CM Punk medically cleared for WWE return after surgery as two huge changes made to SummerSlam match
CM Punk has been medically cleared to compete at SummerSlam next month after major surgery, with major stipulations added to his bout with Drew McIntyre.
Punk will battle the Scot at the Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3 after suffering a torn quadriceps back in January.
The Straight Edge star had only returned to WWE the prior November at Survivor Series, for many years an unthinkable comeback given the strained relationship between the two parties.
After sizable build up, Punk entered the Royal Rumble match and eventfully finished runner up to winner Cody Rhodes, who duly went on to win the Undisputed WWE title at WrestleMania.
In the process, he suffered the damaging, legitimate injury in taking a DDT from McIntyre – something WWE have been more than happy to lean into for the purposes of their storylines.
The pair have battled and sniped at one another ever since and, after six months out, Punk will finally get the chance to wrestle a televised singles match in WWE for the first time in over ten years.
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The Scottish Warrior meets 45-year-old Punk in the ultimate grudge match after the latter was finally given medical sign off.
Speaking to the live crowd at Monday’s Raw, he said: “I saw my surgeon Saturday night and he said I’m cleared.
“And that means we’re going to fight, and I’m going to get my pound of flesh.”
The 'Best in the World' then called out McIntyre to go at it there and then, before storyline authority figure Adam Pearce intervened, saying their battle had been slated for SummerSlam.
In an interesting turn, Pearce added a pre-bout stipulation that puts the match in jeopardy should the two rivals engage in physicality prior to the big summer date – and a suspension for whoever throws the first blow.
That wasn’t all – there was a special guest referee appointed in the form of Seth Rollins, a rival to both combatants, just to add even more spice to the mix.
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Though Punk can now wrestle again, he has been far from an innocent bystander during his months of rehabilitation, foiling McIntyre in his own quests for glories at every turn as part of a long-running feud.
At WrestleMania in Philadelphia, McIntyre beat Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, only to goad Punk at ringside moments after and fall victim to an attack which allowed Damian Priest to cash in Money in the Bank and steal the newly won championship.
McIntyre looked to have gained a measure of redemption in his homeland at Clash at the Castle last month in performing well against Priest in a title bout having cashed in his own briefcase, only for Punk to once again cost him victory with Priest eventually retaining.
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This week’s Raw saw another big match confirmed for SummerSlam as the card for the Premium Live event continues to take shape.
After defeating Ilja Dragunov to become number one contender for the Intercontinental title, Bron Breakker will challenge champ Sami Zayn in a re-match of their clash at Money in the Bank.