CM Punk had some bad news for WWE fans last night, he has torn his right tricep and will not be able to compete at WWE WrestleMania 40. Heading into the biggest show of the year, the plan was reportedly to have Punk face Seth “Freaking” Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the Night One main event. Since Cody Rhodes won the WWE Royal Rumble, Punk would likely have been hugely factored into the WWE Elimination Chamber, where he would have set up his match with Rollins.
WrestleVotes reports that due to Punk’s injury, lingering questions about Seth Rollins’ injury status, and Brock Lesnar being pulled due to his alleged involvement in the Janel Grant scandal, the road to WWE WrestleMania 40 has taken a sharp turn. One source they spoke with said that several “card variations” are being considered for WWE WrestleMania 40, and multiple stars who had not been slotted toward the top of the card were now under consideration. The company is taking its time assessing what to do next and is said to be considering “just about everything.”
Following Punk’s announcement that he was injured and would be taking time off, he was confronted by Drew McIntyre. The hulking Scotsman took pleasure in Punk’s injury and said it was something he had been praying for. Punk responded by saying that when he returns, he will main-event WWE WrestleMania but will have his sights set on McIntyre first. The two men then briefly exchanged blows before McIntyre got the better of Punk and attacked his injured arm before Sami Zayn ran in for the save.
Elsewhere on WWE Raw, Rollins confronted Rhodes regarding who the Rumble winner should face at WWE WrestleMania 40. While all signs point to Rhodes finishing his story against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Rollins made a case for why he is the champion who should be challenged. Rollins sold how the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was the kind of workhorse title his father, Dusty, would have preferred to hold. Rhodes responded by saying he would think about what Rollins had just proposed.