According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the Undertaker was not brought into the Madison Square Garden Smackdown last week due to him suffering from both hip and knee issues. The talk is that he will need some surgery on his knee, and will be out for an undetermined amount of time. The feeling is that when they do surgery that they may find more serious issues.

With the Undertaker's injury status, and the future of Jeff Hardy unsure as of now, WWE made the effort to push CM Punk as one of the brand's top faces. This was also the reason for the John Morrison face turn.