Former pro wrestling star Phil Brooks, better known as CM Punk, has dealt with an added bit of stress the week before his second Octagon appearance at UFC 225 on Saturday. Fortunately, the end result was positive for him.
On Tuesday, Punk was found not guilty in a defamation lawsuit filed by a WWE doctor against him and pro wrestler Colt Cabana, according to prowrestlingsheet.com. Dr. Christopher Amann was seeking $4 million dollars in damages for comments Punk made during on a podcast in November 2014 as well as additional punitive damages.
Testimony for the lawsuit occurred over a five-day period in Cook County (Ill.) Circuit Court.
In an interview conducted by Cabana, Punk claimed that his departure from the WWE was in large part due to medical oversights during his tenure. Punk specifically mentioned a lump on his back that was misdiagnosed as a fat deposit and later turned out to be a staph infection. Punk also claimed during the podcast that Amann didn’t know how to properly treat a concussion, prescribing him antibiotics to treat the condition.
According to report, “Amann told jurors he was harassed and humiliated by fans and that the podcast hurt his standing with patients. However, the WWE ringside physician couldn’t point to any monetary damages and he remains employed by the company.”
Meanwhile, Punk said the podcast was a way to “set the record straight for my fans,” and that he wouldn’t change what he said during that time.
Now, Punk can focus on his UFC 225 matchup with Mike Jackson at the United Center in Chicago, his hometown. The welterweight bout will take place on the pay-per-view main card, which begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The 39-year-old Roufusport member lost his promotional debut to Mickey Gall via first-round submission at UFC 203 in September 2016.