CM Punk fell short of winning the WWE Royal Rumble this past Saturday night, ultimately losing to Cody Rhodes, who won for the second time in a row. Rhodes will now go on to face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 40. Earlier today, word began to spread that Punk had been injured in the multi-man match.
On tonight’s WWE Raw, Punk confirmed that in the WWE Royal Rumble, he tore his right tricep. As much as he tried to convince doctors that he could tape it, it just wasn’t in the cards, and he will not be a part of WWE WrestleMania 40. He doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him or think about how much it bums people out. Punk went on to say he isn’t sure if he is ever going to the main event of WWE WrestleMania.
He then brought up his friend Chad Gilbert, who has been struggling with cancer for a long time, and how good of a mood he is in all the time. That, to Punk, is a fight; this injury to him is just a flesh wound. He knows he loses more than he wins before joking about his UFC run. He said the UFC scared him so he had to do it, but what he is going through is not scary, it is a bump in the road.
Punk then thanked the fans for loving him and cheering him on before noting how much adversity he has overcome in the past.
“WrestleMania 40, I guess it isn’t in the cards, ladies and gentlemen. But I am a Chicago Cubs fan,” he noted before saying, “There’s always next year.”
Drew McIntyre came to the ring, cutting off Punk with his music, and began to speak about how he could understand Punk’s position. He then went on to say he isn’t a spiritual person, but he did pray for this to happen, and he never wanted Punk to win. McIntyre then claimed that he slept like a baby last night knowing Punk was injured and that he had “exorcised the demon.”
McIntyre then stated that he would go on to the main event of WWE WrestleMania 40 and “relive CM Punk’s dream again.” The fans then began to chant Punk’s name as The Second City Saint declared he would set his sights on McIntyre before going on to the main event of WWE WrestleMania when he returned. McIntyre then tried to take a cheap shot before Punk retaliated but was cut off by a Glasgow Kiss. Sami Zayn then rushed to the ring, saving Punk and running off McIntyre. The “WWE medical team” then began to check on Punk following the attack.