WWE Bad Blood 2024 results: CM Punk beats Drew McIntyre in bloody opener

CM Punk defeated Drew McIntyre in a brutal, great opening match and an all-time classic Hell in a Cell match.

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre are the frontrunners for WWE's feud of 2024, and the ultimate honor for a blood feud is ending in Hell in a Cell. Due to the star power, the quality of the feud, and the pageantry of the Cell, many fans felt that Hell in a Cell should end the show. Instead, Punk and McIntyre opened Bad Blood with the same Hell in a Cell match, which began on October 5, 1997. Exactly 27 years ago.

It is still an honor to open such a heated pay-per-view program, as the opening and closing matches are the two most prestigious spots on a pay-per-view program. During Vince McMahon's winter years, WWE tainted Hell in a Cell, not only by changing the color scheme, but also by booking an annual Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. As a result, WWE superstars competed in the legendary cage just because it was that time of year and not because there was a grudge that only Satan's Structure could contain.

Drew McIntyre has fought his way to the top of WWE, while CM Punk's redemption tour following a bitter divorce in 2014 has gone smoothly. Now the two top stars just have to give each other hell. And they made the devil out of each other.

Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk | Everything that happened in hell in a cell

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre stared sharply at each other as they slowly approached the center of the ring. After a staredown, both opponents exchanged blows. The fans cheered as Punk took control, but booed as McIntyre attacked Punk.

CM Punk went to a table for a big pop. The two then brawled outside, with Punk grabbing a wrench and using it on Drew McIntyre. Michael Cole said that this won't be a five-star classic, and by that he meant that this match takes place outside of New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW, so Dave Meltzer will downgrade it for that reason.

Punk then grabbed one of the table legs and used it to give McIntyre a shove before slamming Drew into the back of the table. The bloodthirsty crowd at State Farm Arena chanted “Again!”

McIntyre turned the tables, no pun intended, and threw Punk outside. He then threw Punk face first into the cage, causing Punk to bleed. McIntyre fired the ball off the steel steps with a shot to the face.

The violence continued as McIntyre stomped on Punk's face while his head was on the steel steps. As fans rallied behind Punk, McIntyre vowed that Punk's wife would leave him. McIntyre grabbed the wrench and stabbed Punk's open wound as the Second City Saint bled even more.

McIntyre set up a second table on the outside while referee Shawn Bennett assured Punk could continue.

Michael Cole pointed to the black armband Drew McIntyre wore on his left arm in honor of Punk's funeral.

Fans chanted “This is great” as Punk performed. McIntyre tried the Claymore Kick and Punk got out of the way. The fans surprisingly booed. As McIntyre pursued Punk, Punk smashed Drew with a toolbox, causing McIntyre to bleed.

Punk fired a series of shots with the toolbox, followed by a GTS. Unfortunately, McIntyre rolled out of the ring.

Back in the ring, McIntyre attempted a Claymore Kick, but Punk dodged it, resulting in a sharpshooter on a bloodied McIntyre reminiscent of WrestleMania 13.

Drew McIntyre fought back again with the help of the Wrench and hit a suplex on Punk through the table from the outside. At this point, fans went into an uproar, chanting “This is great” again.

McIntyre carefully pushed a steel step into the ring and sold his back. Punk caught McIntyre with another GTS, but Drew kicked out. McIntyre hit White Noise on Punk for another near fall.

Punk caught McIntyre in an Anaconda Vice. McIntyre tried to hit Punk with a wrench, but Punk grabbed the wrench and hit Drew with the gun. A bloodthirsty Drew begged off as Punk delivered the decisive punch and Drew delivered a low blow to a chorus of boos.

In another homage, this time to 1998's Hell in a Cell, Drew McIntyre pulled out what looked like a bag of thumbtacks. They weren't thumbtacks, but plastic beads for a friendship bracelet. McIntyre missed a claymore kick and landed hard on the steel steps.

Punk wrapped a chain around his quad. He shoved the beads down McIntyre's throat and hit a GTS with the chain for the win.