It feels a bit hyperbolic to say this week’s WWE RAW had everything, so I won’t say it, but it damn sure feels like that wouldn’t be far from accurate if I did. It was jam packed with high-level storylines and each attempted to steal the show from the other, making it the perfect RAW after a PLE — the fallout from Clash at the Castle impacting everyone, and especially CM Punk and Drew McIntyre.
Hell, McIntyre was so fed up by being screwed over by Punk in his hometown of Glasgow that he took to the ring on Monday but not for a long, biting promo.
It was to quit the company.
And only two days after Punk made a bombshell guarantee.
With news of CM Punk potentially being medically cleared this week and preparing to appear on SmackDown in his own hometown of Chicago, it’s a safe bet there will be plenty of gloating on his part as he likely takes credit for turning McIntyre into a quitter — the very thing McIntyre accused Punk of being following his return to WWE.
Well, well, well. How the turn tables.
Date: Friday, June 21
Time: 8 pm ET/7 pm CT
Location: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, IL)
Also on the menu is WWE Champion Cody Rhodes appearing to potentially aim his sights once again at The Bloodline following the sneak attack from Solo Sikoa, Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga after forcing A.J. Styles to quit at Clash, being saved by Kevin Owens and Randy Orton; who have their own bone to continue picking with the new-look faction.
And what of Logan Paul, considering his home was trespassed by LA Knight with a challenge to finally return to SmackDown to face his comeuppance from the Megastar??
So many questions, and only one path to the answers.
Are you ready to see if SmackDown can hold a candle to what RAW produced?!
And is anyone safe on Friday night from Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks (6) after the massacre that happened on Monday?!!!
With SmackDown general manager saying he’s upped security and promising a massacre won’t “happen on my watch”, well, you can pretty much guarantee it will.
8/7c on @FOXTV pic.twitter.com/z5TvQRpcYM
— WWE (@WWE) June 21, 2024
FULL EXPLANATION OF THE WYATT SICKS (6) IS HERE.
With only a couple weeks between now and Money in the Bank in Toronto, expect barrels of fireworks ahead of Independence Day weekend.
Follow along below for live results and reaction from the latest episode of SmackDown:
CM Punk on McIntyre’s White Flag
Make no mistake about it: Punk has McIntyre in a meat grinder.
He’s now cost McIntyre the WWE Heavyweight Championship to Damian Priest not once, but twice, and the most recent punishment occurred in McIntyre’s home country … and in his hometown … with his family and friends in attendance to watch the robbery.
That was all McIntyre could stand ‘til he couldn’t stands no more, but instead of pouring a can of spinach into his cob pipe and going full Popeye on his version of Bluto, he quit.
Or at least that’s what he sold to RAW on Monday night.
“Did I embarrass Chicago?”
We definitely see where you’re going with this, @CMPunk…
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/e6mY21YScJ
— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024
Four nights later, Punk (having escaped the carnage of the Wyatt Sicks (6)), was back in his own hometown of Chicago to provide both news of his medical status following months of recovering from the torn tricep at Royal Rumble that Mcintyre takes credit for, as well as his reaction to McIntyre waving the white flag only 48 hours after Punk promised all of WWE that his Scottish rival would “never win a championship for as long as I live.”
Jab back, Mac.
JAB BACK.
SEE FULL RECAP FROM ELECTRIC WWE RAW HERE.
“I hate to kick a man while he’s down, but it’s a little bit of revenge, isn’t it?” said Punk in Chicago. “… You can get back up and you can turn the other cheek, but I’m from Chicago, and that’s not an option. … You send me to the hospital and I’m gonna send you to the morgue.”
That is nasty work by Punk.
But things got extremely interesting when Hall of Famer Paul Heyman interrupted Punk who, by the way, is the former ECW World Heavyweight Champion. That is to say there’s a history between these two — hence the hug that commenced in the middle of the ring.
The niceties stopped there when Heyman “warned” Punk to “get outta here” before Solo Sikoa and Co. came out to do him bodily harm.
“Please, get the hell out of here right now,” said Heyman.
And right on cue, out came The Bloodline, after Punk and the entire city of Chicago scoffed at the notion that he’d be “jumped” in his own city.
Sikoa presented him with two options: either pay his respect to The Bloodline or catch hands and “never ever get cleared to wrestle again”. For a man like Punk, it seems the third option is always on the table: to dismantle Sikoa on live television.
And, right then, Heyman begged Punk to “take me with you” if he ends Sikoa.
PAUL SAID WHAT???
“If you don’t get out of here right now, they’re coming for you.”
@HeymanHustle is begging @CMPunk to leave!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/cA2Fj2L7L1
— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024
But while digesting that bombshell, Punk vomited one hell of a line.
“I acknowledge the fact that I don’t see The Bloodline standing in front of me. I see a bunch a fake ass Usos and a phony, cosplay Tribal Chief,” he yelled.
Finally, somebody else said it.
.@CMPunk said: What Bloodline?
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/w0CmgbcibJ— WWE (@WWE) June 22, 2024
*WHOAAAAAA*
Is that … Cody Rhodes?!!
It was, and the WWE Champion helped Punk chase The Bloodline away with bats before challenging Sikoa to a main event fight at SmackDown in Chicago and you can bet Punk will get his hands dirty as well after being challenged to bend the knee.
All Rhodes Lead to Blood
Reaction: TBD
One Hell of a Knight
Reaction: TBD
MITB Triple Threat Qualifier, Part 1
Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Michin
Result: TBD
Reaction:TBD
MITB Triple Threat Qualifier, Part 2
Randy Orton vs. Tama Tonga vs. Carmelo Hayes
Result: TBD
Reaction:TBD
MITB Triple Threat Qualifer, Part 3
Kevin Owens vs. Andrade vs. Grayson Waller
Result: TBD
Reaction:TBD
Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
Result: TBD
Reaction:TBD
::: FULL CALENDAR FOR WWE EVENTS HERE.
