After returning to WWE during Survivor Series: WarGames last year, CM Punk wrestled Dominik Mysterio at a couple of non-televised live events and later made his "official" in-ring return during January's Royal Rumble PLE in the annual 30-man match.
There was chatter heading into RAW the next night that he might have been injured after taking a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre and he confirmed as much during an emotional promo.
Revealing his right tricep has been torn, the Best in the World announced that, despite the fact he was able to finish the Rumble, he won't be cleared to wrestle at either Elimination Chamber or WrestleMania. After sharing some emotional comments with the Tampa crowd, he reassured the WWE Universe that he would return and pointed out there's "always next year."
The plan had been for Punk to challenge Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at the Showcase of the Immortals, likely fulfilling his longtime desire to main event WrestleMania. Instead, Rollins will now go one-on-one with Drew McIntyre after facing The Rock and Roman Reigns in a tag team match alongside Cody Rhodes.
However, we haven't seen the last of Punk of the Road to WrestleMania!
It's been confirmed today that the Second City Saint will make an appearance during the March 25 edition of RAW in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. This is the final RAW before WrestleMania, and speculation is already running rampant that he'll somehow be inserted into the Show of Shows.
While a match is unlikely, could Punk be named the special guest referee in that epic tag team match? When the stakes in that are so high, it would make sense for a third party to be on hand to make sure the bout is called down the middle...and to stop The Bloodline from causing too much chaos!
Honestly, it's possible he'll only be there to hype up fans about the annual Showcase of the Immortals, but this is still an exciting development and one we hope brings Punk even closer to stepping back into the ring.
Stay tuned for updates as we have them.