CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins Must End, the WWE Star to Save SmackDown, More Quick Takes

The more things change in WWE, the more they stay the same, with the CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins rivalry being the most egregious example of that right now.

The heated rivals have essentially been at odds since Punk resurfaced at Survivor Series in November 2023 And although they've had their fair share of singles matches and multi-man encounters in that time, their story remains overdue for a definitive conclusion.

While Punk and Rollins continue to wage war on Raw and tease involvement in the World Heavyweight Championship picture, SmackDown's main event scene struggles, specifically because of John Cena's Undisputed WWE Championship reign falling flat and the rest of the blue brand lacking purpose.

Cena renewing hostilities with Cody Rhodes heading into SummerSlam could make for interesting television, but there's only one star who could realistically save SmackDown as the show returns to a two-hour format.

This installment of Quick Takes will discuss SmackDown's savior this summer, why Adam Page winning at AEW All In 2025 is a must, where Britt Baker would be the better fit, and more.

CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins Must Conclude at SummerSlam

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For as much as CM Punk and Seth Rollins have brought the best out of each other over the last year and a half, their rivalry has reached a point where a definitive ending is needed to allow both men to pursue other programs and goals.

WWE seemed to move away from the feud in the spring when Punk set his sights on John Cena's Undisputed WWE Championship, but they quickly reignited their rivalry when Rollins attempted to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase at Night of Champions and cost The Best in the World the title in the process.

Despite brawling on last Monday's Raw, they won't face off at the next installment of Saturday Night's Main Event with Rollins scheduled to go one-on-one with LA Knight instead.

It won't be until SummerSlam at the earliest and, even then, WWE teased Gunther getting involved when Punk shoved him to the mat after fending off The Visionary.

A Triple Threat between the three for the World Heavyweight Championship would be a marquee match for SummerSlam, but it would also ensure Punk vs. Rollins keeps going.

Giving them gold to fight over wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but WWE also runs the risk of burning out the audience on the storyline—assuming it hasn't done so already.

If the MITB cash-in is imminent, then it would be wise to blow off Punk vs. Rollins before the summer comes to a close.

The Second City Saint can then either target the other members of Rollins' crew, do something else entirely or take time off from television, but regardless of what's in store for him, it should include a meaningful win, something that has alluded him since the start of the year.

AEW's Momentum Rides on Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley Result at All In

All Elite Wrestling is delivering a string of strong shows at just the right time with All In having the potential to serve as the ultimate culmination of it all.

However, the company is at risk of ruining its hot momentum by booking Jon Moxley to retain the AEW World Championship against "Hangman" Adam Page in the main event of Saturday's show.

Doing so might go down as one of AEW's all-time bad booking decisions considering the circumstances.

The Death Riders have done enough damage to the product and the main event scene by holding the top title hostage for the last nine months. As soon as Page emerged victorious in the men's Owen Hart Cup at Double or Nothing, him regaining the gold for the first time in three years and being the one to end Moxley's tyrannical reign was the only outcome that made sense.

Waiting for Will Ospreay to do it was one option, and Darby Allin was another. However, to drag out this storyline any further and not strike while the iron is hot would erase any of the goodwill AEW has managed to cultivate with its audience so far in 2025.

Hangman has the most compelling character arc in AEW history and this title win would serve as the perfect payoff to his journey as well as provide fans with the happy ending to a pay-per-view they've been waiting for.

WWE or AEW: Determining the Best Fit for Britt Baker

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Despite a recent report from BodySlam.net that Britt Baker was looking to leave AEW imminently, a follow-up from Fightful Select indicated otherwise and noted her contract isn't up for another year at the earliest, anyway.

Regardless, Baker's status with the company remains uncertain amid her absence from television. She last appeared for AEW late last year with plans for a program with Serena Deeb being abruptly halted and canceled.

If she's not hurt, there's no excuse for AEW to not be utilizing a star of her caliber on television in some form or fashion, at the very least to put others over. Instead, she's been sidelined for some time with no timetable for a return, unless she's a surprise entrant in the upcoming Casino Gauntlet match for the women at All In this Saturday.

If not, there really is no reason for Baker to stick around, meaning it'd be mutually beneficial for her release to be granted so she could pursue other opportunities elsewhere, namely WWE. The depth of WWE's women's division is such that Baker isn't needed in the slightest, but as an AEW original, the optics of it would make her a welcome addition, specifically to the NXT ranks.

If Baker can avoid the drama that has seemingly plagued her AEW stint, she could do well for herself in the WWE system, but that's provided moves are made soon to either ensure her exit or make the most of whatever time she has left with where she already is.

Examining Night-and-Day Difference Between Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Divisions

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It's been clear for months that the SmackDown tag team division is far superior to Raw's, and little has been done to even it out and make the scene on Monday nights more interesting.

Coming off their hot heel turn at the end of 2024, The New Day dethroning The War Raiders for the World Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 41 should have marked the turning point. Disappointingly, the follow-up was nearly nonexistent and their run was largely forgettable.

New Day's outing against The Judgment Day on last week's Raw was a definite show-stealer, but the booking of the division and lack of exposure and stories is where the red brand falls short compared to SmackDown.

Meanwhile, the blue brand continues to kill it with a wide variety of teams being represented weekly and the matches delivering more often than not. Even the makeshift duo of Andrade and Rey Fenix have quickly developed chemistry together and have had standout matches two weeks in a row on the show.

There's always room for improvement, but a case can be made for SmackDown having the most well-rounded tag team division of any major promotion today, making it all the more puzzling why there's such a drastic difference with the way tag team wrestling is presented on the two biggest brands.

Drew McIntyre Is Key to Resurgence of SmackDown Main Event Scene

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John Cena hasn't quite been cutting it as the face of Friday nights as undisputed WWE champion, with most of his matches and appearances failing to live up to the hype.

The main event scene on SmackDown has suffered considerably as a result, but Drew McIntyre being back in the fold as of the Fourth of July edition will be a big boost going forward.

The Scot was responsible for some of the stronger segments on SmackDown going into and coming out of WrestleMania 41 as part of his program with Damian Priest. He's been a recurring highlight on WWE TV as a whole since turning heel in late 2023. And based on his SmackDown segment from last Friday, his immediate direction has been determined.

McIntyre must beat Randy Orton when they collide at Saturday Night's Main Event in order to maintain his momentum and keep climbing toward the prestigious prize. All roads should lead to him taking the title from Cody Rhodes, who should regain it from Cena in their WrestleMania rematch at SummerSlam.

A fresh feud between McIntyre and Rhodes in the fall could be exactly what SmackDown needs to pick up some steam as it thankfully returns to a two-hour format.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.