Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest for the WWE World Championship.
Drew McIntyre lost to Damian Priest in his home country of Scotland at WWE Clash at the Castle. The finish came after a ref bump, when Drew McIntyre seemed to have the match won. Finally, a referee ran down to make the count.
The referee turned out to be CM Punk.
After a CM Punk kick to the groin of Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest won the match with the South of Heaven. Following Priest’s win, a hot WWE Clash at the Castle show went off the air on a very sour note.
Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest’s world title match was made especially intriguing as there was legitimate doubt as to whom would win. On on hand, it’s unfathomable to think that McIntyre would lose a second world title match in the UK after losing to Roman Reigns at Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales. On the other hand, McIntyre’s long-term rivalry with CM Punk ramped up this past week as McIntyre defaulted back to trolling his foe.
Punk was reportedly in Scotland, suggesting he could possibly cost McIntyre the World Championship. Judgment Day was banned from ringside for this World Title Match, but CM Punk wasn’t.
Damian Priest won the WWE World Championship from Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40, Night 2, after cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase with help from CM Punk. With just over two months as world champion, Priest’s first world title reign will be a short one should he lose tonight, but is it worth having Drew lose in his home country?
WWE ‘s long-term storytelling is apparent in the w`orld title picture on Raw. In addition to McIntyre vs. Priest at Clash at the Castle, the winner of this match will face the nearly unstoppable GUNTHER at SummerSlam. Depending on when The Judgment Day officially breaks up, this is shaping up to be yet another Heel vs. Heel matchup. Furthermore, CM Punk’s torn triceps continues to heel, and after his Royal Rumble injury, Punk is getting closer and closer to an in-ring return. One that would inevitably involve Punk’s long-awaited matchup against Drew McIntyre.
For WWE, the McIntyre-Punk-Judgment Day saga seems to be written for them through WrestleMania. Dominik Mysterio seems destined for a split with Rhea Ripley, that will more than likely end the stable as we know it, if not fracture the Judgment Day in half. Liv Morgan would be the beneficiary. WWE’s storytelling has been reminiscent of the Attitude Era where top WWE Superstars would be simultaneously involved in multiple feuds that would play out over the course of moths.