In an update on CM Punk’s injury status, the WWE Champion was pulled from the holiday shows by WWE officials, who want to protect him after his recent surgery, despite how Punk feels himself. Current plans now have Punk returning to action on the January 14th, 2013 edition of WWE RAW, which is also the 20th Anniversary Show. The planned match against Ryback is said to be in doubt, as officials want to push the Royal Rumble pay-per-view hard to the viewers, especially as The Rock will be on the January 7th & January 21st shows according to advertisements.

Meanwhile, Randy Orton’s injury sustained at the WWE Tribute to the Troops tapings was a dislocated shoulder and not a wrist injury as first feared. The shoulder that Orton dislocated was the same one he injured a few years back while pounding the mat. The expectation is that Orton won’t miss that much time. It is unknown as to whether he will have any involvement in this Sunday’s WWE: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view.