CM Punk versus Drew McIntyre: It's time to end it

Drew McIntyre versus CM Punk is one of the top feuds of this year. What started as an accident during the 2024 Royal Rumble sparked a battle that continues almost ten months later. As their Hell in a Cell match approaches at WWE Bad Blood, one thing is clear. It’s time to bring this story to a close and move both men onto something different.

McIntyre versus Punk has seen its share of highs and some questionable low points along the way. Punk remains one of the most popular performers in the industry, while McIntyre continues to show he’s capable of playing a believable heel against the top names in WWE. Fans turned on the angle a bit when they battled over the bracelet, and that was perhaps the moment that it jumped the proverbial shark.

Hell in the Cell has been used to bring several feuds to a close. The same must be said here. There’s nothing left for Punk and McIntyre to do against one another. Pushing them onto different paths will be the right move, as anything longer will certainly cause fans to turn on them. Where can they go next?

Expect Punk to come out of HIAC with the victory. They are going into this match 1-1, with this being the tiebreaker. A victory for Punk sets him up to move closer to the main title. GUNTHER is on quite the run and it would be interesting to see this iteration of him stand across from CM Punk. While Punk will not be able to keep up with Gunther from an in-ring standpoint, they will be able to tell an interesting story around it. That is where Punk excels. Is he the right man to take the belt from Gunther? Perhaps, because a title on Punk creates an opportunity for great feuds within the rest of the roster. But WWE does not need to rush into that situation.

On the other side of the coin, McIntyre should turn his focus toward Jey Uso. Uso’s move to WWE Raw spurred this character change in him and it’s a story that can be rekindled. Uso picking up the WWE Intercontinental Championship gives McIntyre another reason to turn his focus toward his former enemy.

CM Punk versus Drew McIntyre has been fun and given fans much to talk about. But almost a year after the angle started, it is time to move both men in a different direction.