Did WWE subtly hint at CM Punk's next opponent after Drew McIntyre on RAW? Possibility explored

CM Punk and Drew McIntyre were involved in a brutal segment on the latest episode of Monday Night RAW, where the Best in the World delivered some vicious shots to McIntyre's back. Despite their clash at SummerSlam this year, the feud between Drew and Punk is far from over.

However, during the recent RAW, WWE seemingly hinted that World Heavyweight Champion Gunther could be CM Punk's next opponent once his rivalry with the Scottish Warrior concludes.

This hint was dropped during a backstage segment featuring both the Ring General and CM Punk. In this segment, just before Punk's interview, we see Gunther backstage, furious and searching for Randy Orton. The World Champion even smashed a bunch of bottles from a table, catching Punk’s attention. However, the Voice of the Voiceless simply walked on and proceeded with his interview.

The fact that these two stars shared a segment without any current storyline connection has led fans to believe it’s only a matter of time before they clash. Punk has previously stated that he would focus on bigger goals after his feud with McIntyre, though their rivalry didn't end at SummerSlam. It seems likely that Punk will turn his attention to more significant targets afterward.

Additionally, during the most recent episode of RAW, Punk, McIntyre, Orton, and Gunther were all involved in a single segment where Orton struck the Ring General and Punk attacked Drew.

This further suggests that WWE is planting seeds for a future World Heavyweight Championship match between CM Punk and the Imperium Leader.

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Will CM Punk become the new World Heavyweight Champion soon?

The rivalry between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk is expected to conclude in the coming months, with Bad Blood 2024 likely serving as the final chapter of their feud. However, if Punk moves on to face Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, the question arises: can the Best in the World capture the title? Right now, the chances seem slim.

The reason for this is that Gunther's first World title reign has only just begun, and the way WWE has booked him during his pursuit of the championship suggests a lengthy reign ahead. If Punk does enter a rivalry with Gunther after Bad Blood, it may primarily serve to elevate the Ring General's status as World Champion and further solidify his position as a main event star.

However, if this clash were to take place around Royal Rumble 2025 or WrestleMania 41, the odds of Punk winning the World title would certainly increase. By then, Gunther's reign would be well-established, and a title change involving Punk could make for a noteworthy moment of his WWE comeback.