Concerns rippled through the wrestling community on Tuesday following a chaotic episode of Monday Night Raw that left fans speculating about the health of WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. Reports began circulating early in the day that a WWE superstar had been placed in the company’s concussion protocol following the show.
Naturally, eyes turned to the main event featuring Punk and Bron Breakker, which included a high-risk spot. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live that while he couldn’t confirm the name, he had been told a wrestler was in protocol, and speculation immediately mounted that the “Second City Saint” was the injured party due to the nature of his landing.
During the match, Punk attempted a tope—a dive through the ropes to the outside—where Breakker was intended to intercept him mid-air. However, the timing appeared off, resulting in Punk crashing face-first onto the black mats at ringside with significant impact.
Alvarez described the scene, noting that Punk went “straight down” and his head bounced off the floor. Although Punk managed to finish the match, observers pointed out that he appeared visibly shaken up and “did not look good” in the immediate aftermath. This fueled the rumors that the World Heavyweight Champion might be facing yet another injury setback during a pivotal title reign.
According to a report from PWInsider, the rumors regarding CM Punk being in concussion protocol are “entirely incorrect.” The report pointed out Punk’s schedule for the following day. The champion was spotted all over New York City on Tuesday, conducting a media marathon, starting early in the morning with an appearance on FOX New York’s Good Day New York.
While Punk seems to be in the clear, the conversation regarding safety on Monday’s show did not end there. Alvarez confirmed that Bron Breakker, who also had a frightening landing during the bout, was cleared of injury immediately after the show. Meanwhile, Lance Storm drew attention to the women’s division, specifically a spot involving Kairi Sane.
Sane took a Razor’s Edge during her match, a move Storm categorized as having a “high concussion percentage.” Alvarez agreed that Sane landed awkwardly on the back of her head, though he noted that she continued to wrestle with more composure than Punk did following his respective spill. As of now, the identity of the specific talent in protocol remains a mystery, but fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing the World Heavyweight Champion is still active.
