Latest news with #Punk
News18
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
CM Punk Appears As 'Dr. Of Thuganomics'; Parodies John Cena With 'Punkanomics' Rap: WATCH
Last Updated: CM Punk retaliated against John Cena on Friday Night SmackDown by mimicking Cena's old-school "Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick. CM Punk decided to go bar-for-bar with John Cena on Friday Night SmackDown tonight, in classic 'Thuganomics' fashion, as retaliation for the reverse-pipebomb gimmick from last week. It was just a week ago when Cena slammed Punk through a table and delivered a scathing promo that parodied Punk's iconic 2011 'pipe bomb"—the very one delivered after Cena himself had been put through a table following a match with R-Truth. Well, it's always an eye for an eye with CM Punk, who responded in kind by copying Cena's 'Doctor of Thuganomics" gimmick on this week's go-home episode of SmackDown in Saudi Arabia. 👊 PunkLife 👊THIS IS BASIC PUNKANOMICS! 🔥 — WWE (@WWE) June 28, 2025 After Cena made his usual entrance, his old Basic Thuganomics entrance music played, and out came CM Punk. Punk was dressed similar to how Cena would dress as the Dr of Thuganomics about 20 years ago, and grabbed a mic on his way into the ring. Punk then proceeded to cut a promo on Cena in the form of a rap. Punk's rap took shots at Cena moving in slow motion, burying more wrestlers than The Undertaker, fixing his bald spot, and somehow being more problematic than Hulk Hogan. He said I'm a problem, he called me a player hater, let's be honest, John Cena's buried more talent than the Undertaker. That's why he's the champ and went and lost all his respects, but John I get it, I'd retire too if this place rehired my ex. If you never said your prayers, ate your vitamins or fixed your bald spot, you wouldn't be a pro wrestler, you'd be a Boston Mall Cop. But hey, he gets good movie roles that much is a fact, and then you see Batista act and you realise John ain't that. Same shirt, same hat, man, your persona stayed tragic. You're like a fish bellied white Hulk Hogan but somehow more problematic. . @CMPunk just left @JohnCena speechless… 👀 — WWE (@WWE) June 28, 2025 For someone who started off the night with boos after issuing an apology during the WWE Night of Champions Kickoff show for his tweet years ago about Saudi Arabia, Punk surely ended the night well, with the crowds singing ' Cult of Personality' in unison as he left.
India Today
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
WWE Night of Champions 2025: Preview, Match card, livestreaming details and more
Cena vs Punk is expected to main event the show (Courtesy: WWE) Six matches are scheduled to take place on Saturday Cena vs Punk is expected to main event the show We may see a few surprises at the event in Riyadh WWE is set to bring another Premium Live Event to the fans in the form of Night Of Champions 2025 live from the Kingdom Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The card is a stacked one and we will see the conclusion of the King Of The Ring and Queen Of The Ring tournaments. Apart from this, there will be a few grudge matches, giving us scope to see a few surprises. The main event is expected to be the WWE Championship match between John Cena and CM Punk as both men revisit a classic WWE rivalry. These two have been the biggest stars in modern wrestling history and their matches have always been one that has caught the imagination of the fans and we can expect the same on Saturday, June 28. With Seth Rollins having the Money In The Bank briefcase and R-Truth having his eyes set on Cena, expect a few swerves in this contest. WWE Night Of Champions: Predictions The King Of The Ring final will see Cody Rhodes go up against his mentor and good friend Randy Orton. Both men have history from their Legacy days and they have fought side by side in recent times. Fueled by the urge to get their hands back on the WWE Championship, we can expect both men to pull off a stunning match. The Queen of The Ring final features two of the strongest women in the WWE roster as Asuka looks to end the unbeaten run of Jade Cargill. Both women want a shot at the title and this could serve up well for the WWE fans in attendance. Apart from this, Jacob Fatu will defend his US title against Solo Sikoa and we will see Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez battle it out in a street fight. Karrion Kross and Sami Zayn will finally get their hands on each other, which could be the fight to start us off in Riyadh. WWE Night Of Champions 2025: Full match card Undisputed WWE Title: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk WWE United States Title: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa King of the Ring Final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Queen of the Ring Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez When and Where will WWE Night Of Champions take place? The WWE Night Of Champions will take place on Saturday, June 28 from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The show will be live from 10:30 pm IST in India. Where to watch WWE Night Of Champions? The WWE Night of Champions will be live on NetFlix app and website in India. There will not be any live telecast on television for the show. WWE is set to bring another Premium Live Event to the fans in the form of Night Of Champions 2025 live from the Kingdom Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The card is a stacked one and we will see the conclusion of the King Of The Ring and Queen Of The Ring tournaments. Apart from this, there will be a few grudge matches, giving us scope to see a few surprises. The main event is expected to be the WWE Championship match between John Cena and CM Punk as both men revisit a classic WWE rivalry. These two have been the biggest stars in modern wrestling history and their matches have always been one that has caught the imagination of the fans and we can expect the same on Saturday, June 28. With Seth Rollins having the Money In The Bank briefcase and R-Truth having his eyes set on Cena, expect a few swerves in this contest. WWE Night Of Champions: Predictions The King Of The Ring final will see Cody Rhodes go up against his mentor and good friend Randy Orton. Both men have history from their Legacy days and they have fought side by side in recent times. Fueled by the urge to get their hands back on the WWE Championship, we can expect both men to pull off a stunning match. The Queen of The Ring final features two of the strongest women in the WWE roster as Asuka looks to end the unbeaten run of Jade Cargill. Both women want a shot at the title and this could serve up well for the WWE fans in attendance. Apart from this, Jacob Fatu will defend his US title against Solo Sikoa and we will see Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez battle it out in a street fight. Karrion Kross and Sami Zayn will finally get their hands on each other, which could be the fight to start us off in Riyadh. WWE Night Of Champions 2025: Full match card Undisputed WWE Title: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk WWE United States Title: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa King of the Ring Final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton Queen of the Ring Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez When and Where will WWE Night Of Champions take place? The WWE Night Of Champions will take place on Saturday, June 28 from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The show will be live from 10:30 pm IST in India. Where to watch WWE Night Of Champions? The WWE Night of Champions will be live on NetFlix app and website in India. There will not be any live telecast on television for the show. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE Night of Champions 2025 predictions roundtable: Is Cena vs. Rhodes next inevitable?
For the second consecutive year, the King and Queen of the ring will be determined at a premium live event (PLE) in Saudi Arabia as WWE holds its Night of Champions 2025 show on Saturday. Despite the two marquee tournaments being at complete odds with our name here at Uncrowned, our Horsemen — Anthony Sulla-Heffinger, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Kel Dansby — are gathering once again to answer some of the burning questions surrounding the event and offer our predictions, including for the latest turn in the John Cena retirement tour — a championship showdown with CM Punk. 1. Has your opinion of the John Cena heel run changed at all during the CM Punk feud? Jackman: As a rule of thumb, the Cena heel run has worked better when he's had a sparring partner in those television segments. The big problem with those first promos was that they were addressed to the audience, rather than anyone in the WWE, giving them that meandering, self-indulgent feel that bores the pants off of me. As soon as you have an actual human being on the receiving end of those pot-shots, particularly someone as skilled as Punk who can easily shoot back, they land much better. Advertisement Has it changed my opinion? It's made me feel less sour on this whole storyline in the short term, but I still don't think we've seen anything (at least since Elimination Chamber) that really justifies going down this road in the first place. The Cena retirement tour was always going to be huge, but can you name one single thing they've achieved with this heel turn that wouldn't have been possible otherwise? I certainly can't. Riggs: Not really. While the Punk feud has undoubtedly been the best part of this run, it doesn't change how abysmal it's been overall. Even the Punk feud was thrown together entirely out of nowhere and will likely have a short lifespan, which is a shame, considering how great they work together. Sulla-Heffinger: Yes, due in large part to his excellent promo work last week on "WWE SmackDown." We saw shades of what heel Cena could be during his run with Randy Orton, and it feels like we're hitting the crescendo during this admittedly abbreviated feud with Punk. The callbacks have been incredible, and while seemingly all of Cena's matches during this retirement tour could have been simply and successfully billed as 'last time ever,' the change in character allows for these final chapters in historic WWE rivalries to be written with a fresh perspective. Advertisement After the initial shock of the turn wore off, we had a bit of a lull and there have been a few bumps along the road, but for me, things have done as close to a 180 as possible. Hopefully, WWE finds a way to extend this rivalry until SummerSlam, but with the King of the Ring winner lurking, that's easier said than done. Dansby: Not really. If anything, the feud has just reminded us how great Punk still is, rather than validating Cena's heel turn. Cena still hasn't done enough to justify why he made the switch, and it doesn't align with his long-term goals. That said, Punk has pulled fans into their story so well that the heel vs. babyface dynamic barely matters. It feels more like the latest chapter in a 15-year rivalry than a traditional good guy vs. bad guy setup. 2. Who needs to win the Queen of the Ring final more: Asuka or Jade Cargill? Riggs: Man, this is kind of an awkwardly tougher question than you'd think it would be. Somehow WWE has either dropped the ball with Cargill or she's regressed compared to her AEW run. I'm unsure of where to point the blame because that's how well AEW booked her, but compared to others with a similar timeline of experience, like WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton, Cargill just isn't even in that realm on any front. And I say this as someone who's been well behind her. Advertisement Asuka, however, is in a spot where she's a bulletproof legend, but is still one of the very best right now, snowballing the momentum off her return run. A strong Asuka is undeniably the best Asuka, and despite her accomplishing countless accolades in WWE, you can still argue she hasn't been treated as well as she should have been — that's how great she is. In terms of better overall results for everyone, champions like Iyo Sky included, it's Asuka. There's no shame in Cargill losing to a GOAT. Sulla-Heffinger: Pulling back the curtain a tiny bit, the trickiness that the word 'need' implies is precisely why I phrased it that way when writing these questions, so I am glad it was a bit of a curveball for Riggs. Cargill has all of the tools to be a major player at the main-event level, and no one would fault WWE for strapping the rocket to her back with a Queen of the Ring win and a title shot. Shoot, it even makes sense with Naomi currently holding Money in the Bank. Yet Cargill is still a little green in areas you want to see buttoned up at the top of the card; as impressive as she can be at times, there are moments in the ring that feel too clunky, and we haven't seen enough live promo work in WWE to make a fair assessment. A loss to Asuka is more of a speed bump than a derailment on the Cargill hype train. Asuka, on the other hand, is one of the best and most charismatic talents in WWE. She'd benefit immensely from a Queen of the Ring win and being immediately thrust back into the Women's World Championship picture. Her résumé alone could always justify a title shot, but professional wrestling always works better when there's a clear, believable path. A win on Saturday creates that for us. Asuka and Jade Cargill face off ahead of Saturday's Queen of the Ring final. (WWE via Getty Images) Dansby: Asuka vs. Iyo Sky is a SummerSlam main event on paper, no doubt. But it's time to pull the trigger on Jade. Her beating someone as decorated as Asuka and rolling into her first world title match in New York City is a can't-miss moment. That's how you make a star. Advertisement Expect Jade to win — and don't be surprised if Cardi B is part of her entrance at SummerSlam. Jackman: I mentioned in our latest power rankings (in which I take on the unenviable task of ranking the 10 most compelling men and women in pro wrestling) that the exciting thing about Jade Cargill is how WWE has presented her as fearsome while still maintaining a lot of mystique around her. We really don't know that much about Cargill given what a big deal she clearly is — and that gives her an edge over a lot of her peers. Of course, Cargill is already straddling two plotlines, given her ongoing drama with Naomi and Bianca Belair. My suspicion is that they're building toward some kind of big crescendo where she wins Queen of the Ring and then both of those storylines come together with a big bang. Perhaps Naomi tries to cash in during Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton at SummerSlam, but Bianca returns to thwart her and set up a grudge match later down the line? 3. Which King of the Ring finalist makes for a more compelling SummerSlam main event? Sulla-Heffinger: I think we all know we are going to see Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at least one more time before the retirement tour ends, but it shouldn't be at SummerSlam. Considering how Cena has threatened to 'ruin wrestling,' wouldn't it be excellent storytelling if Rhodes loses his clear path to a rematch in the King of the Ring tournament and is forced to just say 'screw it' and jump to the front of the line as we get closer to the end of 2025? Sounds a lot like what Cena did when he inserted himself into the Elimination Chamber match, doesn't it? Advertisement Wouldn't it be ironic if Rhodes — when the match finally does happen — gives in and uses the championship belt to beat Cena, showing he can be corrupted? Considering the parallels between Cena and Rhodes as top babyfaces, it would be brilliant if Cena leaves WWE and is able to say 'see what I did to your beloved champion? That's how I ruin wrestling.' All of that happens down the line if Orton defeats Rhodes on Saturday and sets up one more classic clash with Cena at SummerSlam, which we've already seen this year, but considering the momentum these renewed, iconic rivalries have had, it's the more immediately compelling of the two in my opinion. Dansby: Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena feels like the natural payoff. Cena got his win with help from Travis Scott, and now it's time for him to right that wrong. Having Rhodes win back the WWE title in the main event of SummerSlam Night 2 sets the stage for Cena's redemption arc — and lets him go out as the beloved babyface one last time. Are John Cena and Cody Rhodes on a collision course? (WWE via Getty Images) Jackman: Isn't this one a foregone conclusion given we've just seen Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a match that was billed as 'One Last Time'? My suspicion is that the main reason 'The Viper' is in this match in the first place is to sow the seeds for a title shot against Cody Rhodes further down the line. Advertisement The only thing that makes me hesitate slightly is that nagging feeling that Cody's whole path to the championship is looking a little too obvious right now. On the other hand, both of the last two Universal Championship title changes were flagged up massively in advance and there's no reason why this one would be different. I'm calling it now: Cody wins here and then at SummerSlam. Riggs: With how ridiculous the Backlash ending was, there's still legs to the Randy Orton legacy blood feud with John Cena. And out of pure nostalgia — and getting more time for a legendary program — I might prefer that. For the times, though, it's clearly Rhodes with the freshness of everything between him and Cena. As much as I'd like to see something different or even a big surprise like having Ron Killings dethrone Cena, it couldn't be clearer that it will be Rhodes. 4. Should Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross be on this card? Dansby: Kross just needs to be on TV more consistently, period. A few more weeks of buildup would've made more sense heading into SummerSlam, but WWE's going with Night of Champions to kick this off. Advertisement Kross has a strong cult following, so his push has to feel earned — not forced. Zayn's the perfect guy to bring the best out of him. This should be the first of a few matches between them, not a one-and-done. Sulla-Heffinger: No. And that isn't to say it doesn't deserve spotlight. It's because I believe the best version of this match happens in a "WWE Raw" main event where it can be given 20 to 25 minutes. I'm afraid we'll see this finish in less than 10 and a large portion of the internet wrestling community will walk away wildly unsatisfied. Is the Karrion Kross push finally upon us? (WWE via Getty Images) Jackman: I hate to do the whole demographics thing (bear with me), but we all know that Sami Zayn is incredibly popular in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, he's a fan favorite in any situation, but the way WWE has leaned into his Arabic heritage and his religious identity (when they filmed his pilgrimage in the leadup to Night of Champions 2023) has basically made him an ambassador for WWE in the wider Arabic-speaking world. Advertisement So what does that mean for the match? Well, one option would be to pursue the monster pop of giving Zayn a nice big win for the home crowd. That's great for the immediate sugar rush, but doesn't really help with the long-term storytelling on which Karrion Kross thrives. Alternatively, WWE could go the other way and get some turbo heat by giving Kross a dirty victory that builds to something bigger further down the line. Personally, I'd go with the latter. Saudi crowds are super smart these days and I think they'd enjoy some good old-fashioned villainy. Riggs: I'm surprised they added that match to this show rather than putting it on next week's "WWE Raw." But it's a good surprise. Put two over dudes together who have been teasing this collision for weeks, and give it a proper spotlight. It feels somewhat rare — and honestly, more appropriate than the next match we're talking about. 5. Is Raquel Rodriguez the centerpiece of Judgment Day now that Liv Morgan's injured? Jackman: Honestly, I have no idea right now. We know from reports around the Liv Morgan injury that WWE is hastily rewriting a lot of its plans on the women's side (particularly the buildup to Evolution), so we shouldn't discount the possibility that they don't really know what's going on and are playing for time right now. Advertisement I'm more optimistic about the Judgment Day storyline more broadly. Generally I'm a big fan of slow burn angles in wrestling and I really hope that's what we're seeing here. They've been teasing the combustion of the group for a while now and some of the tensions (both with Finn and Dom, but also Liv and Finn) are much smarter and more subtle than your average wrestling angle. Riggs: As much as Rodriguez deserves it and I'd love that, I highly doubt it. Dominick Mysterio and Finn Balor are definitely still that glue (that's loosening), and even Roxanne Perez has already become more featured. The Ripley match and feud revisit feels just like a placeholder scramble to kill time and readjust the fallout from Morgan's injury. Will Raquel Rodriguez sink or swim with Liv Morgan injured? (WWE via Getty Images) Sulla-Heffinger: I think Rodriguez is the centerpiece in the sense that she'll be the most conflicted when Morgan returns. If Rodriguez goes on a prolonged, successful run — either as a singles competitor or with Roxanne Perez as a tag-team champion — the picture is suddenly very murky when Morgan comes back. We know where Finn Balor stands and we know where Dominik Mysterio stands, but Rodriguez is in a spot where she can become a top heel on 'WWE Raw,' add a much-needed dangerous presence to the Judgment Day and even turn the Mysterio-Morgan pairing face down the line. That can all start with a win over Rhea Ripley in the street fight Saturday. Advertisement Dansby: Honestly, it's time to blow up Judgment Day. WWE has teased the breakup enough — now's the moment to pull the trigger. Between injuries to key members and Carlito's release, the timing's right. Let Finn finally break away and tap into the Demon again. That could be the storyline that breathes new life into him. BONUS: WWE had a huge presence at Fanatics Fest last weekend with the Superstar Entrance. If you HAD to recreate a current star's intro, who would it be and why? Dansby: Gotta go with the GOAT — HBK! The Heartbreak Kid had it all. The entrance music? Iconic. The gear? Flashy as hell. The pyro? On point every time. Nobody made an entrance like Shawn Michaels. Jackman: I've actually done this! They have the Superstar Entrance permanently installed at the massively under-appreciated (largely because of its location…) WWE Experience in Riyadh. I visited the Experience before last year's Crown Jewel event and got to recreate Rhea Ripley's entrance in a makeshift costume of Seth Rollins offshoots and some sort of Venetian mask. Advertisement Riggs: Well, I didn't see this one coming. The easy choice has to be your favorite wrestler ever, right? So, Jeff Hardy comes right to mind, but not with the Hardy Boyz theme. We're talking '08 world champion Jeff Hardy, baby. No More Words. That's the way to go. But if we don't count Hardy as a "current star," which he obviously isn't in WWE specifically, I think I have to go with Seth Rollins or Aleister Black. As a metal junkie, give me something heavy, fast and furious, or dark and in your face. Sulla-Heffinger: The answer's gotta be Triple H. If by some chance you could master the water spray, it's an instant 10/10. If you can't, the whole entrance falls flat. High risk, high reward. Predictions Undisputed WWE Championship Match: John Cena (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. CM Punk King of the Ring final: Randy Orton (Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Cody Rhodes (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs) Queen of the Ring final: Asuka (Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Jade Cargill (Dansby, Jackman) U.S. Championship match : Jacob Fatu (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Solo Sikoa Street Fight: Raquel Rodriguez (Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) vs. Rhea Ripley (Dansby, Riggs) Sami Zayn (Riggs) vs. Karrion Kross (Dansby, Jackman, Sulla-Heffinger) 2025 standings
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
CM Punk Faces Backlash Over Pushing Away Child In Saudi Arabia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. CM Punk is facing criticism online only hours after landing in Saudi Arabia for WWE Night of Champions. A video has circulated showing him in a tense moment with a young fan. While meeting with some fans and celebrities in Riyadh, another clip showed a different interaction. In that video, Punk is seen walking with Randy Orton and security personnel. The Viral Incident With CM Punk A small child approached CM Punk, apparently to take a selfie. In the clip, Punk is seen pushing the child away. Security also stepped in to ensure the child could not get closer to the wrestlers. This interaction has led to backlash on social media. Some users have criticized Punk for the action. Others have turned the moment into a meme, comparing it to other famous comedic instances of adults pushing children. CM Punk proving he's still a gigantic asshole Pushing a little kid out of the way as a babyface is so nasty — Andrew (@bigtimeEST) June 26, 2025 that's so nasty of him to do — LivsHart💗 (@oblivionscore) June 26, 2025 Something very satisfying about a miserable looking CM Punk arriving in Saudi Arabia and the first thing he does is push a child away — Wrestling_Mark (@WrestlingMark16) June 26, 2025 Heard the kid said, "Real Glass. Cry me a river." — Joe Tonaus (@Itsa_MeJoeyT) June 26, 2025 The comments 👇 defending his behaviour is just so ridiculous and apparently i'm the bad guy or trying to portray him as a bad guy 🤦🏻♂️ — AEWBlog (@AEW_Blog) June 26, 2025 More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Hypocrisy Accusations This incident comes as Punk is already facing accusations of hypocrisy for competing in Saudi Arabia. He is scheduled to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions. The criticism stems from Punk's past comments about the country. In a 2020 social media post directed at The Miz, Punk made a vulgar comment referencing "blood money" in Saudi Arabia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 27: CM Punk speaks during WWE Monday Night RAW at State Farm Arena on January 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. WWE/Getty Images That post has since been deleted. Reports have indicated that Punk had the option to turn down performing at the event but did not voice any objections. Punk apologized to Saudi Arabia fans today at the Night of Champions Kickoff Event. Un pibe random le pide a gritos a CM Punk que se disculpe por su tuit de 2019. "Era un tuit de meme a The Miz. Me disculpo a The Miz. ¿Te llamas Mohamed? Me disculpo de forma sincera". Qué ha sido esto jdsjdsjdsjfdsjfd 😭😭😭 #WWENOC — LuigiWrestling (@LuigiWrestling) June 27, 2025 "This guy wants me to apologize for a mean tweet I wrote six years ago. Hey, listen, legitimately had nothing to do with Saudi Arabia," Punk responded. "I woke up and I was crabby and I wrote a mean tweet to The Miz. And I apologized to The Miz. And sir, what's your name? Mohammed? Mohammed, I sincerely apologize to you. And I love Saudi Arabia." "I am not perfect by any means," Punk said at today's kickoff event. "Sometimes as human beings, we screw up. The beautiful thing is, everything is a lesson learned. And now here I am and you have invited me to your country and I am grateful to be here. Thank you very much." More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: CM Punk to turn heel, beat John Cena for the Undisputed Championship at Night of Champions?
John Cena is set to defend the Undisputed Championship against CM Punk at Night of Champions this Saturday (June 28). The match, which is expected to headline the Premium Live Event, promises to be a slobberknocker as the two had a memorable feud over a decade ago. Things, however, are a bit different this time as 'The GOAT' is the heel and Punk is a face (good guy) heading into the show in Saudi Arabia. A veteran writer recently weighed in on the possible outcome of the match and said that 'The Second City Saint' should not only win the title but also embrace the dark side. Vince Russo wants CM Punk to win at Night of Champions Vince Russo is a popular name in the pro-wrestling business. The writer has been associated with companies such as WWE and WCW. In an interaction with Indiatimes, Russo said that he would love for Punk to turn heel on Cena at Night of Champions and walk away with the title. He added this will help WWE redeem themselves after 'they buried' Punk last week on SmackDown. 'If it were me---I'm turning Punk heel on Cena and putting the belt on him. I wouldn't have any other choice after they buried Punk on Smackdown by making him sell that table spot for 20 minutes,' he told Indiatimes. In case you did not know, Cena assaulted Punk on SmackDown last week and put him through a table. After this, he delivered a fiery promo in which he spewed venom on 'The Best in the World' and called him a hypocrite. The segment was similar to the 'pipebomb' Punk had delivered many years ago. About Cena's heel turn John Cena turned heel on Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber 2025. He then defeated him at WrestleMania 41 (with help from Travis Scott) to capture the Undisputed Championmship. He then defended it successfully against Randy Orton at Backlash 2025. Cena also beat Ron Killings/R-Truth at Saturday Night's Main Event. He, however, suffered a defeat at Money in the Bank where he and Logan Paul lost to Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.
