Damian Priest responds to 27-year-old WWE star's heartfelt message following RAW
After Damian Priest's World Heavyweight Championship reign was shattered by Gunther at WWE SummerSlam in August, Priest showed resilience. He addressed his loss on the following episode of RAW and pointed to how he can always win it back. But The Archer of Infamy added that he has something more important on his plate. And that was to stop The Judgment Day.
On the Season Premiere of WWE RAW this past Monday, matches featuring Damian Priest and his Terror Twin, Rhea Ripley, were announced for Bad Blood. While the former World Heavyweight Champion will face Finn Bálor, who cost him the belt at SummerSlam, Ripley will challenge Women's World Champion Liv Morgan.
Also on RAW, The Judgment Day stood tall over Priest and Ripley after they established their dominance as a unit. Taking to Instagram, The Eradicator expressed love to her tag team partner for having her back, which the 41-year-old WWE Superstar took notice of:
"The love I have for my terror twin! Thank you for always having my back @archerofinfamy! Even at your own expense," Ripley wrote. "Always and 4eva! TT," Priest responded.
Mami was forced to relinquish the Women's World Title in April 2024 due to an injury. Despite a minor setback, Liv Morgan managed to claim the gold by the end of May. Morgan even successfully retained the belt over Ripley at SummerSlam. Will she do it for a second time at Bad Blood?
Damian Priest on enduring pain while facing Gunther at WWE SummerSlam
Gunther is known for his very physical style of wrestling. He uses his signature chops repeatedly during matches. Damian Priest was on the receiving end of this at The Biggest Party of The Summer in August.
Speaking on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet, The Archer of Infamy admitted that he hates getting chopped. He put over Gunther, and Drew McIntyre, for specializing in the move. The former World Heavyweight Champion further went on to elaborate on what it feels like after a match with The Ring General:
"There’s no explanation, there’s nothing you can compare it to. I don’t know, grab a frying pan and have somebody swing it as hard as they can against your chest. [...] I hate being marked up like that, and it doesn’t go away right away. You’re just marked up and you take a shower, it hurts. Take a deep breath, it hurts. You put on a T-shirt it hurts, it all hurts."
WWE saved Damian Priest and Finn Bálor's's first showdown since SummerSlam for Bad Blood, an apt setting for this grudge match. Bálor's passionate promo on RAW was all about Priest preventing him from becoming World Heavyweight Champion in 2023 and eventually relegating him to as a sidekick.