@wwe, x, screenshot

Night 2 opened with a bang as an injured CM Punk impacts WrestleMania 40; Damian Priest cashes Money In The Bank on Drew McIntyre.

If the opening match is anything to go by, Sunday night was going to be going to be crazy. This after we saw two title changes before we reached the second match of night two. WrestleMania 40 opened with Seth Rollins defending his World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre. Rollins had been beaten and abused during night one’s brutal main event. The damage on Saturday, coupled with the quick turnaround, did the now-former champion no favors.

To be fair, Rollins put up more than a valiant fight, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. Drew McIntyre got his long-awaited championship win in front of fans. However, the moment was short-lived. The Scottish Psychopath celebrated with family at ringside before turning his attention to a man he effectively put on commentary. CM Punk helped call the whole match. That was at least in part Drew’s suggestion, and he would come to regret it.

An injured Punk is still dangerous…

Punk sat there, taking McIntyre’s trash talk at close range. The champion was perched on top of the announce table, gave Punk a crotch chop and turned his back to the Best in the World. Big mistake, as Punk pulled his feet out from under him, stunning the champ. But the injured Superstar didn’t stop there. He removed his elbow brace and pummeled Drew with the improvised weapon until things really picked up.

source: @justtalkwrestle, x, screenshot

Realizing he may never have a better chance, Damian Priest’s music hit. The Money In The Bank winner rushed down the ramp and declared he was indeed cashing in, here and now in Philadelphia. He smacked Drew with the briefcase, delivered a massive South of Heaven and just like that, we have another new World Heavyweight Champion.

What’s more? I would venture to guess that Seth Rollins may get some time off to recover from his wounds, literal and storyline. But, it also seems like CM Punk may be very close to being medically cleared to return to the ring, based on what transpired. Of course, if that is the case, then this was an interesting pivot. Meaning, if Punk was cleared for action for Sunday night, could he have wrestled? Or was he merely cleared for this little flurry, and it’s also why Drew wasn’t responding? Either way, I am sure this won’t go over well with McIntyre. And it seems we have Punk returning soon to face a very angry former champion.

Bottom line? An injured CM Punk impacts WrestleMania 40 in his own way, as Damian Priest cashes in his Money In The Bank briefcase.

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