CM Punk Reveals Michael Hayes Underwent Knee Surgery: “I Really Do Feel The Impact Of Him Not Being Around”

A note on Michael Hayes.

CM Punk and Rhea Ripley went on a media tour to promote the release of the new Netflix series ‘WWE: Unreal.’ It’ll provide an inside look into how WWE puts their shows together from a creative writing and producing standpoint, in addition to wrestlers’ preparation for their matches and segments.

Punk and Ripley sat down with Robbie Fox of My Mom’s Basement, and Punk was asked to name some of the unspoken heroes backstage at WWE who help things go smoothly. He mentioned producer Michael Hayes and shared that Hayes is off the road due to recovery from knee surgery. Punk said he can feel the impact of Hayes’ absence.

“I feel like there’s so many people (that contribute to making the show go smoothly at WWE) … There’s so many chefs in the kitchen, in a good way, that if you took one person out — I mean, and it kind of happens on a weekly basis. Michael Hayes just went down, got a knee surgery so, Freebird’s gone for a while and I really do feel the impact of him not being around. Now, you can text him. But, he’s at home and him not being there, his presence is missed.”

Punk picked up a win in the main event of the 7/14 Monday Night Raw. He won a Gauntlet match to secure a shot at GUNTHER’s World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit My Mom’s Basement with Robbie Fox with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.