The first WWE Bad Blood PLE in over two decades could be a night of surprises if Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is to be believed. The show will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be WWE’s fourth Bad Blood event and the first show under the name since June 2004.
Speaking with Variety, Rhodes shared his excitement for Bad Blood, which will mark WWE’s first PLE in Atlanta since Day 1 2022, and Rhodes’ first PLE in his hometown since returning to WWE. The American Nightmare also teased some surprises in store for the October event.
“Atlanta has always influenced culture… Bad Blood could be the biggest Premium Live Event since WrestleMania and we have some surprises in store.”
“As a lifelong fan of the WWE it was an honor to work with the legend and undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes… Cody’s story is inspiring to me, as I’m sure it is to millions of others.”
No matches have been confirmed for WWE Bad Blood 2024, though many fans are predicting a Hell in a Cell match. The three previous events in the show’s history have all featured matches in the barbaric structure with Triple H winning two of those three matches (and having an outside role in the other.) Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on WWE Bad Blood and the career of Cody Rhodes as WWE’s top name.
WWE recently announced the return of the Bad Blood brand for a PLE to occur this October from Atlanta. The first one—formally titled In Your House: Badd Blood—occurred in 1997, featuring the first ever Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, culminating in the debut of Kane. The show returned in 2003 and 2004, headlined by Triple H working Hell in a Cell matches first with Kevin Nash, then Michaels.
After twenty years, Bad Blood is back. There’s no guarantee we’ll see the Cell, but it does feel like a natural choice given the history of the event. Moreover, WWE’s been building precisely the kind of feud that would warrant a big-time Hell in a Cell main event: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.
CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre Is The Hottest Feud In WWE
CM Punk’s return to WWE was one of the biggest stories in wrestling at the turn of the year. There was a real risk of it fizzling just as it got started, though, as Punk went down to injury in his first televised match back—the men’s Royal Rumble—and had to miss WrestleMania.
WWE pivoted very nicely as Drew McIntyre took credit for the injury. The months to follow saw Punk three times directly cost McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship–at WrestleMania, Clash at the Castle, and Money in the Bank–in addition the Scotsman beating Punk bloody on an episode of SmackDown.
This intense series of events, paired with the promo skills put on display by both participants have elevated this feud. Against the odds, it’s the hottest issue in WWE without the men involved working a single match together (aside from the Rumble).
Patience Has Been A Virtue In CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre Storytelling
While CM Punk’s injury has protected against rushing the CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre feud too much, WWE has also been shrewd in its storytelling. Punk and McIntyre have never entirely taken their eyes off each other even as McIntyre has engaged in other pursuits like chasing Seth Rollins and Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship. Moreover, they’ve built in some pacing like McIntyre pretending to quit the company, then getting suspended coming out of Money in the Bank.
Given the pace to date, it feels realistic WWE can carry forward without a match between these two until SummerSlam or later and, in any event, the pairing should still feel fresh enough to be a draw headlining Bad Blood.
The Promise And Pitfalls Of Adding Seth Rollins To The Mix
Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk looked like the clear direction for WrestleMania 40 before Punk went down to injury. WWE has nicely reignited the on-screen heat between them when Punk got in the middle of The Visionary’s business at Money in the Bank, going after Drew McIntyre.
Might WWE add Rollins more formally into the mix, including making this prospective Hell in a Cell showdown a triple threat? There are merits to the idea.
After all, one of the biggest questions surrounding Punk right now is his ability to deliver in a big match scenario. He looked a little sluggish in the Royal Rumble and got injured again, following an AEW run that was riddled with major injuries at all the worst times. If there’s anyone on the current WWE roster who can singlehandedly elevate match quality, it would have to be Rollins. The Visionary could enhance the existing match or be a key contributor if Punk were to get hurt and necessitate a change in plans on the fly.
On the other hand, Punk vs. McIntyre is hot enough that it’s more than worthy of its own epic blow off. Transitioning Punk into a feud focused on Rollins after he finishes his business with McIntyre makes all the sense in the world. As such, Rollins having some involvement with the finish or immediate aftermath of this match makes sense, but it may not be the best call to officially add him.
Alternatives Or Additions To CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre In Hell In A Cell
On a literal level, it’s overstating it to say CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre is the only match that could close Bad Blood 2024. It may well be the best choice, but world championships also offer obvious options. Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa probably isn’t going to be a “one and done” title program and could bleed into October. Meanwhile, Gunther awaits his World Heavyweight Championship opportunity at SummerSlam and however things play out between him and (presumably) Damian Priest may dictate a feud that could warrant the Cell, too.
Perhaps the most intriguing option of all would be to put Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan in the Cell. Their storyline and involvement with Dominik Mysterio has been a focal point of Raw for months now, culminating in a major moment when The Eradicator returned to close the July 8 episode of Raw. Ripley and Morgan have the talent and the heat behind their feud that they could also justify this kind of spotlight—especially if the current or a future injury were to prevent Punk from headlining the show.
In the end, WWE reviving the Bad Blood brand is doing exactly what it should in tapping into nostalgia and creating buzz. One of WWE’s most buzzworthy feuds should get the chance to headline the show.
Bad Blood is back. WWE Bad Blood 2024 will take place from Atlanta, GA at the StateFarm Arena on Saturday, October 5. This date marks the 27-year anniversary of the inaugural WWE In Your House: Bad Blood PPV (October 1997) and the very first Hell in a Cell match.
WWE Bad Blood 2024 tickets go on sale next Friday, July 19 at Ticketmaster. Presale for Bad Blood tickets will begin Tuesday, July 16. Fans can register now to receive an exclusive presale offer by visiting WWE.com/badblood-2024-presale.
WWE Bad Blood
From 1997 to 2004, WWE hosted three Bad Blood events and each one was headlined by a Hell in a Cell match. The inaugural event also saw the inaugural Hell in Cell match as Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker (albeit thanks to the interference of the debuting Kane.) Triple H would best Kevin Nash to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in 2003 and the Game would defeat Michaels in Hell in a Cell one year later.
With Triple H’s close association with Bad Blood, it will be interesting to see how he books the show now that he is in charge of WWE’s creative prospects. Time will tell whether the show sees a Hell in a Cell match, which is also close to the Game’s career. One of Triple H’s first acts as Head of Creative was to scrap the Hell in a Cell PLE, believing that the show had lessened the importance of the stipulation. Currently, no matches have been announced for WWE Bad Blood but fans are excited to see what’s to come.
