WWE Fixes Punk vs. McIntyre Storyline

Drama, both in and out of the ring, has never been unknown in the wrestling world, and it’s certainly not been boring in these last days concerning what could be considered the storyline between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. Press fan feedback has been loud ever since the feud began on their eventual disappointment with how it is unfolding. Many people air their grievances around the creative direction that this feud has taken. But WWE listened to what was spoken by everyone, and now they tried to mend it by getting the storyline right in the hope that it might bring back the magic that a clash of this magnitude merits.

The first angle between Punk and McIntyre had everything going for it to be a classic rivalry. Both superstars are proven to be amongst the best in-ring, cut razor-sharp promos, and can be so effective at playing to an audience. The execution of the feud, however, lacked much of that intensity and depth for which fans hoped, with many feeling the storyline was very rushed with little in the way of build-up or context as to why these two top stars were feuding to begin with. While the wrestling matches were good, there was more incessant emotional weight missing that generally makes a rivalry memorable. From the fact that they had to practically go back to the drawing board, it was clear in the sense that this feud would ever be given justice.

The WWE brought in a number of changes to rejuvenate the Punk vs. McIntyre storyline after fan backlash. First major change: pacing down of the feud. Rather than diving straight into the match with hardly any build-up, WWE has taken a rather different approach by telling a much more subtle story and explaining the motivation behind both superstars, hence giving the fans a reason to get invested. And it is already starting to pay dividends as recent promos from both Punk and McIntyre added some much-needed context toward their rivalry. Of course, Punk has been given more creative license with his promos, and that lends itself to a great deal of real-life tension between himself and McIntyre-something that heightens the story and probably further blurs the lines between fiction and reality.

This new direction for the storyline has also involved the introduction of new elements to give layers to the feud. WWE has even introduced third parties to make this rivalry even more confusing, as the addition of common friends and enemies took on a life of their own. Consider, for example, that Sheamus, a longtime friend of McIntyre’s, added an interesting wrinkle to the storyline, finding himself torn between his loyalty to McIntyre and his admiration for Punk’s anarchistic spirit. This, in itself, created an interesting subplot, as the fans pondered over the fact whether Sheamus would ultimately stay with his friend or take Punk’s side. This layer of complexity gave the fans, practically, a reason to tune in week after week in angst to see how the relationships involving these characters unfold.

Another key part of this revamped storyline has been the noted history between Punk and McIntyre. It has used the past dealings of wrestlers inside WWE and outside the ring to give richness to this feud. Using shared history, WWE’s been able to create some continuity to make the feud feel more organic. The early days have been brought up by both Punk and McIntyre, with McIntyre saying he watched Punk rise to the top as he struggled to find his footing. Punk has spoken about how McIntyre was someone who had all the potential in the world but lacked that killer instinct to truly make it to the top. These personal digs have added a significant amount of emotion to their promos and made the feud all the more real and raw.

The in-ring aspect of the feud has also significantly improved; the matches between Punk and McIntyre have begun to be given time, spotlighting a couple of superstars who can really tell a story in the ring. Such was recognized in their last outing at Monday Night RAW, which many fans and critics alike massively praised as one of the best matches in the year. It was a hard-hitting and back-and-forth match-that saw both men push each other to their limits. The storytelling in the match was top-notch, with Punk targeting McIntyre’s previously injured leg, and McIntyre using his power advantage to try and wear down Punk. The match ended in very controversial fashion, as Punk used underhanded tactics to secure the win and further added to the tension between the two.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to this storyline’s resurgence was when the decision to turn Punk heel was made.

Punk is at his best when allowed to just be the bad guy, and it’s been a good few weeks of him inching his way back into becoming one of the most despised men in WWE. From attacking McIntyre after the bell to scathing promos that target not only McIntyre but the WWE Universe, too, Punk has wholeheartedly pounced on this dog’s bad-guy booking. Of course, this has just made McIntyre much more compelling in his babyface role, as finally, the fans are completely on his side, wanting him to push through and finally take vengeance on Punk. This has added new vigor to the storyline-a despised heel versus a loved babyface-fans rallying around McIntyre in a fashion they never really have before.

The WWE-rehashed storyline of Punk vs. McIntyre was just what was needed to inject some life into what was no more than a meaningless feud. The WWE did wonders in making a rivalry that feels personal, hard-fought by pacing down the action, adding new elements to it, and most importantly allowing both superstars to dig from their real-life history. Throwing in third parties like Sheamus, weaponizing their character development, and creating incrementally better matches each time out has alternatively made their feud one of the most riveting storylines in WWE programming today.

This, however, has perhaps been one of the most salient features of the revised narrative: an increased emphasis on the development of the characters. Both Punk and McIntyre have been given the time to elaborate on their motivation, their fears, and their insecurities. Punk’s promos have really driven the point home that he is the best in the world, and all McIntyre lacks is everything that would allow him to take the title away from him. In a similar vein, where Triple H has spoken of his story of how he’s overcome adversity time and again, of how he needs to be able to say he is one of the greats in WWE history, McIntyre has spoken likewise. In turn, the result has been each man adding layers to this feud, making it more than just a supremacy battle; it has become a deeply personal clash of ideals and ambitions.

Adding another degree of drama to the whole collision was the presence of Sheamus, since he has a lot of history in various ways with both Punk and McIntyre. Caught between those two bitter rivals, his loyalty to McIntyre surely cannot be questioned, although his admiration for the verbal Loose Cannon that he’s created certainly cannot be matched. This inner conflict has resulted in some very compelling moments on WWE television, as Sheamus has placed himself in positions where choices have to be very tough. Where does his loyalty truly lie? It has kept fans in a state of guessing if Sheamus will stick by his long-time friend or join up with Punk.

WWE also tries to put other superstars into the feud, creating chaos and a sense of momentary uncertainty. For example, the interference in recent episodes of RAW and SmackDown has involved other wrestlers, including those from the WWE roster with their own issues against Punk or McIntyre, which results in multi-man tag matches and brawls, always growing in tension between them. Other superstars have contributed to the storyline, which has now ballooned into a big, living, breathing mess that has appeared to pit the entire WWE roster against either Punk or McIntyre.

The other positive when it comes to the updated storyline would be in-ring chemistry between Punk and McIntyre. Their matches have been given time and allowed to organically breathe as there has been the telling of a story via physicality between the two men.

The latest clash between Punk and McIntyre on RAW was a master class in storytelling; both men targeted the weaknesses of his opponent and played to his strengths in an effort to try and gain the upper hand. This was a match full of near falls, dramatic reversals, and oozing with emotion to a controversial finish that left the fans wanting more. The quality of their matches has been in equal measure a testament to the talent of the two superstars and their ability to make an audience sit up and take notice.

With the feud in full build, there has never been a better time to wait for their next big match. This will keep the fans in suspense, and given the trend the storyline is taking, it would appear that the best is yet to come. The next meeting between Punk and McIntyre, whether it be at a SummerSlam or WrestleMania-like pay-per-view event, has all the makings of being one for the ages: a match that most definitely can go down in history as part of one of the great rivalries ever in WWE.

Consequently, the stakes have never been greater, with both men dead set on proving which of the two is truly the better. Fans, therefore, speculate about what WWE can do next in order to build up the momentum between both guys. Will McIntyre finally take revenge on Punk or will Punk outsmart his rival again? Unpredictability within the storyline has been one of its biggest strengths, keeping fans on the edge of their seats to ensure they tune in week after week. Many have said that a stipulation match could be possible, such as a steel cage or a Last Man Standing match, which further hyped up the future of this feud.

For now, at least, it would seem WWE has finally managed to fix the Punk-McIntyre storyline and how the WWE Universe hopes for a resolution to this very personal and intense feud. The switch indeed has made the clash between Punk and McIntyre one of the most captivating and emotionally driven storylines in some time. The potent mix of character development, quality matches, and incorporation of other superstars only added to the unpredictability-a feeling that has driven excitement throughout the waiting masses of wrestling fans worldwide. Where this feud will lead remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the best is yet to come, and the WWE Universe ain’t seen nothing yet.