WWE raised eyebrows by placing CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre at the top of its Nastiest Rivalries of the 2020s list, ahead of Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes at No. 2. The ranking is far from indefensible. Punk and McIntyre delivered a rivalry built on relentless personal hostility with almost no wasted motion. That said, being the most intense rivalry and being the biggest are two different things.
Five criteria help put the comparison in perspective.
1. Impact
Reigns and Rhodes take this one comfortably.
Their rivalry anchored the main event of two consecutive WrestleManias and became so central to the audience’s emotional investment that fans forced WWE’s hand. When The Rock appeared to take Rhodes’ spot opposite Reigns, the “We Want Cody” movement erupted, and plans changed.
WrestleMania XL ended with Rhodes finally defeating Reigns and, at the time, became the most successful event in company history, with viewership up 41 percent over the prior year and more than 660 million social media views across both nights. Punk and McIntyre generated enormous buzz, but they never reached that scale.
Edge: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes.
2. Continuity
Here, the advantage flips.
Punk and McIntyre managed to fold Punk’s Royal Rumble 2024 injury into the fabric of the story itself. McIntyre said he had “prayed” for the injury, and while Punk was sidelined, the feud kept escalating through WrestleMania XL, Clash at the Castle, and Money in the Bank.
Once Punk was medically cleared, they delivered three straight matches at SummerSlam, Bash in Berlin, and Bad Blood. Reigns and Rhodes told a larger story, but with significant gaps between confrontations. Punk and McIntyre barely let the feud cool during those months.
Edge: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.
3. Matches
The Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood is likely the single best bout across both rivalries. It earned five stars from the Wrestling Observer and holds a 9.47 rating on Cagematch. On balance, though, Reigns and Rhodes were more consistent.
Their WrestleMania 39 and WrestleMania XL matches hold Cagematch ratings of 7.81 and 9.24, respectively. Punk and McIntyre scored a 6.78 at SummerSlam, a 7.60 at Bash in Berlin, and the 9.47 at Bad Blood. Pro Wrestling Illustrated awarded its 2024 Match of the Year to Reigns vs. Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, with Punk vs. McIntyre finishing second.
Edge: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes.
4. Character Evolution
Punk and McIntyre win this category. McIntyre found the most complete version of the character he had been building, channeling resentment, obsession, and constant provocation that extended to social media.
Punk, for his part, spent much of the rivalry unable to compete and had to sustain the feud through promos and interference before he could set foot in the ring with McIntyre. Even a simple bracelet bearing the names of AJ Lee and Larry became a central plot device. Reigns and Rhodes each underwent major transformations in their arcs, especially after WrestleMania XL, but Punk and McIntyre evolved directly because of each other.
Edge: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.
5. Legacy
This is where Reigns and Rhodes open up the widest gap.
The WrestleMania XL outcome ended Reigns’ 1,316-day reign at the top and completed a story that began with Rhodes’ loss at WrestleMania the year before. The match itself featured involvement from The Rock, John Cena, The Undertaker, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, and Solo Sikoa before the finish.
Nearly two years later, Reigns vs. Rhodes still holds a rating above 9.0 in Cagematch’s rivalry rankings. Punk and McIntyre delivered a historic Hell in a Cell and one of the best rivalries of 2024. Reigns and Rhodes defined the era.
Edge: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes.
Verdict
WWE’s ranking works best if you lean hard on the word “nastiest,” and that is the whole point of the label. Punk and McIntyre were more personal, more relentless, and more aggressive. But when impact, overall match quality, and legacy factor in, Reigns vs. Rhodes was the bigger rivalry.
The final tally, by this analysis, is 3–2 in favor of Reigns and Rhodes.
