It’s almost time for WWE Bad Blood!
WWE comes to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena in Georgia for the 2024 Bad Blood. The Premium Live Event goes down Saturday (October 5), twenty-seven years after the first Badd Blood PPV event that featured the iconic Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. (And Kane’s debut as he ripped his way through the cell door.)
Speaking of Hell in a Cell, the demonic structure will be lowered once again to contain two superstars whose hatred for each other knows no end.
With that in mind, here’s our preview and predictions for the 2024 WWE Bad Blood.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre – Hell in a Cell match
Backdrop: CM Punk was forced to sit through WrestleMania thanks to a triceps injury by Drew McIntyre from their encounter at the Rumble. The Voice of the Voiceless cost McIntyre his moment, not once, not twice, but four times — even traveling halfway through the world to Scotland to prevent McIntyre from winning the world title. Punk, however, would lose his prized bracelet to McIntyre for pulling the Glasgow Screwjob. The bracelet would cost Punk his first match against McIntyre at SummerSlam 2024 before the Voice of the Voiceless evened the score in a brutal Strap Match at WWE Bash in Berlin.
Prediction: This rivalry has, without a doubt, got the entire WWE Universe hooked since January. McIntyre and Punk have crafted a feud so compelling it has seen little physicality from both men on weekly television. The promo segments between these two men have been nothing short of brilliant. From McIntyre’s straight-edge rehab line to Punk’s referencing the boogeyman, the verbal exchange deserves its own compilation on YouTube.
Punk winning the Cell match at WWE Bad Blood would be the ideal payoff to this epic saga. That said, the Best in the World might need to keep his guard up for a certain NXT Superstar.
Nia Jax (c) vs. Bayley – WWE Women’s Championship match
Backdrop: Nia Jax became the number one contender for the WWE Women’s Championship by winning the 2024 Queen of the Ring Tournament. The challenger toppled WWE Women’s Champion Bayley at SummerSlam 2024 with a little help from Ms. Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton. The Role Model spent months chasing after the championship before defeating Naomi to become the number one contender just two weeks before WWE Bad Blood.
Prediction: Nia Jax has been absolutely unstoppable in her second run with WWE. She’s improved so much between the ropes. Her character work has improved drastically up as well. I won’t mind if Nia ends up retaining her title against Bayley this Saturday. She deserves a lengthy run. But, but Tiffany Stratton’s potential involvement cannot be ruled out either. It’s only a matter of time before Daddy’s Little Rich Girl cashes her way to world title glory.
Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor at WWE Bad Blood
Backdrop: Former enemies became allies after Finn Balor joined Damian Priest in The Judgment Day in 2022. Balor’s inclusion turned out to be Edge’s (aka Adam Copeland) undoing. Priest and Balor would spend the following months running through WWE’s tag team division before the Archer of Infamy successfully cashed in for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL. Priest’s run, however, would be cut short by the man he considered brother when Balor cost him the title against Gunther at SummerSlam 2024.
Prediction: WWE first teased this feud during Priest’s run as World Heavyweight Champion, but Triple H didn’t pull the trigger until SummerSlam this year. Priest had a solid run as RAW’s top champion, but it was his destiny to leave The Judgment Day at some point. The group continues to thrive with the addition of Carlito and Liv Morgan. Priest needs a win over Balor at WWE Bad Blood to solidify himself as a singles babyface star. There’s no other way this rivalry ends because it has to.
Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley – Women’s World Championship match with Dominik Mysterio trapped inside a shark cage
Backdrop: This rivalry originally kicked off with Rhea Ripley’s heel turn against Liv Morgan in 2022. The Nightmare ended up joining The Judgment Day at WrestleMania Backlash. The feud escalated after Liv’s attack on Mami backstage caused her an injury, putting a premature end to her world title run. A vengeful Ripley returned on July 8, 2024, episode of RAW only to watch her Latino Heat Dominik betray her for Liv during their Women’s World Championship match at SummerSlam 2024.
Prediction: This entire love triangle storyline has turned out to be a major highlight on WWE television. No one thought Dom could get any more low. He pulled off a heel turn while being a heel. Dom’s betrayal confirmed WWE’s plans to turn Rhea Ripley into a major babyface. RAW needed one ever since Becky Lynch stepped away from the spotlight. However, Liv retaining her title at WWE Bad Blood would be the ideal outcome for this match-up. A clean win over Ripley would solidify her place at the top of the RAW women’s division.
Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu – Tag team match at WWE Bad Blood
Backdrop: Solo Sikoa took charge of The Bloodline after Roman Reigns’ historic loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL. Solo proclaimed himself the “new” Tribal Chief. The Bloodline only grew stronger with the addition of Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu. Paul Heyman got put through a table. Roman Reigns returned to cost Solo his title match against Cody at SummerSlam 2024. The OTC once again prevented The Bloodline from attacking his archrival during SmackDown on USA – planting the seeds for a tag team match at WWE Bad Blood.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns may be tag team partners this Saturday, but they do not like each other. Reigns says Rhodes is in his way in life. These are the words of a man who wants the Undisputed WWE Championship back. Rhodes recently teased “big title implications” for Crown Jewel at WWE Bad Blood during his appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. McAfee had something to say about “the big guy” coming back. If it’s the person who we all think he is, then it’s better not to give a prediction for this highly-anticipated match-up.
WWE Bad Blood airs live on Peacock for USA fans and WWE Network everywhere else. WrestleZone will have full coverage of the PLE as it airs.
