CM Punk made his way out to the ring during the June 3 episode of AEW Rampage, and the reigning AEW World Championship revealed he would need surgery due to injuries.
Stepping into the ring, a teary-eyed Punk said that when he returned to wrestling, he did it with the intention of going until the wheels feel off. He said that. he hopes fans haven’t been too disappointed watching him, and that it was a gift to have this time back in the ring, but that he was hurt, so he needs surgery.
Punk didn’t go into detail, but did note that “a couple of things” were broken, including his heart, because he wanted to go on a huge run with the title. While he wants to continue wrestling, he said he couldn’t at the moment, and didn’t want to hold up All Elite Wrestling, as he knows plenty of guys who can fill his shoes in the meantime, naming Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson. Punk ended things by saying that the “get back” will be bigger than the setback, and that he will come back bigger, faster, stronger, and hungrier than before. He he vowed to prove again that he is the best in the world.
Later in the broadcast, it was announced that Punk has not yet relinquished his title, but that Jon Moxley — the new #1 Contender of the title — would face off against the winner of a Battle Royale match that will kick off next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The victory of the bout between the two will advance to AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, where they’ll fight for the Interim AEW World Championship.
Punk recently won the AEW World Championship in a hard-fought bout against Hangman Page at AEW Double or Nothing last month. He was set to face New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Hiroshi Tanahashi in what promised to be an incredible match at this month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
Just a bump in the road for #AEW World Champion @CMPunk; he WILL be back! Tune in to #AEWRampage LIVE on @tntdrama right now! pic.twitter.com/MNq1SuH9ql
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 4, 2022
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