CM Punk went into the men’s Royal Rumble match as the favorite, with it known the plan for WrestleMania 40 was for him to wrestle WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Nevertheless, as everybody knows, Cody Rhodes would be victorious and now looks set to headline WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns.
Still, following news that Punk suffered a torn triceps during the match, many on social media have speculated that an audible was called at the conclusion of the match to change the winner. However, that theory was subsequently debunked by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, who confirmed that Rhodes winning was always the plan.
“This isn’t true. Cody was scheduled to win the Royal Rumble. There was no audible called.”
45-year-old Punk returned to WWE at November’s Survivor Series, and while he has wrestled Dominik Mysterio twice on house shows, this was his first televised match for the company in a decade. Therefore, it is disappointing that Punk has been injured so soon into his run, although with it known he signed a multi-year contract, he will get another opportunity to headline a future WrestleMania.
