The feud between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre has officially reached fever pitch and, better still, it’s flown completely off of the rails and right into innocent bystanders, causing nearly as much mayhem as the Wyatt Sicks (6). All was set for McIntyre to make history in taking the WWE Heavyweight Championship off of Damian Priest at the “Clash at the Castle” premium live event in his hometown of of Glasgow, Scotland.
And, in reality, he sort of did.
McIntyre had Priest pinned for what amounted to a nine count, but the official was injured outside of the ring and couldn’t make it official. In ran Punk dressed as an official and counted to two before stopping to taunt a disgusted McIntyre — who was eventually victimized by a South of Heaven choke slam.
SEE FULL RECAP OF CLASH AT THE CASTLE HERE.
The injured official would make it back into the ring for the three-count on that one, and all hell broke loose thereafter.
And that includes McIntyre supposedly quitting the WWE on Monday Night RAW.
"Why would I want him to have anything good?" Punk told the media in the post-PLE press conference.
It’s all going according to plan for Punk, who suffered a torn right triceps in his first match back with the promotion at 2023 Royal Rumble, McIntyre taking credit for sidelining the Chicago native and even stating he “prayed” for it to happen.
So when Punk was asked about McIntyre’s future after Clash, he didn’t pull any punches because, let’s be honest, when has he ever?
FULL REVIEW OF LEGENDARY WWE RAW HERE.
"No. I’m not mad that I was injured,” said Punk. “Accidents happen. It’s a full contact sport, and we’re athletes. Stuff goes wrong all the time. I would never wish injury on another athlete, no matter how much I dislike him. I hope Drew McIntyre is 100% after that grueling match”
Those well wishes were short-lived, though.
“I will never wish another athlete suffers an injury that takes away what they love to do and what puts food on their table for their family,” he added, a clear shot at McIntyre reveling in Punk’s injury. “No animosity towards Drew for the injury. The animosity comes from being gleeful about it. He said he prayed for it. Now, I’m going to prey on him.”
He’s made more than good on his word thus far, previously costing McIntyre the belt at Wrestlemania 40, when the latter defeated [an injured] Seth “Freaking” Rollins to become champion for all of five minutes — a reign that ended when McIntyre began belittling Punk at the broadcaster’s table instead of taking his gold and going home.
Punk, fed up with the insults, pulled McIntyre’s leg from beneath them and went across his head with the arm brace he’d been wearing, and Priest capitalized on the moment by cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase to take the belt from McIntyre.
Seriously, will McIntyre ever be champion again?
Not if Punk has anything to say about it.
“He’s never going to be a champion here, as long as I live,” he said. “Not as long as we’re on the same brand, not as long as we’re in the same company. As long as there is air in my lungs, Drew McIntyre is never, and I promise you, and it’s not a promise that he made, the empty promise to his wife, who is sick, who I really hope is okay. [Kaitlyn], get better soon.
“I promise he’s never going to be a champion ever again."
McIntyre recently signed a contract extension with WWE so his “I quit” declaration is undoubtedly a part of this fiery storyline, and that means McIntyre will have another shot at becoming champion again in the future.
But if he’s going to ever achieve that mission, he’s either gonna have to put Punk down for good — a difficult task — or pack up and move to one of the other two WWE brands.
It’s a cold world and Punk says McIntyre better get a blanket.
::: FULL CALENDAR FOR WWE EVENTS HERE.
