MASSIVE heel turn or calling it down the middle - 5 possible finishes for Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk at WWE SummerSlam
WWE star CM Punk was officially cleared on RAW and will now face Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam in Cleveland.
The ongoing feud has been one of the hottest in wrestling as both Punk and The Scottish Warrior have been able to sell a feud without getting physical consistently.
The two have exchanged blows a few times since the Royal Rumble. However, for the most part, McIntyre and Punk have cut scathing promos on each other while one star is absent.
Fans will now witness the massive dream match, but Seth Rollins was added as the Special Guest Referee due to run-ins with both performers. The showdown between Punk and McIntyre at SummerSlam could play out in one of the next five ways.
#5. Seth Rollins interferes and helps CM Punk win
The inclusion of The Visionary at SummerSlam truly makes the heated match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre all the more intriguing. Rollins has issues with both men as The Scottish Warrior won the title from Rollins at WrestleMania 40.
He also protected GM Adam Pearce against a raging McIntyre last week. Punk factored into the World Heavyweight Title match at Money in the Bank when he thwarted McIntyre's cash-in.
By virtue of Damian Priest retaining his belt thanks to help from Punk, Rollins was deprived of more title shots as long as Priest was Champion.
With a heated rivalry slated for Cleveland, Rollins will factor into the outcome. He could argue with McIntyre over something and inadvertently strike the Scottish Warrior. Punk could then take advantage and claim victory over his bitter rival.
#4. Drew McIntyre captures a clean victory at SummerSlam
McIntyre has had a rollercoaster 2024. He replaced Punk at The Show of Shows only to win and lose the title in the same five minutes. The Voice of the Voiceless cost him other opportunities for a title shot.
The biggest was preventing Drew's cash-in at Money in the Bank. McIntyre has done herculean work selling the feud while his enemy has been injured and off TV.
With all the quick turnarounds between victory and instant defeat for the former WWE Champion, it would be a smart decision to give McIntyre a clean win at SummerSlam. He's gone above and beyond and re-signed with the company. He needs a signature win.
#3. Seth Rollins' accidental actions lead to a McIntyre win
Rollins was collateral damage in the ongoing feud between Punk and Drew McIntyre. The Voice of the Voiceless had blinders on when he prevented McIntyre from cashing in his case.
The fallout was that since The Visionary lost, he wouldn't receive another title shot as long as Damian Priest was Champion. Rollins called Punk out for this but Punk half-heartedly apologized due to the animosity between the two.
Rollins will argue with both participants and he may get pushed too far. He could attempt to kick McIntyre but accidentally strike Punk. This could lead to a win for The Scottish Warrior thanks to help from The Architect.
#2. CM Punk returns to the ring with a clean victory
While he has competed at house shows against stars like Dominik Mysterio, CM Punk hasn't had an official in-ring singles match since his return to WWE last November.
He competed in the Royal Rumble but that isn't a one-on-one match. SummerSlam will represent his first foray against another competitor. Will he agree to lose his first big match back in the ring for WWE?
A straight-forward ending of Punk beating McIntyre cleanly would give him a huge win at a premier WWE show. It would also likely prolong the feud to the next PLE. Rollins could also call the match cleanly but turn heel by attacking Punk after the decision is made.
#1. Rollins argues with Punk and Drew McIntyre wins
As previously mentioned, Rollins has issues with both competitors. Installing him as the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam will highlight those issues.
He'll have words with both stars and could even get physical. Since Punk cost him future title shots, he may have more of an issue with the former AEW Champion. This could lead to physicality that allows Drew McIntyre to pick up a win.
Rollins and McIntyre actually shared a moment of respect at WrestleMania 40, so they have less bad blood. Costing Punk a win could also segue into a feud between him and Rollins. It could also potentially lead to a huge heel turn for The Visionary at SummerSlam.