10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 2013 Facts
5. Punk Did Not Intend To Return From Hiatus Until SummerSlam
After becoming the twenty-first victim of The Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania 29, CM Punk disappeared from WWE programming. He was only a few months removed from concluding a 14-month reign as WWE Champion, as well as a serious knee injury in late-2012 that prevented him from working the TLC pay-per-view. Punk claims to have torn up the other leg against Undertaker, and began a sabbatical from the ring post-Mania.
According to Punk during his legendary Art of Wrestling interview with Colt Cabana, Punk was set on not coming back until SummerSlam 2013. That changed when McMahon called him up, wanting him to work Payback on June 16, since it was in Punk's native Chicago. Punk was also not thrilled about the prospect of putting Brock Lesnar over, since he'd already lost to The Rock twice, and thought losing to part-timers was damaging his main event value.