CM Punk has announced that he is set to undergo surgery, and as a result has relinquished the AEW World Championship.
On the June 3rd episode of Rampage, CM Punk came to the ring with tears in his eyes, and said that every bone in his body had told him to go home. With that said, he went on to reveal that he needs to undergo surgery.
The star added that he will be back, bigger, faster and stronger than ever before, promising to prove why he is the best in the world.
It is unclear as to how long Punk will be out of action.
It was announced later in the show that the upcoming episode of Dynamite will open with a Battle Royal, and the winner of that match will face number one contender Jon Moxley in the main event. This will lead to an Interim World Champion being crowned at Forbidden Door, and a unification bout with Punk in the future.
Your #AEW World Champion @CMPunk addresses the crowd here at #AEWRampage LIVE on @tntdramapic.twitter.com/Ukza79Pm8j
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 4, 2022
At Double or Nothing, CM Punk captured the AEW World Championship for the first time after defeating Hangman Adam Page. The win came almost a decade after his last World Title reign. On that occasion he was in possession of the WWE Heavyweight Championship.