CM Punk, who just competed in his first televised WWE match in 10 years, announced that he suffered a torn right triceps, an injury that could sideline him for months.
Punk opened up ‘Raw’ on Monday night, appearing with a sling on his right arm. He said he ‘felt unlucky’ as he announced he tore his right triceps. He said he thought he could try to tape his arm for future competition, but he will not be able to and will focus on rehab. He did not say if he will require surgery.
‘WrestleMania 40, I guess it’s not in the cards ladies and gentlemen,’ Punk told the crowd at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. ‘But I’m a Chicago Cubs fan, and this isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time I say this: There’s always next year.’
Punk suffered a torn triceps during the men’s Royal Rumble match on Saturday night. Video taken from inside Tropicana Field, where the 2024 Royal Rumble took place, showed Punk holding his arm during the match while referees spoke to him. Punk wound up being one of two finalist in the match alongside Cody Rhodes. Rhodes would win the match by throwing Punk over the top rope to clinch a championship match at WrestleMania.
The injury is devastating for Punk and WWE as the road to WrestleMania 40 begins. WWE’s flagship event will take place April 6-7 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and the injury all but ends Punk’s chances at competing at WrestleMania 40. It was expected he’d be part of the event ever since he made his return to the company at Survivor Series: WarGames in November. WWE had been teasing a possible match between Punk and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
In September 2022, Punk suffered a torn left triceps while he was part of All Elite Wrestling and he missed nine months as a result.