CM Punk Costs Drew McIntyre WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Clash at the Castle
Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest clashed in a fierce battle at WWE's Clash at the Castle, closing out the event with an intense match. The contest, held in Scotland, had the entire stadium cheering for McIntyre, the hometown hero. Despite the support, an old rivalry with CM Punk cost McIntyre his big moment.
Priest, recently celebrated at the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York, faced McIntyre as the underdog and major heel. The fans were solidly behind McIntyre, hoping he would seize victory in the main event.
The match featured relentless back-and-forth action. McIntyre hit a Future Shock DDT, but Priest kicked out. Priest then countered a Claymore Kick, maintaining the match's intensity. The Glasgow crowd chanted "This is awesome" as the battle continued. McIntyre delivered a surprise Claymore Kick, but it only resulted in a two count.
A critical moment occurred when the referee was incapacitated. Priest hit a powerbomb, and McIntyre countered with another Claymore Kick, but there was no referee to count. Suddenly, another referee appeared, revealed to be CM Punk. Punk confronted McIntyre, who then backed Punk into the turnbuckle, leading to Punk kicking McIntyre below the belt. This allowed Priest to hit his South of Heaven finisher and secure the pin.
As the fans processed the shocking turn of events, CM Punk took his bow, and Priest celebrated his victory.
Drew McIntyre's wife, Kaitlyn, couldn't attend the event in person, but McIntyre wore a "K" on his wrist tape as a tribute. During a pre-show press conference, McIntyre vowed to win in Scotland, determined to overcome his previous loss to Roman Reigns at the first Clash at the Castle in Cardiff two years ago.
Despite winning the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania by defeating Seth Rollins, McIntyre's confrontation with CM Punk led to a downfall, allowing Priest to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase. However, Triple H later ensured McIntyre had his moment, recapturing the title in his homeland.
When CM Punk returned at the 2023 Survivor Series event in Chicago, Drew McIntyre had already exited the WarGames ring, seemingly anticipating Punk's comeback. McIntyre, clearly displeased, has since taken multiple shots at Punk for walking out eight years ago.
Punk's injury at the Royal Rumble derailed plans for a WrestleMania match against Seth Rollins. This also delayed McIntyre's chance to confront Punk directly. Despite this, McIntyre has persistently trolled Punk at every opportunity.
Although CM Punk was sidelined with a triceps injury, his involvement at Clash at the Castle suggests a potential match with McIntyre may happen sooner rather than later.
