The Rock Returns: 2024 WWE Bad Blood Results, Recap, Grades

October 5th’s WWE Bad Blood premium live event was the most anticipated card since WrestleMania 40 back in April. Ultimately, fans were right to be looking forward to the showcase, considering a certain Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson surprising return.

The Atlanta-hosted showdown also featured the return of Roman Reigns, the longest-reigning WWE Champion of the modern era, to in-ring competition. The Tribal Chief held the championship for a mighty 1.316 days – the fourth longest reign in company history – before dropping the title to Cody Rhodes at the aforementioned Showcase of the Immortals earlier this year. That was the last time he stepped in the ring, but at State Farm Arena, he returned to action.

However, this time around, the two bitter rivals teamed together in the main event in a clash against Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, real-life cousins of Reigns. The former champ and Sikoa were once members of a Bloodline faction that ran roughshod over WWE for the better part of four years. However, in Reigns’ absence, Sikoa inherited the faction, ousting the former Head of the Table in the process. That set the duo on a collision course, with Rhodes thrown in for good measure thanks to his lingering issues with Sikoa as well. So, who won the vaunted clash? Here is everything that went down at WWE Bad Blood.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

The night kicked off with the rubber match to the feud of the year between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. The pair’s rivalry has been the cornerstone of Monday Night Raw throughout 2024, with McIntyre legitimately injuring Punk at the Royal Rumble back in January and kicking off a blood feud for the ages. In the ten months since, the Second City Saint has cost the Scottish Warrior the World Heavyweight Championship on no fewer than three occasions, triggering the two to embark upon a three-match series to settle their differences.

Heading into Bad Blood, the pair was 1-1, with McIntyre winning their initial clash at Summerslam before Punk returned the favor at Bash in Berlin. Considering the rivalry built up between the two, there was only one match that could settle things once and for all. Hell in a Cell.

Bad Blood is an apt name for the event as both superstars left it all in the ring, with both men leaving their blood all over the canvas. After a back-and-forth affair, Punk ultimately secured victory with a chain-assisted Go To Sleep to get the pinfall victory. Bloodied and battered, both men pushed each other to their limits, and the match was a worthy showdown to the feud of the year.

Grade: A+

Nia Jax vs. Bayley

Nia Jax defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Bayley in a match overshadowed by the looming threat of Tiffany Stratton’s Money in the Bank briefcase.

Despite Bayley – the former champion who dropped her strap to the current champ back at Summerslam – and her unrivaled tenacity, the interference by Miss MITB allowed Jax to capitalize and retain her title. Stratton’s presence created tension and intrigue, hinting at future confrontations between her and the champion, while Bayley could well clamor for a rematch considering the contentious nature of her defeat.

Grade: C

Damian Priest vs. Finn Bálor

In a clash of former allies, Damian Priest took on Finn Bálor, with The Judgment Day’s shadow looming large. Despite the group’s best efforts to sway the match, it was former World Champion Priest who emerged victorious.

The interference by his former stablemates added layers to the ongoing narrative but ultimately couldn’t prevent a decisive victory for one-half of the Terror Twins, and he will now be catapulted back into the championship picture. For Balor, his 4+ year wait for a pinfall or submission singles match PLE victory goes on.

Grade: C+

Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan

The match between Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan was perhaps one of the most eagerly anticipated matches on the card. The former of that duo has one of the most iconic Australian female athletes ever, alongside tennis star Ash Barty and soccer sensation Sam Kerr. Her year-long championship reign saw her headline the first ever PRemium Live Event in the Land Down Under back in February, but now her strap lies with her arch-rival.

The two championship protagonists have been embroiled in a feud ever since Dominik Mysterio betrayed his former Mami in favor of Morgan, helping the Bombshell cling on to the championship against Ripley in the process. The gimmick for this match was that Dirty Dom would be hanging in a shark tank above the ring, but ultimately that match turned into a mess.

The match ultimately ended in disqualification when Raquel Rodriguez made a surprise return to assist Morgan. No one in the audience realized what was happening, and neither did Rodriquez, who helped Morgan cover Ripley even though the match had already ended in a DQ. No one will want to watch this back.

Grade: F

Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu

The main event saw Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns join forces against The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. The bout was a testament to teamwork and rivalry, with Rhodes and Reigns overcoming their differences to claim victory. A late assist from the returning Jimmy Uso helped Reigns get the victory. However, the match was overshadowed by the return of The Rock, and it remains to be seen who The Final Boss will be gunning for now he is back in WWE.

Grade: A

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