WWE Raw video highlights: CM Punk confirms he’ll miss WrestleMania

By Joseph Currier
Published: 30 Jan 2024, 02:21

CM Punk’s WrestleMania main event dream is over — until next year.

While kicking off Raw last night, Punk addressed the injury that he suffered at the Royal Rumble. Punk confirmed that he tore his right triceps in the men’s Rumble match. Punk said the injury will force him to miss WrestleMania.

“In the course of the Rumble, I tore my right tricep,” Punk announced. “And as much as I tried and I asked, ‘Maybe I can just tape it? Maybe I can make it to Elimination Chamber and I can try to win that. And I can get my main event at WrestleMania.’ But it’s just not in the cards.”

Punk said he doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him. The situation might bum him out, but it’s not actually a problem. An emotional Punk opened up about a friend named Chad Gilbert who is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Punk said Gilbert is always in a good mood and never down about it.

“That’s a fight. To me, this is just a flesh wound,” Punk said. “When I say Best in the World, it doesn’t mean because I always win. I lose more often than I win. Did you guys see me fight in the UFC? Yeah, not great. But goddammit I had a dream, and I had an opportunity, and I was asked, ‘Do you want to do this?’ And I said yes because it scared the crap out of me.”

Punk said coming back to WWE after 10 years scared him too. It scares Punk that he might never accomplish his goal of headlining WrestleMania. But this is just a bump in the road for him. The real Best in the World are people who fight things like cancer and put their lives on the line.

“Now, me? I just happen to entertain you. And for some reason, you people love me,” Punk said. “And I promise I’m going to keep doing it until the wheels fall off. This is a bump in the road. It is adversity. And I have overcome adversity countless times in the past. I do not focus on those who are negative. I do not focus on those who tell me I can’t.”

Punk said WrestleMania 40 isn’t in the cards, but, as a Chicago Cubs fan, he knows there’s always next year.

Drew McIntyre then interrupted Punk. McIntyre said he prayed for Punk to get injured — and it happened. McIntyre promised to live Punk’s dream, for the second time, by challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania.

Punk responded by saying that he’s going to rehab this injury and will still main event a future WrestleMania, but the first thing on his checklist is coming after McIntyre.

The angle then saw McIntyre attack Punk and target his triceps. Sami Zayn made the save, which resulted in McIntyre vs. Zayn taking place in the main event of the episode. McIntyre won the match with help from an “inadvertent” low blow.

Also last night: Cody Rhodes and Bayley appeared following their Rumble wins, Judgment Day defended their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against DIY, and more.

More coverage from last night —