What's next for CM Punk after defeat at WWE SummerSlam 2024?

‘The best in the world’ had his first one-on-one match in WWE after 11 years

After an electrifying return to WWE, CM Punk had his first televised one-on-one match in 11 years at 2024 SummerSlam, facing Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as the special guest referee. Punk, in great shape, delivered a stellar performance, making their match one of the evening’s highlights. The combination of Punk and McIntyre’s in-ring prowess, coupled with Rollins’ involvement, significantly enhanced the entertainment levels, creating a memorable match that fans won’t forget anytime soon.

The rivalry between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre traces back to the Men’s 2024 Royal Rumble when McIntyre injured Punk mid-match. Since then, Punk has been a thorn in McIntyre’s side, costing him multiple championship opportunities. Given the intensity of their animosity, it was anticipated that SummerSlam would conclude with a win for McIntyre, and that’s precisely what happened. However, WWE ensured that the finish was orchestrated in a way that preserved Punk’s credibility.

Now that the match is over, the big question is: What’s next for CM Punk?

Despite losing at SummerSlam, Punk’s feud with Drew McIntyre is far from over. The match ended in controversy as Punk was distracted by special guest referee Seth Rollins, whom he hit with a GTS. In Punk’s eyes, he had McIntyre beaten with the GTS, but Rollins delayed the three-count, allowing McIntyre to kick out and subsequently hit him with Claymore and pin him for the win.

This controversy gives Punk an out for the loss and a reason to remain involved in this heated rivalry. Punk now has scores to settle with both McIntyre and Rollins. Given Rollins’ deep-seated animosity towards Punk, a possible direction for this storyline is a Triple Threat match at Bash in Berlin between Punk, Rollins, and McIntyre. Yet, whether WWE will immediately move to this high-stakes bout remains uncertain.

Alternatively, Punk could directly target Seth Rollins for costing him the SummerSlam match or Rollins could retaliate at Punk for hitting him with the GTS when Rollins was only trying to do his referee duties. Meanwhile, McIntyre could pursue the World Heavyweight Championship as Drew McIntyre vs. Gunther would be a perfect main event for Bash in Berlin.

The Punk-Seth scenario would also set up a one-on-one match between the two at Bash in Berlin. Nonetheless, since a Punk vs Rollins match is being earmarked as a major event for WrestleMania 41, it is unlikely we will see this before then.

Another plausible scenario is Punk seeking a rematch against McIntyre at Bad Blood, but this time inside Hell in a Cell to prevent any interference. This would give Punk a chance at redemption in a controlled environment. However, if Punk were to defeat McIntyre cleanly inside the Cell, it may dent McIntyre’s credibility after his recent victory which was the first after a series of losses in important matches.

These are a few possibilities for how this intense rivalry might unfold. So far, it has been one of the best rivalries in WWE at the moment, with a phenomenal build-up. Only time will tell what direction this triple-threat grudge rivalry will take, but one thing’s certain—CM Punk’s story is far from finished.

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