A deeper look at Hell in a Cell–the match that should have headlined Bad Blood
Covered in blood, Drew McIntyre and CM Punk were magnificent inside Hell in a Cell
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Drew McIntyre and CM Punk exceeded their goals inside Hell in a Cell
If this past Saturday was CM Punk’s audition for a main event at WrestleMania, then he passed–with flying colors.
And while Drew McIntyre has built a reputation as one of the best in the world, he lacked a defining moment in front of a crowd. Until now, that is–McIntyre delivered a masterpiece on Saturday at Bad Blood, losing to Punk in an absolute homage to the beauty of pro wrestling.
Without question, this was Punk’s best match since his return. Even better than his epic AEW Dog Collar bout against MJF from 2022, it stands as Punk’s best match since losing to Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam in 2013. Yet that doesn’t fully capture the significance of what unfolded. This is one of the best matches in WWE history.
Ahead of the carnage, McIntyre cut a promo where he promised the match wouldn’t be cinema, which is a popular modern term in pro wrestling describing the beauty of a match and its story. Instead, McIntyre vowed it would be destruction–precisely what occurred, even if it was a genuinely cinematic moment when McIntyre, face covered in blood, begged Punk not to finish him with a wrench.
Without question, this should have headlined the card. It was The Rock’s return that ended the show, which could have waited (and it would have added to SmackDown or almost any other PLE). Bad Blood was built on the shoulders of McIntyre and Punk, and they earned the right to carry this show from the prestigious confines of the main event.
Punk cemented his legacy in the bloody 31-minute affair. McIntyre was, in a word, spectacular. In addition to pure violence, there was subtlety, innuendo, and a hint of the unknown–did McIntyre blade after he was hit with the toolbox, or did the apparatus cause the blood to flow? The unsolved mystery only added to the moment; with blood gushing like a running faucet, this instantly became the most memorable showing of McIntyre’s career.
McIntyre brought Punk to places he simply hadn’t been in WWE–and there were criticisms of Punk’s pacing and delivery–but there were no questions or lingering doubt after this one. Punk now stands one step closer to fulfilling his decades-long dream of headlining WrestleMania, and McIntyre carved out a place in WWE history. Unlike his world title reign during the pandemic, this time he performed the feat in front of an awestruck crowd.
Punk and McIntyre had wrestled twice prior, but those encounters were nowhere near the level of this trilogy bout. There was the match this summer at SummerSlam that never truly connected, and a good-but-not-great rematch at Bash in Berlin, but Hell in a Cell captured the ferocity of their entire feud. It also included a tribute to the Bret Hart-Steve Austin sharpshooter shot from WrestleMania 13 (this time, with blood covering McIntyre’s face), Punk’s attempt at a Future Shock (which is how he injured himself this past January in the Royal Rumble match), McIntyre delivering a low blow (Punk hit one to cost McIntyre the world title at Money in the Bank), and McIntyre’s insistence upon mocking Punk with broken pieces of his friendship bracelet–a move that backfired and ultimately worked in Punk’s favor.
Nearly two scores have passed since, but it was reminiscent of the WrestleMania III classic between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat. In that bout, both competitors desperately fought to win, leading to countless near-falls. This story differed, though it was similarly resolute: these two wanted to hurt one another. Given the detailed, months-long backstory, their proliferation of ruthless violence made complete sense. There was the table spot outside the ring late in the match, as well as McIntyre hitting White Noise on Punk atop the steel steps and an abundance of hand tools. It resulted in the match psychology rising to a new realm.
McIntyre looked poised to win as he set up a third Claymore, but Punk narrowly circumvented the blow, causing McIntyre to inflict further damage to himself with a gruesome back-first thud onto the steps. Better than any other, that sequence captured the essence of this match–Punk intent on proving he remains at the top of his game, McIntyre determined to show there is no tougher or better big-match performer in the world.
Against remarkable odds, both accomplished exactly what they set out to do.
The finish saw Punk force McIntyre to eat a mouthful of friendship beads, then take one final GTS to a chain-wrapped left knee. But the end did not come when referee Sean Bennett counted to three to end the match. The post-match theatrics were everything that is right with pro wrestling, with McIntyre broken in half in the ring and the proud Punk collapsing on his way to the back.
For those who still don’t believe Punk will find a way to headline WrestleMania, you simply haven’t been paying close enough attention. After Hell in a Cell, he is one step closer. McIntyre wrestled with his own lofty target in mind, seeking to prove he is the one–not Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, or anyone else–destined to carry the company.
Punk and McIntyre now move in two different directions. Hopefully they will intersect at least one more time–with McIntyre perhaps defeating Punk for the world title–and recapture the magic of pro wrestling.
This past week…
… Yes, The Rock came back at Bad Blood–but to his credit, Bill Goldberg’s return has accumulated more views on YouTube.
… A new media rights deal was announced for AEW, which is a positive for pro wrestling.
… Bryan Danielson defeated Kazuchika Okada last week on Dynamite, then stepped in the ring last night in a tag against Jon Moxley, his opponent this Saturday at WrestleDream. Does anyone else get the sense that Wheeler Yuta is turning on Danielson?
… Jey Uso stopped by NXT last night, and we saw the future of the women’s division when Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia shared the ring together.
… Gunther defeated Sami Zayn in the main event of Monday’s Raw, making Gunther-Cody Rhodes the main event for Crown Jewel.
… Led by Scott D’Amore, Maple Leaf Wrestling is making its return–and doing so with a statement show next week.
“From The Archives” starting next week
My journey onto Substack has led to a new podcast–High Above Ringside.
I’m still exploring different ideas to enhance the weekly set-up and structure, and there will be an emphasis on adding more voices than just my own. This week’s episode featured a clip of an interview with Matt Cardona, and it gave me an idea: playing a piece of a different interview every week. And I have no shortage of them, with an eclectic array of interview subjects.
“From The Archives” will debut next Tuesday when the newest podcast is available. It will be a clip from a May of 2018 interview with “Mean” Gene Okerlund, who discussed his friendship with the famed Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
Okerlund and Heenan are two wrestling legends. Even after their deaths, each has left a legacy that continues to reverberate. While I never had the privilege of interviewing Heenan, I’m honored to share a piece of this one with Okerlund.
Tweet of the Week
Makes sense–Dustin Rhodes is the grandson of a plumber.