CM Punk finally returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, but things didn’t go as smoothly as expected. In his first televised match back at the Royal Rumble, Punk tore his triceps after a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre.
While Punk was recovering, he and McIntyre exchanged plenty of jabs on social media and in promos. During one notable promo, McIntyre mentioned Punk’s injury and said, “I prayed for this, and it happened”.
In an interview with Sam Roberts, McIntyre shared that he initially wanted to push the promo further, but Triple H advised him to tone it down to avoid offending the audience.
“I actually went a step further, and between Triple H and I, we got it where we felt like we wouldn’t offend a lot of people. I had it a little further than that, and Triple H dialed me back slightly, and we landed there.”
McIntyre also responded to Punk’s claim that being in a storyline with him was significant. He argued that he kept Punk’s name relevant during his recovery and helped justify Punk’s substantial paycheck.
“That’s one way to look at it because he’s right. He is a gigantic name. But at the same time, I would say to him, he’s been out for 7 months. As big a name as he is, if it was anybody else in my position that couldn’t do their job like me or didn’t have the same feelings I had, did I not make him and keep him relevant and justify the big check that he’s been making the whole time so people are actually excited to see him come back and have this gigantic match at a stadium show? Does it not work both ways? Egotistical prick.”
McIntyre defeated Punk at SummerSlam, with Seth Rollins as the special guest referee. The McIntyre-Punk feud continued on this week’s RAW.
Word going on is that Punk and McIntyre will eventually square off inside Hell in a Cell.
WATCH: Stephanie Vaquer Shows Her Buns:
