** MERGED ** CM Punk undergoes emergency knee surgery (keep it in here!!!!)

[TheKingofKings20222]

The following is from WWE.com

WWE.com has learned WWE Champion CM Punk is currently undergoing surgery on his knee in Pensacola, Fla.

Last night, after Ryback drove him through a table, The Straight Edge Superstar took a late night flight to Florida for an emergency consultation with Dr. James Andrews. A review of his condition resulted in the WWE Champion’s immediate surgery today. (PHOTOS FROM RAW)

WWE.com will continue to report on Punk’s condition as more details become available.

So what exactly does this mean for the WWE Championship? If Punk has to drop the belt, what do you see WWE doing?

 

[Y 2 Jake]

If he has to drop the title I don't think it matters. Punk has kept the title so long purely because of a match with The Rock at the Rumble. He's basically been a very long transitional champion. The Rock vs. Cena at Mania again is lame, The Rock vs. Cena at the Royal Rumble is huge. There's your Rumble match if Punk has to drop the title.

 

[DarkLordFett]

If Punk won't be back soon, I imagine there will be a quickly thrown together #1 contender's bracket. Maybe eight guys or so. First round on Monday, second round on the go-home show and the final contenders fight for it at TLC. Or 6 or 8 man ladder match at the PPV. Could be fun. Then Punk get's to come back with his belt and say he never lost the title, it's rightfully his and have a match for the undisputed title. After Vince coerces Vickie into it lol

 

[Mr Mikey Mike]

If Punk's out for an extended period of time then this sucks. Hopefully it's just a minor procedure and Punk won't miss more than a few weeks, but it would really blow if Punk's injury forced him to miss his match with The Rock at the Royal Rumble. Or wait a second and scratch what I just said this could also be beneficiary to Punk as long as he's able to wrestle at Wrestlemania. Think about it Rock captures the wwe title from someone at the Rumble and if Punk's able to return by Wrestlemania then you have the classic storyline of "you have the title, but you didn't beat the champion" leading to a singles match between Punk and Rock at mania for the wwe title. Either way if this injury is legit which
I believe it is (go back and watch the Punk-Kane match from last weeks raw and you'll see Punk
favoring one of his knees toward the end of the match) worst case is Punk misses mania. As for who'd I have become the next wwe champion would either be Cena or Ryback.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

It IS being reported on wwe.com, so I'm not ruling out that this is a work.

I didn't see the end of RAW. Did the bump he took look bad?

 

[MB1025]

Well it most likely is something serious because you don't go to James Andrews unless you think their is series structure damage. A routine cleaning isn't emergency surgery.

 

[midgensa]

This does not sound good or sound like a work ... but honestly you never know.

I am hoping that we will still get The Rock vs. CM Punk at the Royal Rumble ... but it is definite what happens if Punk is going to be out through Mania and beyond ... they put the strap on John Cena damn near immediately.

They would have to move Cena up to face The Rock again ... at the Royal Rumble ... which works anyways because it is a "happenstance" meeting. Cena is the champion and Rock is getting a title shot ... makes it to where the WWE did not "intentionally" give us "Twice in a Lifetime."

I personally hope that we see Punk vs. Rock ... but if Cena vs. Rock at RR means we do not see Cena vs. Rock II at Mania ... then I am completely down for that.

Sad news though if this is how Punk's reign comes to an end.

 

[King Patrick Star]

Wait a second!! Wasn’t John Cena’s 380 day reign as WWE Champion stopped due to him being injured and forced to vacate the WWE Title about a week before No Mercy 2007?? I mean, I wasn’t expecting CM Punk to hold the Title for a combined 4,041 days over 2 reigns. I wasn’t expecting CM Punk to hold the Title for 2,804 days in this current reign either. I guess it’s still too much to ask for him to hold the Title for at least 1,028 days as well. I guess dropping the Title is okay, but don’t do it today. (Quick question, if he vacates the Title on Smackdown, does his reign end today or Friday??) Do it tomorrow or better yet, do it on Raw next week.

 

[fafa1021]

Well the easiest thing for them to do is turn the ladder match between Cena and Ziggler into a 3 way ladder match w/ Cena/Ziggler/Ryback for the belt. This also works because Ziggler can retain his Money in the Bank Briefcase and use it against the World Heavyweight champ.

 

[sTyLnK]

I'd like to think this is easily a work and getting put through a table was good way of saying this has been planned for some time. Causing him to "drop" the title, assuming he'd have to would be best because this would be a good way for him to flap his gums about no one beating him when he did return. IE thanks for holding the title warm for me etc. And so forth.

Of course that's option A. Option B is that it really is an emergency surgery and we'll know more about it soon enough.

Pick one.

 

[Brothervis]

It's called a work. He's trying to avoid defending the title against Ryback. It will give him time to rest up for TLC and the Royal Rumble and the road to wrestlemania

 

[closet_fan]

The fact that Cena just came off a "knee" injury and that it's on WWE.com doesn't help make it seem left. But lets say it is.

I think it all comes down to what happened to his knee. It could easily be a minor scope to get some fragments taken out, or could be to repair a torn ACL/MCL. If it's a scope, Punk might be able to come back in time. Cena and Ryback could easily carry the match for him. If it's to repair a torn ligament, he'll be out for months.

I didn't watch the aftermath. But if he was able to walk under his own power, it wasn't a torn ligament. He would have to be helped to the back.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Since it was reported on WWE.com first, it could be a work in which they're using an injury angle in Punk's current feud.

Personally though, I think it's legit. If it is legit, then I'm thinking that it might be the result of his match with Kane last Monday. Throughout much of the match, Punk was favoring his knee even though we didn't see Kane focusing any offense on Punk's knee. That made me think that Punk did legitimately get hurt there. If he was hurt then maybe something happened during his segment with Ryback to aggravate the injury or worsen it.

Depending on what the overall deal is, including the procedure itself & how much recovery time Punk will need, he might drop the title to Ryback at TLC. He might simply have to vacate the title altogether if he's hurt badly enough. It'd be a shame for Punk's reign to end that way, plus probably missing out on a highly anticipated match against The Rock.

I'm hoping it's a work because WWE needs Punk right now. He's the top heel in the company and they're counting on him to help deliver a big money match against The Rock in a little over a month.

 

[nightshifty]

This knee injury has probably been a nagging injury for awhile. If I could take a guess he probably just losing cartilage in his knee or has a low amount which isn't a major. My dad and I have had those problems. He'll just have to rest for 2 to 4 weeks. What I can see happening is maybe CM Punk has to relinquish his title next week they have a tournament that have matches on RAW, Main Event, and Smackdown! and the final round can be at TLC, maybe incorporate Cena and Ziggler. Whoever wins faces The Rock at Royal Rumble, The Rock wins. CM Punk returns as a mystery entry win the Rumble match. Punk/Rock at Mania for the Main Event

 

[MOExecution]

Some people are saying that CM Punk went into surgery for an injury to the knee. I would think that is possible.

I remember seeing the spot where Punk and Cena put Ryback through the announce table at Survivor Series and right went Ryback went through Punk fell down shortly after, grabbed his knee, and not to mention he was limping for the rest of that match. He's possibly been working with the injury since November and recently since it's been nagging him so much he's got it checked out. If anyone wants to see a video just search up, "CM Punk and John Cena puts Ryback through announce table" on Youtube or just personally message me and I will send you a link.

Now, I am hoping that this is possibly a work because if this is the end for Punk's WWE Championship reign because of an injury it will be very bittersweet. I remember Punk said he NEVER wanted to get any kind of surgery again on his, "Best in the World" DVD and WWE has been known to do works on their website. I am hoping for the best for Punk.

 

[XXJJ]

Thats the risk with long-term booking. Not only does it make the show very predictable in the months before, but guys could get injured and ruin your plans.

If Punk is out just do a title tournament. Winner of the tournament will face Rock at the Royal Rumble. I'm thinking it will probably be Ryback.

If Punk is out its not the end of the world. They have plenty of time to build a new feud for Rock. THe Royal Rumble always has good buyrates and throw in Rock wrestling for the WWE title it will generate a lot of interest. If Rock wrestles Cena, Orton, or Ryback it will still do great.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

Obvious thing is to make Heyman v Ryback for the title with him as Punk's Sub defending the belt... Ryback can win it only for the Shield to take him out for the "injustice" and Ziggler cashes in...

As for the news itself, I told you Ryback was gonna hurt someone...

 

[Rayne]

I'll believe it when I see a time-stamped photo of CM Punk in a hospital bed with a surgery scar down his knee, holding a copy of today's paper. The man fucks with the internet WAY too much to believe anything less.

If it is true, then FUCK. The WWE is woefully unprepared for anyone else to face The Rock at the Royal Rumble. Ryback would be a tough sell, as he's nowhere near that point with his momentum shot. You could possibly hotshot Cena/Rock for the Rumble, then have Rock/Lesnar at Wrestlemania.

I have to imagine CM Punk was a big part of the booking towards WrestleMania, so you hope this is an internet hoax.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Unless Dr. Andrews has moved in the last year or so....I always thought he was based out of Alabama, not Florida.

Punk being sent to Florida to see Dr. Andrews seems sketchy to me. Now- its quite possible Andrews has moved his practice to Florida somewhat recently. That I wouldnt know.

 

[MB1025]

He tore his meniscus. Depending on how bad it could be a couple weeks to a few months.

We have had two updates from the WWE with no time table. IMO that to me would be a little worrisome. You would think they would want to let everyone know as soon as possible if he can go. To me it looks like they want to get their replacements in order and then break the news.

 

[nightshifty]

If they play out this injury storyline thing, maybe CM Punk can find someone to replace him in the match and if the replacement wins CM Punk gives the replacement a title match or a favor in the near future or something. Kinda like how Randy Orton helped Booker T against Chris Benoit in January 2006. Far fetched but just a thought

 

[tomthebodz]

If he is legitimately injured, and he has to vacate the title I think there will be a multiple man WWE title match at TLC, not sure who will be involve. Definitely Cena and Ryback. Potentially, Del Rio and Orton. Cena will win and face The Rock at Royal Rumble. Then Punk returns at the Rumble and wins, then goes on to face The Rock at Mania.

However I'm more inclined to think that this is a work. How does someone injure their knee after being powerbombed through a table. I think this is a way of making Punk look stronger against Ryback, who is apparently unbeatable. How good would Punk look if he beats Ryback cleanly when "injured".

 

[closet_fan]

Unless Dr. Andrews has moved in the last year or so....I always thought he was based out of Alabama, not Florida.

Punk being sent to Florida to see Dr. Andrews seems sketchy to me. Now- its quite possible Andrews has moved his practice to Florida somewhat recently. That I wouldnt know.

I thought the same thing, but his one business is based out of Gulf Breeze, Florida per the website.

Per Wikipedia:

Dr. James Andrews is an American orthopedic surgeon who practices in Birmingham, Alabama at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. He also practices one day a week at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

 

[James]

Nah, he's gonna weasel his way out of this title defense some how. It's only interesting if he gets to keep the title. It keeps you wanting to know what's gonna happen. Have Brock Lesnar come back to fight for Punk. Get it done Vince McMahon.

 

[XXJJ]

Nah, he's gonna weasel his way out of this title defense some how. It's only interesting if he gets to keep the title. It keeps you wanting to know what's gonna happen. Have Brock Lesnar come back to fight for Punk. Get it done Vince McMahon.

Part of Brock's character is that he is selfish. Why would he care about saving Punk's title reign? Plus, he quit and left the company. He is only coming back in some angle with Triple H.