CM Punk and Drew McIntyre courtesy of WWE
Originally published on June 17, 2024.
The following content reflects my personal opinion and should be interpreted as such. Any views expressed here are solely mine and do not represent any official stance. This opinion piece is intended for entertainment and discussion purposes only, and should not be construed as factual information or professional advice. Reader discretion is advised.
When CM Punk made his long-awaited, highly-anticipated, “never thought we would see this again,” return at the 2023 Survivor Series in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, I don’t think any of us knew what he was going to get into or who he was going to go up against first. While the seeds were planted for Punk to face up against the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, his injury at the Royal Rumble, two months after his return soiled those plans. However, the writers gave us something else to sink our teeth into, an angry Scottish warrior who appears to hate CM Punk more than Rollins do.
Drew McIntyre’s character have been getting on my nerves a bit. I can’t deny the whiny, always complaining, never satisfied, under-appreciated, long-winded speeches that McIntyre was feeding the crowd nearly every week was a bit…lethargic. And it seemed as though other wrestlers such as Rollins, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn were getting tired of the constant reminder of McIntyre’s not-so-exciting title win in front of a bunch of LED screens during the pandemic. (Kayfabe, of course.) Nonetheless, McIntyre now has a reason to really be angry, as his fans, for this past Saturday at Clash at the Castle, in his home country of Scotland, Punk costed him the title against Damian Priest. And I know most people might believe that this is the second time he has caused McIntyre a title, but if we are going to be brutally honest, Drew cost himself the title at Wrestlemania—No one else but Drew himself.
This feud between these two men shows that you must be careful what you wish for; you might just get it. Although McIntyre wished and prayed for Punk to be out of the picture, he did not realize that a man with a mission and time on his hands can be dangerous. Punk has nothing but time as he continues to recover from his torn right triceps injury. However, during his post-PLE press conference appearance after Clash, Punk announced that this Friday on Smackdown in Chicago, he will update the fans on his condition and provide a time frame for his in-ring return.
“I can tell you that my arm feels amazing. I got permission to skip Raw in Corpus Christi to go home to Chicago to see my doctors with the idea that I’m going to be cleared. I’m going to skip Raw, I’m going to get cleared and then I’m going to show up the Smackdown and let everybody know the good news, hopefully.”
Punk also made reference of his plans to make sure that McIntyre never wins a title shot, possibly foreshadowing the depths that this rival between these two men can (and more than likely will) go.
“He’s never going to ever be a champion here as long as I live. Not as long as we’re on the same brand. Not as long as we’re in the same company. As long as there’s air in my lungs. I promise him he’s never going to be a champion ever again.”
McIntyre may have met his match in a man who doesn’t believe in God but believes in payback, vengeance, and having a good time while doing it. There is no telling when this rivalry will end, if it ever does, but we do know that these two men have a serious bone to pick with each other. While they have cost each other greatly in terms of time, opportunity, and gold, both Punk and McIntyre share one thing in common: when they have a bone to pick with you, they never let up.
I am looking forward to seeing where this rivalry goes and who will win the title first between these two men. Hopefully, it can continue until WrestleMania 41. There is nothing like a CM Punk main event in Las Vegas.
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