REVEALED: Why CM Punk Was Absent From WWE Raw

CM Punk has not appeared in person on WWE programming since Survivor Series, having missed the December 1 and December 8 editions of Monday Night Raw.

It was announced on the post-Survivor Series episode of Raw that Punk was not cleared after he was pinned inside WarGames by Bron Breakker following a stomp from a masked man and spear from Breakker. Instead, the feud between Punk and Bron Breakker has been built up in promos from Breakker, with the two talents scheduled to face off for the World Heavyweight Championship on January 5.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Punk was absent from the December 8 episode of Raw due to still being on set for filming of the Netflix movie The Bodyguard.

Punk has been cast as Doghouse in the upcoming movie based on the Katherine Center novel. The book focuses on a no-nonsense bodyguard who is assigned to protect an action star over the holidays, which results in sparks flying between them. Punk's character is a "physically intimidating member of the security detail, who is known for his loyalty and humour."