The air in Atlanta felt different on October 5. You could almost smell the nostalgia mixed with a very modern kind of violence. After lying dormant for two decades, WWE finally dusted off one of its most visceral brands. The WWE Bad Blood 2024 date wasn't just another Saturday on the calendar; it was a calculated strike on the wrestling landscape that proved Triple H's "New Era" isn't afraid to get a little messy.
Honestly, if you missed it, you missed the night the friendship bracelet died and "The Final Boss" reminded everyone who actually owns the board.
The October 5 Collision: More Than Just a Saturday
When WWE announced the WWE Bad Blood 2024 date for Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the State Farm Arena, fans of the Attitude Era immediately got flashbacks. It was exactly 27 years to the day since the original Bad Blood in 1997—the night Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker changed the business forever inside the first-ever Hell in a Cell.
History has a funny way of repeating itself, but with way more social media hype and significantly better production values.
There was a weird scheduling quirk, though. Usually, these shows start around 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM ET. But for Bad Blood, WWE moved the needle to 6:00 PM ET. Why? Basically, TKO Group Holdings—the parent company of both WWE and UFC—didn't want to cannibalize its own audience. UFC 307 was happening the same night in Salt Lake City, and having two massive combat sports events overlapping is just bad for business. By starting early, wrestling fans could see Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns team up and still have time to flip over to the Octagon.
Smart. Very smart.
Hell in a Cell: Punk, McIntyre, and a Whole Lot of Red
If we’re being real, the opener was the true main event for most of the "purists" in the crowd. CM Punk and Drew McIntyre didn't just have a match; they had a 31-minute exorcism.
We’ve seen "PG-era" Hell in a Cell matches that felt like regular matches with a fence around them. This wasn't that. It was uncomfortable. It was bloody. It was exactly what the "Bad Blood" name implies.
- The Toolbox: Punk literally used a wrench on McIntyre’s forehead.
- The Beads: In a move that was equal parts psychological warfare and petty drama, McIntyre ripped open a bag of red and white plastic beads—the same kind from the friendship bracelet that’s been the MacGuffin of this entire feud.
- The GTS: Punk finally put the "Scottish Warrior" away by wrapping a steel chain around his knee and hitting a GTS while McIntyre’s mouth was literally stuffed with those plastic beads.
It was a definitive end to a nine-month rivalry. Punk needed oxygen afterward. McIntyre looked like he’d been through a car wreck. If you wanted "Old School" intensity, this was your peak.
The Night of the Returns: Jimmy and The Rock
While the Cell was the technical high point, the closing moments of the night were designed for the "Discover" feed and the viral clips. The main event saw the "Original Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes doing the unthinkable: teaming up.
They faced Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu (who is, frankly, terrifying in the ring). The match was solid, but it was the chaos at the end that shifted the WWE power structure.
First, a hooded figure took out Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. It was Jimmy Uso. Seeing the "real" Bloodline start to reform—even if tentatively—sent the Atlanta crowd into a frenzy. Jimmy and Roman hugging felt like a genuine emotional payoff after a year of family betrayal.
But then, the music hit.
The Rock appeared at the top of the ramp. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. He just held up three fingers, looked at Cody and Roman, and did that "cut-throat" gesture. It was the ultimate "To Be Continued" ending. The WWE Bad Blood 2024 date will be remembered as the night the road to WrestleMania 41 officially became a three-way collision course.
The "Other" Matches: Chaos and Shark Cages
Bad Blood only had five matches. That’s a Triple H staple—quality over quantity.
The Judgment Day Civil War
Damian Priest and Finn Bálor finally went at it. This was personal, sort of a "who gets the house in the divorce" situation for the Judgment Day. Priest got the win after a South of Heaven chokeslam, but the story here is really about whether Bálor can ever lead a faction effectively when he keeps losing the big ones.
The Women’s Title Mess
Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship was pure soap opera wrestling. Dominik Mysterio was suspended above the ring in a shark cage. Yes, a shark cage.
It was hilarious and tense at the same time. Dom actually managed to hang out of the cage by his ankles while Rhea beat him with a kendo stick. Just when it looked like Rhea had it won, Raquel Rodriguez returned from her long hiatus to lay Rhea out. Liv kept the title via disqualification. It was a "pro wrestling finish" if there ever was one—satisfying for the story, frustrating if you wanted a clean winner.
Nia Jax's Dominance
Nia Jax defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Bayley. It was a power match. Nia is currently in the middle of a "Queen of the Ring" run where she looks nearly untouchable. Tiffany Stratton teased a Money in the Bank cash-in (again), but ultimately, Nia retained. The tension between Tiffany and Nia is a ticking time bomb, and honestly, it’s one of the best slow-burn stories on SmackDown.
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Why Bad Blood Still Matters in the "H-Era"
What's interesting about this specific event is how it reflects the current WWE philosophy. Under the old regime, a "B-level" show in October might have felt like filler. But because of the WWE Bad Blood 2024 date and its historical significance, the company treated it like a stadium show.
Triple H even came out to announce the "Crown Jewel Championship"—a new, massive 50-carat belt that the Men’s and Women’s champions from Raw and SmackDown will fight for annually in Saudi Arabia. It’s a bit of a marketing gimmick, but it adds stakes to the Champion vs. Champion format that used to be reserved for Survivor Series.
Real Talk: Was it perfect?
Not quite. Some people found the "bead spot" in the Hell in a Cell match a little hokey. Others felt the main event was carried more by the post-match drama than the actual wrestling. And the DQ finish in the Liv/Rhea match is always going to be a point of contention for fans who hate "non-finishes."
But the energy? The energy was undeniable.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re looking to catch up or dive deeper into what this means for the future of WWE, here are the logical next steps:
- Watch the "WWE 24" or Behind the Scenes footage: WWE usually drops a "Day Of" documentary for big shows. The footage of Punk and McIntyre backstage after that Cell match is reportedly some of the most intense stuff they've filmed.
- Track the Bloodline Timeline: With Jimmy Uso back and The Rock looming, the "Bloodline Civil War" is heading toward a WarGames match at Survivor Series. Keep an eye on how Jey Uso (the Intercontinental Champion at the time) reacts to his brothers reuniting.
- Monitor the Crown Jewel Matchups: Now that we know Cody Rhodes will face Gunther and Liv Morgan will face Nia Jax for those new titles, the power dynamics on both shows are shifting.
The WWE Bad Blood 2024 date wasn't just a nostalgic callback. It was a pivot point. We moved from the fallout of WrestleMania 40 into the long-term build for 2025. It’s a great time to be a fan, even if your favorite wrestler ended the night covered in plastic beads and fake (or real) blood.