When receiving a DDT from Drew McIntyre, CM Punk injured his tricep during the 2024 Royal Rumble. Punk was recently interviewed when attending a UFC event and provided a timetable for his return.
"Car reverses at speed then flips during incident outside pub narrowly missing man," Punk said. "...We're thinking maybe six to eight months, but I'm not really in a rush to get back to compete. I'm in a rush to get healthy. I'm in a rush to get better. The sooner I do that, the better I'll be when I come back."
Punk's injury was clearly an accident, but it couldn't have come at a worse time. WWE had been holding his storyline back until after the Royal Rumble. Fans had seldom seen the returning star back on their television sets.
Nevertheless, Punk should be back before the end of the year and walk back into a prominent role within RAW. His storyline with Seth Rollins is an evergreen topic and can be picked up once he's back. Of course, Rollins is also dealing with his own injury after suffering an MCL injury in a World Heavyweight title defense against Jinder Mahal.
Fortunately for WWE, they're experiencing a major boom at present. The Bloodline feud with Cody Rhodes is the most interesting angle in wrestling. The Rock's return and implementation into that story has drawn box office-type interest.
Still, Punk is a huge draw. WWE's biggest rivals, AEW, have recently landed top free agents such as Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone. Having Punk back healthy will ensure that WWE can continue to dominate the viewership numbers and keep AEW from siphoning some of their fanbase.
When Punk returns, he can begin working toward his storyline and potential main event at the 2025 WrestleMania, a dream he has often discussed. For now, though, he needs to focus on his recovery and keeping his body in good condition; everything else will fall into place when the time is right.
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