CM Punk Returns and Shakes Up SmackDown
Summary
– CM Punk returns to SmackDown, causing chaos and costing Drew McIntyre a title shot.
– Cody Rhodes remains WWE champion after a brutal “I Quit” match with AJ Styles.
– The Bloodline faces new challenges, with Randy Orton and Kevin Owens backing Rhodes.
CM Punk dramatically returned to WWE SmackDown in Chicago, stirring up major chaos. Known as the Second City Savior, Punk interfered in Drew McIntyre’s match, preventing him from becoming the world heavyweight champion. This led to McIntyre’s emotional outburst, declaring he was quitting WWE.
Cody Rhodes, still the undisputed WWE champion after a grueling “I Quit” match with AJ Styles, continues to have a target on his back from The Bloodline. Now facing their own problems, the faction dealt with Rhodes and his new allies, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. Orton returned to SmackDown to assist Owens, signaling an ongoing feud with The Bloodline.
The SmackDown side of the Money in the Bank qualifying matches began with two triple-threat bouts. Randy Orton faced Tama Tonga and Carmelo Hayes, while the second match featured more top contenders vying for a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match.