CM Punk made a dramatic announcement on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, revealing he’s recovered from a torn triceps suffered in January’s Royal Rumble. Punk wasted no time in challenging Drew McIntyre to a showdown, but Raw General Manager Adam Pearce intervened, scheduling their clash for the SummerSlam event on August 3rd. Pearce sternly warned that any pre-match contact between Punk and McIntyre would lead to cancellation.
Adding to the intrigue, Seth Rollins was named as the special guest referee. Punk’s recent interference at Clash at the Castle in June, where he disrupted McIntyre’s title bid, has only intensified their bitter feud. McIntyre, who recently secured the Men’s Money in the Bank briefcase, attempted to cash in during Damian Priest’s championship bout against Rollins, only to be thwarted by Punk’s unexpected intervention.
The animosity between Punk and McIntyre dates back to McIntyre’s return to WWE in November, escalating when Punk’s injury at Royal Rumble sidelined him from WrestleMania 40. McIntyre’s taunts during Punk’s absence backfired spectacularly when Punk returned to cost him his WrestleMania moment, leading to a series of verbal sparring matches and, finally, physical altercations at Clash at the Castle.
With Punk now cleared to compete, anticipation is high for their showdown at SummerSlam, promising an explosive resolution to their long-standing rivalry.
