CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre Hell in a Cell Match at WWE Bad Blood Earns Rare 5-Star Rating

The intense showdown between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre at WWE Bad Blood 2024 left fans speechless with its brutality and drama, but what truly stunned the wrestling world was Dave Meltzer awarding the match a rare 5-star rating in his Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Meltzer, known for his strict and often reserved rating system for WWE matches, sent shockwaves through social media as fans reacted to this unexpected accolade.

The Hell in a Cell match, which opened the event at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, had been building for months. It began when McIntyre injured Punk’s tricep at the Royal Rumble in January, leading to a deeply personal rivalry. The feud reached its climax inside the cell, marking the 53rd time the Hell in a Cell stipulation had been used in WWE history. Despite McIntyre’s prior two losses in Hell in a Cell matches and Punk’s 2-0 record in the structure, this encounter had a different intensity, and it showed from the opening bell.

Meltzer’s 5-star rating was largely due to the brutal, bloody spectacle that unfolded inside the cage. The match saw both men shed blood early on as weapons were introduced right from the start. From CM Punk’s running knee and double axhandle drop to McIntyre’s vicious use of a toolbox and other weapons, the bout had the Atlanta crowd chanting “This is awesome!” as the competitors tore into each other. The visual of both men bloodied and battered added to the drama of the match, with McIntyre taunting Punk mid-match, delivering lines like, “Your wife is gonna leave you,” while slamming Punk into the cage.

The chaos reached its peak when Punk stuffed plastic beads—symbolizing his destroyed bracelet—into McIntyre’s mouth and wrapped a chain around his knee before delivering a devastating GTS to secure the victory. The carnage left the ring looking like a crime scene, fitting for the animosity that had been brewing between the two.

What made Meltzer’s 5-star rating so surprising was that such high marks are typically reserved for matches outside of WWE, particularly in promotions like NJPW or AEW. Fans took to Twitter after the newsletter dropped, expressing their shock and excitement over the rating. Many pointed out how rare it is for a WWE match to receive such a score from Meltzer, adding to the match’s historic feel.

Punk vs. McIntyre not only delivered on the hype but exceeded expectations, earning a place in the upper echelon of WWE’s Hell in a Cell history. The match set the tone for the rest of the 2024 Bad Blood event and further cemented CM Punk’s legacy as a master of big-match moments.

As the news of the 5-star rating spread, fans and critics alike have been debating whether this could be considered the best Hell in a Cell match of all time. While WWE has delivered numerous classic Hell in a Cell bouts over the years, Meltzer’s rating has ensured that this one will be remembered for years to come.