WWE hasn't always prioritized him as its new flagbearer, but his run has been better than many of his haters would like you to believe.

At its various peaks of popularity, WWE's ability to cross over into the realms of sports and pop culture was seamless.

The success of the WrestleMania's inaugural installment in 1985 was largely due to the vast amount of celebrities on hand. From Muhammad Ali and Mr. T to Cyndi Lauper and Liberace, every one of them contributed to The Show of Shows becoming an annual extravaganza and global sensation.

World-renowned boxer Mike Tyson's involvement in the WrestleMania XIV main event helped legitimate "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as the face of the franchise and brought new eyes to the product that was about to take off with the Attitude Era.

Even World Championship Wrestling, best known in its heyday as WCW, managed to capture the attention of major media outlets with Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman competing in a pay-per-view tag team main event opposite of each other immediately following the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls' iconic NBA Finals series in 1998.

Somewhere along the way, wrestling lost that "cool" factor, and contrary to popular belief, WWE's incorporation of the TV-PG rating in 2008 wasn't entirely to blame.

Athletes and other notable names continued to make occasional appearances on WWE programming, including as part of Raw's "guest host" era that nearly killed the quality of the show for two years. WWE's desperate attempt to revive its status as a staple in society—coming off as more manufactured than it did organic—actively drove away an alarming portion of its remaining fanbase.

Pro wrestling was never considered an upper-class art form, but following its fall from grace as an accepted piece of pop culture, the industry gradually gained a reputation for being a lowly form of entertainment.

However, the overwhelmingly positive response to the company's presence at the first-ever Fanatics Fest in New York City the weekend of Aug. 16 proved WWE's mainstream appeal may finally be back to where it once was.

WWE Frenzy at Fanatics Fest

WWE's WrestleMania Fan Axxess event has gone through countless iterations since its inception in the late 1980s, recently being resurrected as WWE World this past spring.

It's arguably the biggest pro-wrestling fan convention of its kind, complete with exhibits, memorabilia, merchandise, meet-and-greet opportunities and more.

Fantatics Fest at the Javits Center in New York City encompassed not only WWE but also the MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, UFC and other sports organizations. Current and future Hall of Famers such as Derek Jeter, Tom Brady and Kevin Durant were available for photos and autographs throughout the weekend, yet it was the WWE talent who sold out soon after going on sale.

Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Bianca Belair and many others stole the weekend with long lines for their meet-and-greets and panels. Additionally, the patented make-your-own-entrance area was the busiest and most entertaining of all the "activations" the event had to offer.

WWE outshining virtually every sports organization in attendance is enough of an indicator that wrestling is, in fact, the hot ticket right now. It was wise to emphasize the element of fun and remind former fans what they've been missing out on.

In turn, the sports world hasn't hesitated to capitalize on WWE's newfound buzz.

Jey Uso's infectious entrance music was played during an NBA playoff game in May. Roman Reigns' walkout song also went viral over SummerSlam weekend for being played at a nightclub.

On WWE TV this year alone, top-tier NBA players Tyrese Hailburton and Jalen Brunson went face-to-face in a SmackDown ring at Madison Square Garden, a confrontation the crowd clearly approved of based on its raucous reaction.

George Kittle, a well-documented WWE enthusiast, was shown sitting ringside for his friend Bayley's big championship win at WrestleMania 40, one year removed from getting in the ring for a segment with Pat McAfee on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Treading that fine line between sports and entertainment—two terms WWE has been intentionally synonymous with for decades to avoid associating with its wrestling roots—without it feeling forced is what gives the product that certain spark it's long been lacking.

The relevancy of wrestling during the Attitude Era in particular may be forever unmatched, but WWE is doing everything right when it comes to regaining the goodwill of its audience and making headlines for the right reasons while doing so.

The Dark Days of WWE

One doesn't have to venture too far back in the WWE archives to relive one of its lowest creative points ever and realize why change at the top was imperative to save the company from self-sabotage.

Although the pandemic era was notorious for not having any fans present, WWE's creative woes were already underway. If anything, the empty arenas created a unique environment for a time.

Rather, it was 2018 and 2019 that did the most damage to the WWE brand. Both years had their fair share of highlights, most notably KofiMania and Becky Lynch's stock skyrocketing, but the cringeworthy content the audience had to endure along the way was not worth it.

It was during this period that Bray Wyatt debuted his Fiend persona, only to have it ravaged by bad booking. The 24/7 Championship was introduced and immediately wore out its welcome.

The rules of the Brand Split were ignored, wrestlers wanted out, camera shots were nauseating to watch, commentary was distracting, part-timers were overexposed in the main event scene, and very few Superstars felt special.

Plus, the babyface Roman Reigns experiment failed miserably and NXT newcomers were misused. Once The Big Dog was showered with dog food on SmackDown in early 2020, it wasn't surprising to see pop-culture icons stray from wanting anything to do with WWE.

Any fan unfortunate to find themselves watching WWE TV at that time experienced the epitome of embarrassment.

Vince McMahon didn't seem to mind, essentially inviting viewers to change the channel and journey over to their competition.

How Triple H Turned the Tide in WWE's Favor

McMahon's ultimate dismissal from WWE was undoubtedly overdue, as evidenced by how drastically the company's creative direction changed when he was ousted from power.

Triple H, president Nick Khan and the rest of the WWE brass that makes up the new guard have demonstrated they're in touch both with what fans want to see from week to week as well as how they can attempt to further build their audience to make new fans.

That's where the expansion into entertainment and sports will be beneficial.

Under McMahon, Raw and SmackDown lost much of their luster in the years following the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras. Star power diminished, and compelling storylines were harder to come by.

The in-ring action improved, but every other aspect of the product suffered significantly. Triple H was responsible for creating a true alternative before in NXT, so he could do it with the main roster if the opportunity presented itself.

McMahon's abrupt exit in 2022 paved the way for Triple H to start slowly but surely rehabilitating the overall creative direction. Two years on, he has done just that.

All Elite Wrestling established an identity as a legitimate challenger brand when WWE TV was in the doldrums in 2019. The opposition recruiting their top talent and creating stars of their own forced WWE to put their best foot forward, at least once Triple H took the reins.

There's been a lot to like about AEW in 2024 and there are numerous things they'll always excel at over WWE, but the turning of the tide is evident in the latter's many arena sellouts, stable ratings, and record-setting viewership for premium live events.

Straightforward and engaging storytelling has been pivotal in renewed interest in the product. The Bloodline is perhaps the most prominent example, but the rise of Cody Rhodes, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre's ruthless rivalry, and everything making much more sense have also been important factors.

Above all else, the electric atmosphere at almost every WWE event these days sends the message that catering to the casual audience has been the most effective formula behind the promotion's latest boom period.

For the first time in over 20 years, it's cool to watch WWE again.

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Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.

On Saturday, WWE will bring its unique brand of sports entertainment to the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Bash in Berlin will be the company's latest foray into the international market. It has hosted live shows in Germany since the height of its popularity in the 1990s, but the upcoming premium live event will be its first major event to take place in the country.

This weekend's five-match card boasts two world title contests and the second chapter in CM Punk's feud with Drew McIntyre. Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest will also get the chance to avenge their losses at SummerSlam when they take on Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio in a mixed tag team match.

It's a concise and straightforward lineup that doesn't leave room for many surprises, but here are three bold predictions for this weekend's Bash in Berlin.

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CM Punk and Drew McIntyre Will Overdeliver

Punk and McIntrye have been feuding since The Scottish Warrior injured the returning Superstar at the Royal Rumble, costing him the chance to headline WrestleMania for the first time.

This rivalry started the year hot with the potential to be the top matchup at SummerSlam, but it hasn't quite lived up to the hype. Their early segments were entertaining, but the seven-month build has caused their latest confrontations to grow repetitive.

Their highly anticipated match at The Biggest Party of the Summer was adequate, but the in-ring action didn't match the intensity of their most heated interactions. Instead, we got a highly story-driven clash over Punk's friendship bracelet, which left much to be desired.

The upcoming strap match will allow the two men to deliver a display of violence that fans hoped to see during their first outing.

Sure, much of the momentum from their initial segments has died down, but this rematch will surpass expectations.

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Gunther Will Beat Randy Orton Definitively

Gunther will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton in this King of the Ring rematch.

Their first showdown from the finals of this year's 16-man tournament was well-received, but the controversial finish ensured it wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths. Gunther won via pinfall, but Orton's shoulder clearly wasn't down.

The Viper has had his eyes set on championship gold since he returned from an 18-month hiatus in November at Survivor Series. Many fans expect this to lead to a high-profile match with his mentee and former stablemate, Cody Rhodes.

In fact, the third-generation star left some subtle hints in his latest promo on Raw that he could turn on The American Nightmare to achieve his goal. As such, we predict that a humbling loss to Gunther could set him down the path to reintroducing The Viper of old.

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Kevin Owens Won't Turn Heel

Meanwhile, all of WWE's teases that Kevin Owens could betray Rhodes in the lead-up to their Undisputed WWE Championship match seem like a red herring.

As longtime viewers know, KO has a long history of stabbing his friends in the back, especially when a shot at the world title is involved. As a matter of fact, this was the premise of his iconic rivalry with Sami Zayn in NXT.

During last week's episode of SmackDown, Grayson Waller graciously reminded fans that The Prizefighter is notorious for being a terrible friend with a montage of some of his worst moments. It was a great way to reference WWE's continuity and create doubt among fans and the reigning champion.

Owens even tried to reassure Rhodes that he wouldn't do that to him because all of those other guys had it coming, which plays into his guilt. See? The 39-year-old offered him a title shot in the first place because he put him in harm's way so many times during his conflict with The Bloodline.

So, his words felt more ominous considering he betrayed others for less and Rhodes already thinks he hasn't been a great friend. Nevertheless, we don't think Owens will turn on the champion in Berlin because it seems a bit too predictable.