New Backstage Details On CM Punk's AEW Injury

Update on when AEW learned of CM Punk's injury, how it happened, and more.

by Andy H Murray
CM Punk
AEW

Friday's episode of AEW Rampage saw World Champion CM Punk announce an injury serious enough to necessitate surgery, rendering him unable to compete for an indeterminate time period.

Punk, who only defeated 'Hangman' Adam Page to win AEW's top Prize at Double Or Nothing 2022 five days prior, will remain AEW's top title-holder despite this. The promotion has since unveiled plans to determine who will keep his spot warm via the upcoming Interim World Championship Eliminator Series.

In an update, PWInsider reports that AEW learned of Punk's injury following his and FTR's six-man tag with Max Caster and Gunn Club on last Wednesday's Dynamite. Whether or not he would require surgery wasn't known at the time, however. This wasn't clear until just before Friday's live Rampage show.

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How long Punk will be sidelined remains unknown, though PWInsider notes that the 43-year-old vacating the AEW World Championship was never considered. The company had previously used an interim placeholder to cover for Cody Rhodes' absence as TNT Champion in January.

The Interim World Championship Eliminator Series kicks off with Jon Moxley facing a battle royal winner on this Wednesday's Dynamite. Whoever emerges from that show victorious will face the winner of an upcoming Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi match (set for NJPW Dominion 6/12 on 12 June) at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.