CM Punk comments on missing out on headlining WrestleMania

CM Punk. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

CM Punk on headlining WrestleMania: 'Maybe it's just not ever going to happen'

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 1/29/24

It was his first televised match since his return to WWE.

CM Punk was finally back in a WWE ring after walking away from the company in 2014. His was a long-awaited return, often chanted about but thought of as nearly impossible considering the bitterness that had grown between the superstar and WWE's top brass.

That's what made his surprise return at Survivor Series such a big moment. That's also what made this moment on "Monday Night Raw" so tough to stomach for fans of the 45-year-old professional wrestler.

Punk confirmed that he tore his right triceps at the "Royal Rumble" premium live event this past weekend. He also confirmed that the timeline would take him out of contention for WrestleMania XL.

"It's just not in the cards and I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me because when I think of this situation and how much it bums me out — how much I have talked from the highest mountains about how my goal and my dream ever since I was a little kid was to main event 'WrestleMania' — you know, maybe it's just not ever going to happen," Punk told the crowd.

Get well soon, CM Punk. ❤️#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/HCFFZVPwuI
— WWE (@WWE) January 30, 2024

CM Punk has long been known as one of the biggest draws in professional wrestling, but despite his widespread popularity he has never been tapped on the shoulder to headline WrestleMania.

There was an epic match in WrestleMania 29 that saw him match up with The Undertaker in a widely acclaimed showdown, but that show was main evented by John Cena and The Rock.

Punk may not ever get his chance to headline WrestleMania, but it's worth noting that he said he's not planning on retiring because of this setback.

He has dealt with multiple injuries over the last few years of his career, though, so it will be interesting to see if he'll be able to make a full comeback to WWE programming sometime after WrestleMania XL.

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