CM Punk medically cleared to compete, MAJOR STIPULATION added to SummerSlam match against Drew McIntyre on Raw

Seth Rollins will be the special guest referee in the CM Punk-Drew McIntyre match at SummerSlam.

CM Punk medically cleared to compete, MAJOR STIPULATION added to SummerSlam match against Drew McIntyre on Raw

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre official for SummerSlam (via @BWAMatt/X)

CM Punk returned on this week’s episode of Raw, looking for a fight. Before calling out Drew McIntyre for a match, the Straight Edge Superstar disclosed that he was medically cleared for in-ring competition. The Scottish Warrior did show up but wasn’t up for a fight tonight. Meanwhile, Punk had to be separated by personnel and referees, as he had no intention of listening to McIntyre. This brought out Adam Pearce, who made the match official for SummerSlam.

However, Pearce added a surprising twist to the bout. Seth Rollins arrived to the ring to drop a surprising bombshell, revealing himself as the special guest referee for the match. Punk and McIntyre had a staredown, while Rollins stood in the middle of the ring. Previously, rumors suggested that WWE had been planning to somehow integrate The Visionary into the feud. 

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Additionally, Pearce stated that he lifted McIntyre’s suspension. Moreover, he warned both wrestlers that if they engaged in physical confrontation before SummerSlam, he would suspend both of them. Since Punk’s return to WWE, the Scot hasn’t hesitated from taking shots at The Second City Saint. Tensions boiled over after Drew McIntyre injured the latter, putting a halt to his WrestleMania main event aspirations.

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After CM Punk screwed him out of the World Heavyweight title at Clash at the Castle, things took a personal turn. McIntyre stole the Best in the World’s personal bracelet, which prompted Punk to return and sabotage his Money in the Bank plans. With Rollins now in the mix, fans cannot wait to see how their match pans out at SummerSlam.

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Will history repeat itself in CM Punk-Drew McIntyre clash at SummerSlam?

The much-anticipated clash between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre will finally take place at SummerSlam. However, they’ll have to obey the orders of a mutual rival, Seth Rollins. Following confirmation of the stipulation, the similarities between this bout and the SummerSlam 1997 main event are jarring. 

SummerSlam 1997 main event
SummerSlam 1997 main event (via WWE)

Almost 27 years ago, Shawn Michaels posed as a special guest referee in the WWE title match between archnemesis Bret Hart and The Undertaker. The ending saw HBK inadvertently cost The Deadman after he accidentally hit him with a steel chair intended for Hart.

As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a repetition of the same spot at this year’s SummerSlam. Rollins could potentially be the deciding factor between Punk and McIntyre. Regardless of the outcome, it is safe to say that this three-way rivalry will be far from over.

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