Following the heated clash between CM Punk and Roman Reigns on WWE RAW, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray expressed confusion over their disrespect toward Drew McIntyre, the current Undisputed WWE Champion. Ray found McIntyre’s response puzzling as well, interpreting it as a babyface promo aimed at rallying SmackDown against Punk, Reigns, and the RAW brand.
On “Busted Open Radio,” Ray admitted he didn’t understand why anyone would attempt to undermine Drew, the championship, and the SmackDown brand. He added, “I don’t know why you would try to bury an opponent who is your champion and your opponent’s brand,” sharing his hope that the storyline would eventually make sense. He also noted the irony of McIntyre’s promo coming from someone not in the title match, especially after eliminating a major babyface from the Royal Rumble, likening the situation to dealing with “a toxic girlfriend.”
McIntyre, for his part, said he was unfazed by the verbal attacks from Punk and Reigns but was angered by their claims that the Undisputed WWE Championship and SmackDown are “second rate.” He warned that if his SmackDown teammates don’t treat this as a declaration of war and fight like it’s their last chance, he would hold them accountable.
Bully Ray also questioned the timing of McIntyre’s war-like rhetoric, noting that traditionally, such calls have been reserved for events like Survivor Series or the now-defunct Bragging Rights. “The only time it made sense was at Survivor Series, with a traditional Raw vs. SmackDown match,” Ray said, suggesting that declaring war now is premature. With Survivor Series behind and WrestleMania 42 approaching, Ray speculated on whether SmackDown wrestlers will set aside personal rivalries to unite against RAW competitors in the upcoming men’s Elimination Chamber match, where the winner will get a shot at McIntyre’s Undisputed WWE Championship.
So far, Randy Orton from SmackDown and LA Knight from RAW have secured spots in the Elimination Chamber, with more qualifiers like Sami Zayn, Jacob Fatu, or Cody Rhodes expected to join soon.
Fan Take: This storyline highlights the growing tension between WWE’s brands and their top stars, which adds layers of intrigue for fans as WrestleMania approaches. How these brand rivalries play out in the Elimination Chamber could shape the future direction of WWE’s storytelling and championship landscape.
