Welcome to SEScoops‘ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

• WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 46 days away

WWE

– CM Punk showed up after WWE RAW this week. Footage of his appearance went viral shortly after this week’s show. He had a nice segment for the live crowd with Cody Rhodes, with Jey Uso in the ring.

– Michael Chandler showed up on WWE RAW this week, and he had a very interesting thing to say. He grabbed the microphone and called out Conor McGregor in epic fashion. We will have to see if this is the beginning of more WWE and UFC joint programming down the line.

UFC’s Michael Chandler just called out Conor McGregor live on #WWERAW. pic.twitter.com/nvke1FbbAQ

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) February 20, 2024

– Raquel Rodriguez returned to WWE television this week. She took part in the last chance battle royal, and she clinched the final spot in the 2024 Women’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth.

– WWE 2K24 confirmed that Bad Bunny will be a playable character in the upcoming game.

AEW

– AEW continues to get grief over how the Jeff Hardy injury spot was recently handled. Eric Bischoff called it a mess, adding to the many negative things he’s had to say about All Elite Wrestling in recent memory. 

TNA & Beyond

– There are some serious questions going around about the TNA roster right now. They may lose a few top members of their locker room at this point.

– There is also an hourglass trend that drew a ton of attention. Only time will tell how this situation escalates, but we will have continued coverage here at SEScoops.

Upcoming Events:

• WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is scheduled for next Saturday, February 24.
• AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
• AEW Revolution is planned for the following weekend, on Sunday, March 3.
• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Tonight’s Elimination Chamber go-home episode of Raw was filled with many notable moments and this trend continued even after the show from Honda Center in Anaheim, California went off air.

The show opened with a PPV quality match between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes. The two competed in a hard-fought bout for nearly 20 minutes.

McIntyre interestingly came out with a victory in this match after Solo Sikoa interfered. This was Rhodes’ first Televised singles loss since May 2023, when Brock Lesnar beat Cody at Night of Champions.

Apart from this the show also featured Chad Gable picking up an impressive submission victory over Ivar and a returning Raquel Rodriguez earning her spot in the Women’s Chamber match for the upcoming show.

What Happened After Raw

The main event of this week’s Raw saw Gunther defending his IC Title against Jey Uso, as the Ring General overtook Pedro Morales to become the longest-reigning IC Champion for combined days.

Just like the opening match, this bout also ended with an interference from a Bloodline member. This time, Jimmy Uso helped Gunther pick up the victory over his twin brother.

Jimmy attacked his brother after this match and the show went off air with The Bloodline member standing tall. Though he didn’t leave the ring even after the broadcast ended and Uso only retreated when Cody Rhodes made the save.

After coming out to help Jey, Rhodes introduced another big name. He asked CM Punk who had been backstage for the show to come out. The Straight Edge star finally cut a short promo for the crowd before ending the night.

• Michael Chandler Uses WWE RAW Appearance To Call Out Conor McGregor

CM Punk was on the road to WrestleMania 40, where he was going to have a match against Seth Rollins. His Elimination Chamber win won’t happen this year, leaving fans to wait for his return from a triceps injury instead. Even though he’s out of action, Punk wants to remain in the mix.

CM Punk Speaks on Return

CM Punk participated in an interview with TNT Sport during his attendance at UFC 298 on Saturday night. In the discussion, he covered topics such as his recovery from torn triceps, The Rock’s return for the WWE WrestleMania 40 buildup, and the potential for his own return to WWE.

“Yeah, well, I’m a clumsy idiot. I tore my left tricep about two years ago. So, the right one was jealous. I’m like, I’m like an old car. I’m like a 72 Nova, you know what I mean? We have to, we have to change some parts every now and again. So once we fix up all the parts, the engine is still strong. We’ll still be good to go. We’re thinking maybe six to eight months, but I’m not really in a rush to get back to compete. I’m in a rush to get healthy. I’m in a rush to get better. And the sooner I do that, the better. I’ll be when I come back. “

CM Punk stated that he believes that timing is crucial, emphasizing that he wrestled for a significant period before signing with WWE. Having spent ten years on the road without a break, he acknowledges the toll it took on him. He admits that in his youth, he pursued every opportunity without considering balance, leading to burnout. Ten years ago, he reached a point of burnout and decided to explore other ventures, which allowed him to engage in various fulfilling activities. 

With time, he has realized that past grievances become less significant, as people come and go, and leadership changes. Returning now feels comfortable, akin to an old slipper, and he’s grateful for the experience, acknowledging that the journey wouldn’t have been the same without its challenges. He concludes by expressing gratitude for the present moment, emphasizing that it’s a good day.

CM Punk Speaks On The Rock’s Return

Punk also spoke on The Rock’s return. He is glad to be in the mix, even though he’s injured. That will provide him with an opportunity to talk a little bit of trash.

“I think it’s fantastic. Ten years ago, I was the guy that was wrestling The Rock when he came back, and now ten years later, he’s coming back, and I think the landscape has completely changed, right? WrestleMania is two nights now. It’s even bigger. Him coming back only helps. I always say high tide raises all ships. So I’m just happy that even though I’m hurt, I’m still gonna kinda be in the mix. My mouth still works, so I’m gonna still be able to talk some trash. I don’t know if you saw the kickoff we did in Vegas with Rock and Roman and Seth and Cody. It was a lot of fun and I hope to just continue to do that while I’m recuperating because I can always just talk trash with the best of them. It’s the best part. It’s what I do.”

CM Punk was on the panel during WWE’s WrestleMania kickoff event in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. He had a lot of fun, even though Big E jokingly admitted that he was only there, so Punk didn’t get fired. Only time will tell how much he shows up on the road to WrestleMania, but he seems game to do as much as he can.

SEScoops will have continued coverage of CM Punk’s recovery, hopefully he is able to make a return soon.

UFC 298 saw some of the best fighters in the company step into the Octagon and also saw some notable names in the crowd for the night. 

WWE SmackDown Superstars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford were acknowledged in the crowd during the event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The real-life couple wore matching outfits for the evening. 

Bianca Belair y Montez Ford en UFC 298. #HFC #UFC298 #MMA #WWE pic.twitter.com/gWGZgmirZc

— Lucha Libre Online (@luchalibreonlin) February 18, 2024

WWE’s power couple weren’t the only names from the world of Wrestling at the event. CM Punk was also referenced in the crowd. The Best in the World wore a Bret Hart hoodie for the show and was described by UFC’s name banner as a “Retired UFC Welterweight.”

"The Best In The World" CM Punk en UFC 298. #UFC #UFC298 #MMA #WWE pic.twitter.com/Vu5chtnxal

— Lucha Libre Online (@luchalibreonlin) February 18, 2024

WWE & UFC

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise to see WWE Superstars at the UFC premier event. In September of last year, the two companies were merged with the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Since then, the two companies have been closely linked, with UFC President Dana White giving away tickets for WrestleMania 40. In November of last year, WWE U.S. Champion Logan Paul attended UFC 295 alongside his fiancee Nina Agdal. The Maverick sat alongside former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic for the event. 

What’s Next? 

Earlier this week, WWE & UFC both signed deals with the Honda Center that will keep both companies appearing in the venue through 2028. Next week’s episode of Raw will also take place at the Honda Center, with fans able to purchase combo tickets for the UFC and WWE shows. 

Seth Rollins isn’t confident he’d thrive in the world of UFC, but the World Heavyweight Champion imagines he’d do better than CM Punk. 

Since CM Punk’s return to WWE last year, Seth Rollins has taken issue with the Best in the World. Rollins’ belief is that Punk has spent years putting WWE down and will only cause trouble the longer he’s around (such as what we saw in AEW.)

Seth Rollins Would Do Better Than CM Punk

Last September, WWE and UFC officially merged with the launch of TKO Group Holdings. This merger has led to speculation that fans could see more crossover between the two sides. In an interview with ESPN, Rollins was asked if he’d call out any UFC fighters and couldn’t resist taking a dig at CM Punk. 

“I’d call them all out. I don’t care. I can’t do what they do. I’d probably get knocked out and choked in two seconds. Still, I might do better than Punk [CM Punk], but I would likely lose. They can’t come and do what we do either. Same umbrella, but two totally different worlds.”

WWE and UFC recently began selling their first combo tickets. UFC 289 will take place this week from the Honda Center which will also be the home of next week’s Raw. 

CM Punk in the UFC

After walking out of WWE in 2014, Punk signed with UFC that same year. Punk’s first fight came in 2016 at UFC 203 against Mickey Gall. Punk would lose the fight early on, which would be acknowledged by Stephanie McMahon on WWE TV. 

Punk’s second fight would also not go well. In his hometown of Chicago, Punk lost to Mike Jackson at 2018’s UFC 225 event. The fight was later ruled a no contest after Jackson failed a drug test. 

H/T – Fightful

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has yet again taken a shot at CM Punk. 

With WrestleMania 40 coming up in a matter of months the card continues to get stacked. However, some changes had to be made recently. Seth Rollins and CM Punk were likely to clash at ‘The Show of Shows’ but that had to be nixed after both the superstars suffered injuries.

Seth Rollins suffered knee injury during his title defense against Jinder Mahal on RAW. However, he is eyeing to recover by WrestleMania 40. Meanwhile, CM Punk is sidelined with a tricep injury that required him to go under the knife.

Seth Rollins takes a shot at CM Punk

Speaking with Denise Salcedo at WrestleMania 40 Kickoff Press Event, Seth Rollins yet again took a jab at CM Punk and shared his thoughts on their match not happening at the show. He said:

“I mean look one of us is a fragile old man and one of us is a a young stallion so I’ll be back in a couple weeks, he’ll be back in a year or two till his next injury I don’t know. I’d love to kick the crap out of him, I’m sure he’d love to get in there try to do something to me but it’s not going to work. So am I disappointed? I’d say a little bit only because I really thought if we had an opportunity to do it, stomping his head into the mat would be the best at WrestleMania. Like would be the best at WrestleMania in front of the biggest audience so little bummed by that but I I feel like he’s talking about the greatest comeback of all time, I’ll be happy to stomp out that comeback when the time comes.”

Rollins has been unhappy ever since CM Punk made his return to WWE at last year’s Survivor Series: WarGames Premium Live Event. Fans were delighted to witness ‘The Best In The World’ return to Chicago except for Seth Rollins. 

‘The Visionary’ was enraged to see Punk and in a fan-recorded footage, Rollins was even spotted flipping off Punk and had to be held back.

Fans did not forget that, just a few months prior, Rollins called Punk “cancer” and told him to stay away” from WWE. Well, Seth Rollins even spoke about his dislike towards CM Punk.

Fans all over are talking about Cody Rhodes’ big decision to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, but CM Punk believes that a lot of people are overlooking Bayley. She won the Women’s Royal Rumble, after all, but she hasn’t received nearly as much attention.

CM Punk Backs Bayley

CM Punk was on hand in the T-Mobile Arena as WWE brought their WrestleMania kickoff press conference. It was quite an event, one that concluded with a huge cliffhanger.

During his time at the event, CM Punk addressed a camera, where he let it be known that Bayley deserves more love. She wasn’t featured on promotional material, nor was she present at the T-Mobile Arena for the big event in Las Vegas. Punk believes that Bayley is more than deserving of a WrestleMania spotlight.

“I really need to, as a broadcast journalist, I really need to talk about Bayley, and how she won the Royal Rumble for the women, and she wasn’t represented on the poster, I felt like she needed a presence there. Got caught up talking about The Rock and Reigns and Cody and Seth and all that, but very much in the mix is Bayley who won the Royal Rumble and you need to put some respect on her name.”

“Very much in the main event mix is Bayley she won the Rumble don’t forget it put some respect on her name”

— CM Punk#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/whSmz7un78

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) February 9, 2024

What’s Next for Bayley

Bayley decided to face IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Rhea Ripley made reference to this during the WrestleMania kickoff show event, but she actually referenced IYO with the last name Shirai, which hasn’t been the name she’s used since her main roster call-up. We will have to see where Bayley vs IYO falls on the WrestleMania card, but CM Punk is definitely pulling for them to get a good spot.

CM Punk is injured, and he will have to set out this year’s show of shows. This is sad, but at least he is around to provide his two cents on how this year’s event is taking shape.

WWE fans are waiting for CM Punk’s return to the ring, as he suffered a triceps injury that needed surgery during the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match. In the meantime, they can place an order for a rare action figure before the Second City Savior makes his big comeback.

New CM Punk Action Figure

CM Punk is known as “The Best in the World,” and he is back in WWE. Mattel currently handles WWE’s official action figures, but now one with Punk’s likeness is hitting the market in a deal that was possibly pre-existing before his 2023 Survivor Series return. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C3DPO0TuEJr

Punk has teamed up Zombie Sailor as an addition to their Heel and Faces line of figures. The official CM Punk Heels and Faces figure is now available for pre-order exclusively on zombiesailor.com.  

There is a huge bonus to this, because for the first time ever, fans can also get their hands on Larry, CM Punk’s trusty K-9 sidekick, as a bonus inclusion with the figure. This is a first for Punk figures, and that will make this a big selling point, for sure.

How To Order CM Punk Figure

These CM Punk figures are set to be available for approximately two weeks only, after which they will be vaulted forever, with no plans to offer them again. This exclusive figure is made to order, meaning no extra units will be produced beyond the pre-order period.

Fans wanting to own a piece of wrestling action figure history can secure their CM Punk and Larry figures now, with shipments estimated to start in late summer or early fall.

For more information, here’s the link to purchase this limited time action figure set with CM Punk and Larry.

CM Punk was supposed to win big down under in Australia, had a torn triceps injury not derailed plans for the former WWE & AEW World Champion. 

During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, CM Punk suffered a triceps injury which Drew McIntyre has taken full credit for. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40 due to the injury, and vowed to wrestle McIntyre when he’s able to make a return. 

This injury comes at an awful time for Punk, who is set to miss his first WrestleMania in over a decade. The Best in the World’s most recent match at the Showcase of the Immortals was at WrestleMania 39 and saw him become one of the many souls to fall to The Undertaker’s streak.

Original Plans for CM Punk

On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shared that Punk was planned to win the Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Perth, Australia. This would have earned Punk a shot at World Heavyweight Champion Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins at WrestleMania XL. 

“The idea for Punk is that Punk was going to win the Elimination Chamber and that’s how that was going to work.”

CM Punk in the Elimination Chamber

Punk has competed in four Elimination Chamber matches throughout his career, with his first being the ‘Extreme’ Elimination Chamber match from the infamous December to Dismember 2006 pay-per-view. Punk boasts a 1-3 record in the match, with his sole victory being in the 2012 Raw Elimination Chamber match that saw him retain the WWE Championship. CM Punk has five eliminations to his name in the Chamber match. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdvN2UT6ydk

CM Punk, who underwent surgery last week for his torn right triceps that he suffered in the Royal Rumble match, had some hopeful words about his return.

In a vignette aired on Raw, CM Punk declared about his return, “My comeback will be the greatest of all time.”

The video depicted Punk heading to the medical facility for surgery, followed by the aftermath. Post-operation, Punk encountered difficulty in performing simple tasks. “This is the most frustrating thing, simple tasks like these,” he said while trying to open the zip of a bag. “I am in a lot of pain. It’s mental more than anything. I can handle a lot of pain. I can power through hard PT. The mental aspect of it, I think, is a lot harder than the physical.”

You can watch the vignette in the video below: 

Full video of CM Punk going into surgery that was shown tonight on #WWERaw
“My comeback will be the greatest of all time.” YOU DAMN SURE! pic.twitter.com/w70YGBrd4W

— Teffo (@Teffo_01) February 6, 2024

The triceps injury occurred during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, which Drew McIntyre claimed responsibility for. As a result of the injury, Punk will miss WrestleMania 40.

At the event, he was supposed to face Seth Rollins, but that plan sadly had to be scrapped.

However, WWE may have other plans for Punk outside of the ring. His close associate Ace Steel hinted that WWE is interested in having Punk back at the commentator’s table.

It remains to be seen if we will see Punk calling matches on TV, but when it comes to his recovery time for the surgery, it depends on the injury. A torn triceps can take quite some time to heal, and Punk could easily be out of action for at least six months, if not longer. This would mean that Punk would not be seen in the ring until August, at the very least.

CM Punk is out of action with a triceps injury. He had successful surgery and plans to make a big comeback. That being said, WWE may want him to appear in the meantime.

WWE’s Alternative Plan For CM Punk

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that Punk attended the Smackdown event in Birmingham, having undergone surgery in the area the previous day. Additionally, he made several appearances at the Performance Center in Orlando, leading many to speculate about his future involvement.

Ace Steel, who is a close associate of Punk, potentially revealed that WWE is interested in him providing commentary on the Wrestling Perspective Podcast this week, set to release Tuesday on Fightful. When asked by Dennis Farrell about Punk’s potential role on WWE TV until his return, Steel hinted at the possibility.

“Definitely, they want him commentary, they want him on commentary. I don’t know that they go that route since they did an injury angle to pull him out since they did the storyline on him; [Drew] stomps on his arm. There’s the physicality that puts him out. I personally don’t want to see him in an onscreen role unless it’s in the meantime he’s doing NXT or something. I really don’t want to see him on the same show as Drew Mcintyre because his sole focus would be going after Drew Mcintyre. “Well, I can’t fight you. Well, I’m gonna try.”

“We see people hit by cars and forktrucks and all these things, you know. Still, I feel like the fact that they did the injury that a lot of people think they, they put the storyline to it now that a lot of people think it’s, he’s faking it, which is hilarious that it’s a storyline 100% which of course it’s wrestling. So, you’ve done so many of those, like, oh, well, let’s do this where he hurts guys.”

CM Punk’s Cancelled WrestleMania 40 Plan

CM Punk was supposed to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. Sadly, his injury during the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match put him out of action for a number of months.

During WWE RAW this week, they provided an update on CM Punk. The Second City Savior showed a lot of confidence that he will make a full recovery and comeback. SE Scoops will have more information as new updates are made available. 

WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk has wasted no time in going under the knife after suffering a torn triceps injury last month. 

During the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, CM Punk suffered a triceps injury which Drew McIntyre has taken full credit for. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that he will miss WrestleMania 40 due to the injury, and vowed to wrestle McIntyre when he’s able to make a return. 

Punk’s injury has caused WWE to make a serious change of plans. While the initial WrestleMania card featured Cody Rhodes facing Roman Reigns, it now appears that The Rock, who returned on this week’s SmackDown, will face his cousin instead. 

CM Punk Update

The former WWE and AEW World Champion was backstage at last night’s episode of SmackDown in Birmingham, Alabama, PW Insider reports. Punk was spotted sporting a brace on his arm due to the triceps injury. Sources close to the situation have said that Punk has already undergone surgery to repair the triceps tear. 

What’s Next? 

While specific times may differ, a torn triceps injury requires considerable healing time, which is usually at least six months. That would put Punk’s return date around July or August, though there have been rumors he could be out of action for longer. 

Punk’s warning to Drew McIntyre on this week’s Raw was a bold call, as the Scottish Warrior’s contract is ticking away. McIntyre’s current deal is set to expire around April and if he doesn’t re-sign, Punk may be teasing a match that’ll never happen. 

Cody Rhodes is on the Road to WrestleMania 40, but his final destination won’t see him face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. 

On the February 2, episode, The Rock confronted his cousin Roman Reigns in the closing moments of the broadcast. Prior to this, Cody Rhodes spoke about what it means to ‘finish the story’ and added that though he’s coming for Roman Reigns, it won’t be at Wrestlemania 40.

How Cody Rhodes Lost His Spot

On the forum board of F4W Online, Dave Meltzer explained that The Rock pushed hard for the match with Reigns. He added that the blockbuster showdown between the Hollywood megastar and the Tribal Chief will hopefully turn attention away from the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal. 

“Dwayne pushed super hard for it. Read last week’s issue and this week’s. The card changed when Punk & Brock were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they felt they now needed it as well. Felt this was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

Meltzer added that Rhodes was supposed to face Reigns at WrestleMania in the original plan and that a showdown with The Rock was set to happen at a later date. It was also stated that CM Punk’s injury was a decisive factor in WWE’s change of plans.  

“Cody was the plan. Dwayne was going to face him later, maybe next year’s Mania, maybe Saudi. Shit happens with Vince and Punk, the Vince thing ends up worse than they thought and they changed the plan. I literally didn’t know until yesterday that it could change and then I was told it’s under lock. But 100% it was Punk vs. Seth and Cody vs. Reigns until Punk got hurt.”

This massive change of plans as seen on SmackDown has had the wrestling world talking… 

WWE’s locker room of talented Superstars is everything the professional wrestling business should be, according to Monday Night Raw’s CM Punk. 

It’s been just over two months since Punk’s shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames. Since then, the former World Champion has been one of WWE’s most featured performers and appeared on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT before exclusively signing with the red brand.

Everything Wrestling Should Be

During the Men’s 2024 Royal Rumble match, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps injury. On this week’s Raw, Punk confirmed that the injury will cost him a match at WrestleMania 40. In a recent WWE Chronicle that covered Punk’s injury and aforementioned announcement, the former World Champion fought back tears as he spoke about what his time with the WWE roster has meant to him so far. 

“Just certain looks from certain people I get, and then I start crying again. And Cody’s one of them. He’s a great dude. This locker room is everything the business is supposed to be. It’s everything the business was sold to me as being and it’s remarkable, and that’s why I’m so sad. I’m not sad I hurt my arm, I’m sad I’m temporarily out of this amazing situation.”

What’s Next? 

With CM Punk out of the picture, WWE has shifted their plans for WrestleMania 40. Seth Rollins, Punk’s original ‘Mania opponent, has been trying to convince Cody Rhodes to face him at the April supershow instead of Roman Reigns. On this week’s SmackDown, Rhodes said he’s still coming for Reigns, but not at WrestleMania. SmackDown also saw the return of The Rock, who confronted his cousin, teasing a showdown this April. 

CM Punk’s WrestleMania dream is not happening this year. Sadly, the Second City Savior suffered an injury during the Royal Rumble match and that called for a big change in plans for him. Consequently, WWE also had to make some alterations for RAW this week.

CM Punk’s Injury Situation

There’s ongoing discussion surrounding CM Punk’s triceps injury and its impact on the WWE Royal Rumble event. Fans have speculated that Punk was initially slated to win the Royal Rumble, but due to his injury, a change in plans occurred. However, according to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, this theory is incorrect, because Cody was always set to win.

The creative direction on WWE Raw saw adjustments from the original plan outlined on Saturday night at the Royal Rumble, directly influenced by CM Punk’s injury. As a result of Punk’s situation, the segment involving Seth Rollins and Cody was added to the storyline.

The creative on WWE Raw adjusted from what was planned as of Saturday night at the WWE Royal Rumble. We’re told that is directly tied to CM Punk’s injury, and that the Seth Rollins/Cody segment was added as a result of Punk’s injury.

What’s Next

The report also noted that Cody Rhodes saw significant success in merchandise sales over the weekend. Internal memos revealed that he was the top-selling Superstar at the WWE Superstore and Tropicana Field. Additionally, the “Rumble Winner” shirt featuring Cody Rhodes was the highest-selling item on WWE Shop.

We will have to see what is next for CM Punk, but he will be off WWE television for a while. In the meantime, it appears that he is wishing the American Nightmare well, as indication from the backstage video that WWE released of the two at RAW.

??? pic.twitter.com/nkYUx6p5zF

— WWE (@WWE) January 31, 2024

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan

I previously reported that Triple H and other higher-ups met on the night of the Royal Rumble to discuss the new WrestleMania card. They also had a conference call the next day, where it is believed that they figure out a new card. As of this writing, talent and the creative team have not been given that new card yet.

SE Scoops will have further updates on WrestleMania 40 as we get closer to the big show.

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will host WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and 7, 2024. The show of shows promises to be an amazing experience for WWE fans, with The Weeknd pulling a 5-pete, but the card needed to change. 

WWE’s WrestleMania Booking Issues

WWE saw a few issues that they needed to address when it came to their WrestleMania lineup. Two big matches needed to change due to completely different reasons. Now we are in a waiting game before we know what is really planned for the showcase of the immortals this year.

Brock Lesnar was taken out of the WrestleMania equation after his name was associated with the damning lawsuit that Janel Grant filed against Vince McMahon. Those heinous allegations involving Lesnar claimed that a sexual play date with the victim was a part of his contract renewal. It was also alleged that the Beast Incarnate wanted a video of her urinating, so his dream match against GUNTHER at Mania isn’t taking place. 

CM Punk, on the other hand, is injured. His planned match against Seth Rollins isn’t going down at WrestleMania now. So, WWE needs to figure out a new direction for the top of the Mania card this year, with Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns remaining unaffected. 

WWE’s Current WrestleMania Lineup Plans (Exclusive)

A tenured member of the WWE team told me that Triple H and a number of people, including Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level associates, met at the Royal Rumble to discuss WrestleMania. They also spoke about this on a conference call Sunday, and the lineup has been determined. 

I was told, as of last night, that the updated WrestleMania lineup has not distributed to talent or the rest of the creative team yet. Any report saying that there are “card variations” of the lineup is incorrect. 

It was reiterated with me that the WWE creative team has not been informed of the re-shuffled Mania lineup yet. They will be informed of that later this week.

Triple H, Bruce Prichard, lead writers, and some high level #WWE associates met at the #RoyalRumble and also on a conference call Sunday to discuss #WrestleMania.

I've been told that the lineup has been determined.

The final word has "Just not distributed to talent or the…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 31, 2024

What’s Next

As I previously reported, Bron Breakker did get a main roster call-up with his Royal Rumble appearance. He filled in for Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, but he isn’t getting the matches that WWE had planned for Lesnar at this time.

The only people who really know what is happening with Rock are the people at the very top of the company, and they are all playing it very close to the vest.

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) January 28, 2024

When it comes to The Rock, that doesn’t seem to be happening at this year’s WrestleMania, but Dave Meltzer reported that Rock vs Reigns is still possibly going down this year. 

I was told that any plan for The Rock is being kept “very close to the vest,” so, the only people who really know what is going on are kept to a very close circle.

Drew McIntyre has his sights set on CM Punk. But, the plans of thei feud remains up in the air. 

Ever since CM Punk returned last year, fans had been anticipating his comeback to the ring. The former WWE Champion competed in his first televised WWE match in almost ten years at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Unfortunately, he sustained torn tricep during the high stakes match.

This week on Raw, Punk addressed the fans and said he will miss this year’s WrestleMania. Eventually, Drew McIntyre interrupted him and said that “I’m not a spiritual person, but I prayed for this to happen.” Then Punk said that he would be coming back for McIntyre when he returns.

It’s worth noting that McIntyre’s future in WWE is uncertain. His contract is not confirmed beyond April. Meanwhile, Punk’s return from injury is likely to be around in September. Now, the question stands what will be the future of the feud. 

Uncertainty looms over CM Punk-Drew McIntyre feud

Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio reported that a reasonable timeline for CM to return is in September. Given Drew McIntyre’s contract status, doubt remains what the future holds for the storyline.

I’d say September is a reasonable return (for CM Punk). Which is interesting, really interesting, because they set up the big angle with Drew McIntyre tonight to be his opponent when he returns, and Drew McIntyre’s not under contract past April. And that has not changed. Which really surprised me when I watched it.”

This is not the first time Punk has suffered this injury. He has sustained a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. After immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months and made his return for the debut of AEW Collision show. We will have to wait and see when he is able to return this time around.

We at SEScoops wish speedy recovery to CM Punk.

CM Punk competed in his first televised WWE match in almost ten years at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Sadly, he also suffered an injury during the contest.

CM Punk Addresses His Injury

It was reported today that CM Punk suffered a triceps injury during the Royal Rumble match. There was no official confirmation from Punk or WWE. Then, the Second City Savior addressed the WWE Universe to kick off RAW this week.

#WWERaw kicks off with @CMPunk! pic.twitter.com/SXRnPZcBiR

— WWE (@WWE) January 30, 2024

Punk made his way to the ring with his right arm in a sling. After saying that he hopes Cody finishes his story, Punk said he never believed in luck, but he feels unlucky.

“In the course of the Rumble, I tore my right tricep,” Punk admitted. He thought about taping it to work on that injury, but WrestleMania is not in the cards for him. He said that maybe main eventing WrestleMania isn’t in the cards for him after all.

Fans cheered for CM Punk as he continued on and said this is just a bump in the road. He’s overcome adversity countless times in the past, and he doesn’t focus on people who tell him that he can’t. His promo, although the message was terrible that he will miss Mania, was very motivational.

Get well soon, CM Punk. ??#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/HCFFZVPwuI

— WWE (@WWE) January 30, 2024

Then CM Punk said, “there’s always next year,” before Drew McIntyre interrupted him. McIntyre could only relate to Punk’s heartbreaking career setbacks. Then he said that “I’m not a spiritual person, but I prayed for this to happen,” to get a big heel reaction from fans. Then Punk said that he’s coming back for McIntyre upon his return.

What’s Next for CM Punk?

At this time, we do not have an exact return timetable for CM Punk. We can only hope that he gets that WrestleMania match eventually, but this year’s show of shows isn’t happening for Punk.

Punk suffered a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. Following immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months before making his return for the debut of the Collision show. Now, he is dealing with another similar injury.

CM Punk had his first match on WWE television at the Royal Rumble, but sadly, that resulted in an injury. Now, there is a plan for Punk, but it doesn’t include wrestling right away.

CM Punk is Injured

According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, over the weekend, WWE had concerns about a potential significant injury to CM Punk. It was previously reported that Punk suffered a triceps injury, with PW Insider suggesting that surgery might be necessary, projecting a prolonged absence extending beyond WrestleMania.

Although information about Punk’s triceps injury was reported, there’s no official confirmation from Punk or WWE. At this time, fans should still expect to hear from Punk this week on RAW.

Punk suffered a triceps tear at All Out in Chicago in 2022 during the main event against Jon Moxley. Following immediate surgery, he remained inactive for over nine months before making his return for the debut of the Collision show.

WWE’s Plan For CM Punk On RAW Tonight

It is reported that Punk is currently listed for tonight’s WWE RAW, where it’s anticipated that he will address the reported injury. Internally, he was planned to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania, who is dealing with a torn MCL and meniscus.

During the conclusion of the WWE Royal Rumble match, a WWE referee checked on CM Punk, inquiring about the need for medical attention. Punk declined, expressing his intent to complete the match. There’s no information suggesting that Cody Rhodes’s Royal Rumble win was a result of Punk’s injury.

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For CM Punk

This is terrible timing for CM Punk, because he was set to take on Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. Now, with Punk out of the mix, they will need to figure out a new match for the Visionary.

WWE is in WrestleMania rewriting mode when it comes to Brock Lesnar as well. His Mania match against GUNTHER may be off, because his name was attached to the horrible allegations against Vince McMahon from Janel Grant’s lawsuit.

We can only hope that CM Punk is able to make it back in speedy fashion. 

The ‘Road To WrestleMania’ may look bleak for WWE superstar CM Punk. He competed at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 for the first time in over a decade and looked in good shape. However, fans noticed he favored his arm in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match. 

According to PWInsider, Punk suffered a torn triceps during Saturday’s Royal Rumble match. Sources indicate that he will need surgery, which would keep him out for 4-6 months.

‘The belief among sources we have spoken with is that post-surgery, CM Punk would likely need in the area of 4-6 months of recovery and physical therapy.’ 

Punk is expected to address the WWE Universe on the January 29 episode of Monday Night Raw from Tampa, FL.

How did CM Punk’s Injury Occur?

Fans have pointed out that Punk looked hurt after he took a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The report noted that Punk allegedly told a referee during the match that it was his tricep. 

CM Punk might've injured his arm last night #RoyalRumble

he was clutching his right arm after the DDT and spent several minutes in the corner having a lengthy chat with the referee. hopefully it's nothing serious. pic.twitter.com/yPf7ZS3hqz

— AIR (@AIRGold_) January 28, 2024

It’s unclear if this is the same tricep he injured in a match against Jon Moxley at AEW All Out on September 4, 2022.

CM Punk’s WrestleMania Plans In Doubt

This injury would likely remove him from a potential match against  WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WWE WrestleMania 40 in April. If he injured the same tricep against Moxley, he could be out of action for several months and possibly return in late 2024. 

PWInsider has confirmed CM Punk did suffer a torn triceps during the Royal Rumble, likely on a Future Shock DDT from Drew McIntyre, and will need surgery. His Wrestlemania hopes have been dashed. Thankfully for WWE, they have a deep bench, but that’s a huge blow to that card.

— Jason Solomon ?? (@solomonster) January 29, 2024

While it seemed WWE was leaning towards a Punk and Rollins showdown at WWE WrestleMania 40, they have also teased WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther as the title challenger. On the January 22 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, ‘The Ringe General’ had an in-ring segment with Rollins and showed interest in becoming the  WWE World Heavyweight Champion. 

Although Punk vs. Rollins may have been in the works, a potential title vs. title match between Gunther and Rollins could make for a big program for WWE WrestleMania 40. If Punk is injured, hopefully, he can fully recover and reignite his feud with Rollins later this year. 

The booking of tonight’s Royal Rumble event was poetic in many ways. One such moment was when Cody Rhodes and CM Punk battled as the final two contestants of the Men’s Rumble. Both the stars once left the company over creative frustrations and they were both looking to win the match so they can finish their own stories.

One aspect of this showdown that wasn’t highlighted as much however was their respective stints in AEW. It’s ironic that both the stars were part of the AEW roster at one point but never got to lock horns in the company.

The winner of this contest Cody Rhodes was asked about this during the post Royal Rumble media scrum. He admitted that he was surprised at never getting to face Punk in AEW:

“It’s funny that we meet back here. When we were at AEW, I thought we would encounter one another there and it didn’t happen. For whatever reason it didn’t happen. but I think both him and I had different personal experiences.

Don’t believe anything that Wade Keller put out about why I left or anything like that. The truth is, nobody knows. [It was a] personal thing. And probably a personal thing for Punk and that happens. People come, people go. It’s not a huge thing.”

Cody Rhodes Wanted To Earn CM Punk’s Respect

The American Nightmare then dived into his encounter with CM Punk tonight and the history between the two. Cody Rhodes claimed that he is looking forward to seeing what’s next for the Straight Edge Star in WWE:

“But to see him tonight, and to see Miz, and to see Kofi – Those were my guys. The first OVW show I walked into; Brent Albright vs. CM Punk was the main event. Punk was also like running the whole show. He made me set up the ring.

To see that, sometimes you want another person who you admire and respect to stop looking at you as the kid and look at you and see who you are now. I think tonight he got to see who I am now. And that means a lot to me. He’s amazing. [It] could have gone either way. I look forward to what he does in WWE.”

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

WWE’s Royal Rumble event is going down this Saturday, and the pro wrestling world can’t wait to see who is pointing at the WrestleMania sign by the end of the night. WARNING: This article may contain spoilers, and a bit of disappointment for the Nightmare Family.

WWE’s Plan For Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania Main Event

Many fans were shocked when Cody Rhodes failed to topple Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39, but there’s always next year, or is there? It appears that WWE has shifted things a bit, and Cody will keep telling his story without finishing it.

After Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returned during the Day 1 RAW episode on January 1st, the entire landscape for the grandest stage of them all changed. Where it was previously thought that Cody vs Roman is going to happen again, and the American Nightmare could finish his story, there has reportedly been a change of plans.

WWE’s WrestleMania Plan For Cody Rhodes

I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that a triple threat match for Cody vs Roman vs Rock is not happening. The WWE creative team was informed that point-blank last week. A new report is now removing Rhodes from the picture completely, because there is a new story to start for him.

Sports Illustrated‘s Justin Barrasso reports that multiple sources have told him that Cody Rhodes will not finish his story at WrestleMania 40, and the main event match is not his. Instead, Rhodes will face CM Punk at Mania in a match that will also likely not give Punk what he wants, which is a legit WrestleMania main event.

Multiple sources close to WWE Head of Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque have indicated that Rhodes will not headline this year’s event, nor will he “finish his story” at WrestleMania. But there is still a new chapter to write with a marquee matchup to be had… against CM Punk.

Seth Rollins’ WWE WrestleMania Status

Since CM Punk is reportedly slated to battle Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, that opens up another question about Seth Rollins. It was previously reported that Punk vs Rollins was the company’s plan for Mania.

I exclusively reported here at SE Scoops that WWE was still planning a match for Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 despite his MCL injury. I was also told that, as of last night, WWE is still hopeful that Rollins will compete at Mania. “Rollins is still on for Mania at this moment,” was the exact wording given to me.

Exclusive Insight On WWE’s Plans

I was told in September that the winner for the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match was in place, but nothing is set in stone with WWE until the final plans are made. Then, I asked again in December after CM Punk returned and declared his Rumble entry, and I was told once again that the plans for the winner have not changed. It was also confirmed to me that Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match hadn’t changed either.

I asked again last week whether plans for the Royal Rumble match were changed, because a lot of things went down from December to late January, including The Rock’s return. This time, I received a different answer that to fulfill my query request would be to indicate a spoiler.

Triple H only gets one go at booking his first road to WrestleMania without Vince McMahon’s controlling input. By all appearances, it will be an epic trip to the showcase of the immortals this year. Stay tuned, because January 27th will likely be a very big day for the Royal Rumble in Tropicana Field. 

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes didn’t disappoint with their war of words during the January 22, 2023, edition of Monday Night Raw. 

On this week’s Raw, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes came face-to-face in a meeting of WWE’s two most-popular Superstars. Punk kicked things off by bringing up Dusty Rhodes and recalled the late Hall of Famer asking Punk to watch over a young Cody in OVW in 2007. Punk added he was proud of Rhodes for becoming a big superstar in recent years. 

Punk then spoke of this weekend’s Men’s Royal Rumble match, and said he plans on breaking his promise to Dusty (by not watching over Cody and winning the match.) Punk even claimed he’d single out Cody in the match. Punk went even further when he said that his dad was an electrician, before saying that he is more of the American Dream than Cody is.

Rhodes Retorts

Not to be outdone, Cody fired right back at the Best in the World and brought up Punk’s infamous 2011 pipebomb. Rhodes gave Punk props, saying his words inspired countless wrestlers competing today, including himself.  

Rhodes then brought up Punk’s 2014 walkout and pointed out that for all his claims during the pipebomb, Punk didn’t do any of them. CM Punk teased joining New Japan Pro Wrestling or returning to Ring of Honor during the 2011 Pipebomb, but did neither. Cody also mentioned that he went to the places Punk claimed he’d go. 

These two aren't holding back on the 🎤 right now!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/jVBn01ksyo

— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2024

This isn’t all Cody Rhodes has had to say about the Best in the World… 

AEW is bringing back their weekly ranking system, something that some fans really missed. Now, fans who love stats will have something else to comb through every week. It seems that the disappearance of that ranking system was to blame on CM Punk.

Why AEW Nixed Their Ranking System The First Time

In the early years of AEW, a ranking system was employed to determine upcoming championship matches in each division. However, it disappeared in the final months of 2022.

CM Punk had significant backstage influence over certain aspects of AEW while he was with the company. This included things going away, and one of those things was the AEW rankings, which vanished during his tenure with the company.

During the Bryan & Vinny Show, Bryan Alvarez reported that he was told it was Punk’s idea was to eliminate the rankings. He apparently had a discussion with Tony Khan about them, and then they were gone

“These f*cking rankings. Do you know whose idea it was to get rid of the rankings? I was told it was CM Punk. He talked Tony into getting rid of the rankings.”

CM Punk also got to pick his roster for AEW Collision. He had say-so in which talent AEW brought in for the show as well, and he could ban talent from the company’s Saturday night show as well. This is why the Collision roster was loaded with his friends, a practice that remained until his AEW release.

After CM Punk’s AEW Release

Following a discipline committee, consisting of Bryan Danielson and two attorneys, AEW terminated Punk due to a backstage altercation with Jack Perry at All In 2023. This decision came after Punk’s All Out brawl with The Elite the previous year and various backstage issues. It did not take Punk long until he returned to WWE after his AEW release.

Now, it appears that Tony Khan is bringing back his ranking system. Interestingly enough, this is coming during a time when he has received a significant spotlight due to his reliance on CageMatch rankings.

Could CM Punk be a part of Damage CTRL?

Damage CTRL led by Bayley has been a formidable faction in the women’s division. The faction originally had Dakota Kai and IYO SKY and later Asuka and Kairi Sane joined the group. 

Bayley recently posted a new photo with herself, Kairi Sane, Asuka, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai. The former Women’s Champion wrote the following in the caption:

“They said we won’t. I bet we will.”

CM Punk jokes about wanting to join Damage CTRL

CM Punk took note of the photo and wrote an amusing comment. He joked that he applied to join Damage CTRL.

“I sent in my application to join but haven’t heard anything yet,” he said.

Bayley and CM Punk will compete in respective Royal Rumble 2024 matches 

Royal Rumble 2024 WWE Premium Live Event which will emanate live from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida is less than a week away. The show takes place on January 27.

Damage CTRL’s Bayley is certainly among the
favorites to win this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match. With Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley seemingly locked for a title bout for WrestleMania 40, ‘The Role Model’ could win the high-stakes match and go after IYO SKY’s WWE Women’s title, adding a new layer to their storyline. 

Meanwhile, CM Punk who made a blockbuster return in November last year has made a major impact. He had been the talk of the town for quite some time and if he wins the Royal Rumble match, he could even go on to main event WrestleMania 40.