CM Punk had seemingly bounced back from his controversial exit from All Elite Wrestling heading into last weekend's Royal Rumble. However, his WWE comeback came to an abrupt halt at the event when he suffered a torn triceps.
The Second City Saint's return to compete in the men's Rumble match for the first time in 10 years quickly became one of the most prominent talking points on the Road to WrestleMania.
Even more, his addition to the field seemed to signal a legitimate chance to main-event The Showcase of the Immortals.
Punk has stated that has been his goal since childhood. He famously aired his frustrations that he couldn't achieve it when he left WWE in 2014.
Unfortunately, the 45-year-old hit a stumbling block en route to his best opportunity to accomplish his dream when Cody Rhodes eliminated him to become a two-time winner of the men's Rumble.
On the following episode of Raw, Punk confirmed that he tore his right triceps and WrestleMania 40 was not in the cards for him. It was a sober revelation following a crushing defeat to The American Nightmare.
So, what's next for the Chicago native? Can he salvage his return to WWE and come back just as determined to headline The Show of Shows?
The Same Focus and a New Foe
Punk reemerged on Monday night with his arm in a sling and cut his best promo since he returned to WWE. In comparison, some of his other promos felt uncharacteristically hollow and stilted.
He came off as earnest and genuine as his chance to achieve his lifetime goal slipped through his fingers. This was the fire and resolve that earned him so many fans during his first stint with the company.
His loss and subsequent injury humanized the polarizing star, and Drew McIntyre gave the viewers someone to jeer. Punk eliminated The Scottish Warrior, but he got the last laugh as he robbed him of his chance to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40.
Their segment was incredible, and McIntyre has continued to gloat on social media. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the makings of a heated feud here that could play out this summer.
Assuming the Scot re-signs with WWE, SummerSlam would be the perfect destination for this matchup. His contract will reportedly expire in April, and he and the company are still in negotiations.
Nevertheless, his actions on the latest episode of Raw suggest he is on pace to be one of the hottest antagonists of 2024 and an obvious opponent for Punk.
It will take The Straight Edge Superstar four to six months to recuperate, but McIntyre has the bragging rights and chops to keep viewers engaged until then.
Back to Basics
To tell the truth, Punk's injury may have been a blessing in disguise. Real-life adversity has already given his character the shot in the arm it needed after months of controversy.
During the opening segment of Raw, he sounded like The Voice of the Voiceless again when he spoke on behalf of his friend, Chad Gilbert, who has cancer. He even spoke candidly about trying and failing to become a UFC fighter.
CM Punk is a megastar, but the everyman persona he developed during his original run with WWE garnered a loyal fanbase. The incomparable indie darling who made his way to the biggest stage and forced everyone to take notice was endearing.
It may have been difficult for some to look past the inconsistencies in his behavior behind the scenes and his growing reputation. More to the point, he simply wasn't an underdog anymore, and that was his appeal.
Now, his body is failing him, and he's the outlier on a roster full of young and athletic stars. His athleticism and in-ring prowess were never his strength, but it's amplified in an era when wrestlers are more physically gifted than ever.
WWE should lean into this when he returns. Book him as a gutsy and clever veteran trying to attain his last hurrah. That will add more believability to his character and give his quest to headline WrestleMania more weight.
It's hard to believe Punk can work a full-time schedule, but he's an excellent talker and storyteller. That's probably why WWE relied on those strengths to build to his appearance in the men's Rumble and kept him off TV when he wasn't wrestling.
That's a wise approach that would have paid off if the former WWE champion didn't get injured. Utilizing him could be tricky going forward, but that is a reasonable blueprint to fall back on.
McIntyre stands out as his first dance partner this summer, but the creative team can continue to play the long game with Rollins. Put Punk in other feuds and leave that one on the table until they cross paths again in the men's Rumble match next year.
After all, their shared desire to compete in the main event of WrestleMania partially made their tension so engaging.
In the meantime, Kevin Owens or AJ Styles are intriguing options for Punk because of their ties to his past and rumored beef. A program with Finn Bálor also makes sense because he has been a part of the most dominant heel faction on Raw.
There's still so much WWE could do with Punk, but the conflict and character work is the key to making it successful. His motivations to continue wrestling are more important than the potential dream matches because that's what will keep fans interested.
