WWE champion C.M. Punk revealed in a pre-Royal Rumble interview that he "tore up" his knee in September and probably should not be wrestling right now.
Punk told Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com that his knee injury occurred during his WWE Title defense against John Cena at the Night of Champions PPV in September. Punk worked through the injury before finally undergoing surgery in December and missing the rest of the month.
Punk said he can't take time off right now because it's the busiest and most-lucrative season of the year leading into WrestleMania, but he's still feeling the effects of knee surgery.
Helwani: How's the knee?
Punk: Knee is all right.
Helwani: How'd you come back so quickly?
Punk: Stupid.
Helwani: You shouldn't have come back this quickly?
Punk: Probably not.
Helwani: Do you feel the effects of that?
Punk: Yeah, absolutely. It looks like I have a second kneecap... But, my knee is definitely better than it was before surgery.
Also in the interview, Punk said he might attend the UFC on Fox event this Saturday in Chicago before traveling to Phoenix for the Royal Rumble. Punk also talked about working with The Rock ahead of their WWE Title match encounter at the Royal Rumble, being thrilled to work with Paul Heyman on WWE television, and played up the rumor of facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Helwani: Do me a favor. Sunday, retain. Come April, beat The Streak and go down as the greatest.
Punk: You got it.
Helwani: Can you do that for me?
Punk: Absolutely. 100 percent. Consider it done.