WWE Handled CM Punk’s Injury Perfectly On RAW

Highlights

CM Punk's emotional promo about his injury and shattered WrestleMania dreams brought sympathy towards him.
Punk's statement of "there's always next year" sets up anticipation for his eventual return and redemption storyline.
Drew McIntyre's interruption and vicious attack on Punk solidified himself as a contender and elevated their feud.

At the 2024 Royal Rumble event, CM Punk’s big televised return to the ring didn’t go exactly as planned. He put in a decent showing, made it to the last two, and enabled Cody Rhodes’ win to feel like an even bigger moment, but during the match he suffered from a torn triceps. This has put Punk on the shelf for WrestleMania 40, and his expected main event match with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is now well and truly off the table, as Punk is expected to be out for 4-6 months after surgery (per PWInsider). Instead of crumbling under this unsavory news, WWE bounced back on Monday Night RAW and well and truly made the most of a bad moment.

CM Punk Opened Monday Night RAW In A Sling

CM Punk Officially Announced His Injury To WWE Fans

CM Punk confirmed reports about an injury
CM Punk was mournful about missing out on WrestleMania 40
CM Punk debated whether he would ever main event WrestleMania

CM Punk emerged on Monday Night RAW following the Royal Rumble with his arm in a sling and a saddened yet determined look. Some of Punk’s promo work has been up and down since his return to WWE, but he was fantastic here as he delivered an emotional speech regarding his injury, fighting through adversity, and real life heroes. Punk discussed his dreams of main eventing WrestleMania being shattered, and the way he spoke about perhaps never realizing that dream was a wonderful character moment for Punk, bringing sympathy towards a man it is sometimes hard to feel sympathetic for.

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In his promo he uttered the words, “There’s always next year.” This was a hugely important statement and one which already sets up next year’s WrestleMania event. We already have a story on our hands with Punk looking for redemption from this year and trying to find a way to the WrestleMania main event match for a world title. Setting the groundwork so far in advance adds excitement and anticipation for his eventual return, keeping him firmly in the mind of the audience between now and next year’s show. And then, Drew McIntyre interrupted him to make the segment iconic.

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Drew McIntyre Interrupted CM Punk On Raw

Drew McIntyre revealed he prayed for CM Punk to get injured
Drew McIntyre was harsh as he ripped into CM Punk
The tension between Drew McIntyre and CM Punk felt authentic

The first interaction a few weeks back between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre was enough to let fans know that the lines were being blurred in terms of their real life heat, and that was even more so the case here. McIntyre came out and revealed that he wasn’t a spiritual man, but his prayers were answered as Punk tore his triceps. This line was one of the most powerful lines on RAW for quite some time. It made McIntyre detestable, vicious, and a next level heel despite his “tweener” status in recent months.

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Punk revealed that he is coming for McIntyre when he is back, setting up a ready-made massive feud for six months down the line. This was a very smart thing to do, and it gives Punk instant direction whenever he returns to WWE following his injury and likely surgery. WWE has been doing much better at long-term builds, and this is another example of that. With Punk’s real life injury, they have woven it into a program with McIntyre that will no doubt be great whenever it happens. With McIntyre’s WWE contract still reportedly up very soon, per Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, this could be a way to convince McIntyre to stay with the promise of plans down the line for a big rivalry.

Drew McIntyre Received A Big Rub From Taking Out CM Punk

Drew McIntyre Attacked CM Punk On RAW

Drew McIntyre attacked CM Punk’s injured arm
Sami Zayn made the save and drove off Drew McIntyre

McIntyre has been on fire in recent months, but in this segment he looked like an absolute world beater. Despite Punk being injured already, McIntyre attacked Punk, viciously stomping on his injured arm in a brutal moment that would make anyone wince. McIntyre looked like the most unforgiving man in WWE, and if the plans have changed ahead of WrestleMania for the World Heavyweight Championship scene, then McIntyre has now cemented himself as a contender.

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WWE have used Punk’s injury to elevate someone who has lost countless times in the last few years to someone who could now realistically become the world champion at WrestleMania 40. Not just that, but they managed to continue adding fire to McIntyre’s rivalry with Sami Zayn too, which has been building for several months. This was an ingeniously handled segment and one where WWE perfectly handled a terrible moment with CM Punk getting injured.