REVEALED: How CM Punk's Injury Changed WWE Raw Plans

CM Punk's torn triceps didn't just change plans for WrestleMania 40.

In his first televised match since his WWE return, CM Punk sustained the significant injury following a Futureshock DDT from Drew McIntyre. Punk will be out of action beyond WrestleMania 40, cancelling his internally planned World Heavyweight Title match with Seth Rollins in the process.

Punk opened the January 29 episode of Monday Night Raw by announcing the injury and the segment was later followed by one between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins where the World Heavyweight Champion campaigned for Rhodes to challenge for his belt at WrestleMania instead of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship held by Roman Reigns. Cody admitted he will take Rollins' plea under consideration although he is scheduled to appear on Friday's episode of SmackDown.

Fightful Select has reported Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins weren't originally supposed to have a segment together on Monday Night Raw and the spot was only added as a direct result of CM Punk's injury at the Royal Rumble. A report from Dave Meltzer has claimed the segment was added so WWE can "pop a big rating for Cody's decision." 

Cody made it clear he would be challenging Roman Reigns at WrestleMania following his Royal Rumble win but WrestleMania plans have since had to be adjusted due to Punk's injury and Brock Lesnar being withdrawn from WWE TV after being implicated in the Vince McMahon lawsuit. 

One conspiracy theory on social media suggested CM Punk was actually originally scheduled to win the Royal Rumble and WWE instead called for an audible following his injury. That wasn't the case, though, and Cody Rhodes was always planned to win on Saturday night.