Backstage update on how CM Punk’s injury changed WWE WrestleMania 40 plans

CM Punk made his WWE return at Survivor Series and since then he has been in a heated feud with Seth Rollins. Punk said Rollins that he would enter the Royal Rumble match and would win it and might come for Rollins. CM Punk entered the Royal Rumble match as one of the favourites but lost the match.

During the match, Punk tore his right tricep muscle and was reported that he would miss WrestleMania 40. It was widely expected that Punk would challenge Rollins, but the plans were scrapped and Cody was confronted by Rollins.

Following that Fightful Select reported that CM Punk’s injury at Royal Rumble 2024 had made a huge change in the creative decisions of Monday Night Raw earlier this week especially during the Cody Rhodes-Seth Rollins segment.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select previously reported,

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

CM Punk’s injury changed WrestleMania 40 plans

However after SmackDown, Wrestling Observer Board reported that CM Punk’s injury and Brock Lesnar’s absence also played a major role in the change in WrestleMania 40 plans. They reported that the actual plan was CM Punk vs Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 40 and Rock was to face Roman later, maybe next year or at the Saudi show. However as Vince’s issue also took a big turn, the plans got changed.

Wrestling Observer Board reported,

“The Rock pushed super hard for it. The WrestleMania 40 card changed when CM Punk & Brock Lesnar were out and all the dominoes fell. Dwayne already wanted it and they [WWE] felt they now needed it as well. Felt it was better to change the news flow away from Vince.”

“Cody was the plan. Dwayne was going to face him [Roman Reigns] later, maybe next year’s Mania, maybe Saudi. The Vince thing ends up worse than they thought and they changed the plan. 100% it was Punk vs Seth and Cody vs Reigns until Punk got hurt.”

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