Latest news with #CMPunk
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE Night of Champions 2025 predictions: Why CM Punk's efforts won't succeed in front of John Cena
Image Source: Getty CM Punk is set to battle John Cena for the last time in WWE . The WWE Universe has all eyes locked on the upcoming Premium Live Event, Night of Champions 2025, set to take place at the Kingdome Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The showdown to headline the spectacle will see CM Punk challenging John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship, which will be the final time these two iconic foes will clash in the ring. While Punk has major momentum heading into the match, there is a slim chance of him dethroning 'The Last Real Champion.' John Cena vs CM Punk is set to happen twelve years after their last WWE match After months of taking occasional shots at him, CM Punk finally confronted John Cena face-to-face on the RAW after Money in the Bank PLE. The duo had a heated exchange and agreed to one last showdown on Cena's farewell tour for the Undisputed WWE Championship. This will mark their first match since 2013 and the second time they will square off at the Night of Champions event, with their bout taking place in 2012. On that night, Punk was the defending champion, and the match ended in a draw. In light of recent events, it appears that the odds are in favor of The Unseen 17 retaining his championship reign. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo John Cena is also embroiled in a heated feud with Ron "The Truth" Killings, who has attacked him on more than one occasion. The sudden hatred of Truth for Cena can ultimately cost Punk his golden opportunity . The scenario can see Truth interfering in the match at Night of Champions 2025 and causing a disqualification. Punk would win the match, but not the title. Another instance can be seen in Cena utilizing the same cheap tactics he employed in his last title matches to defeat The Best in the World. It is widely expected that Cena will remain the Undisputed WWE Champion till the end of his farewell tour. All those signs point to the fact that CM Punk will not be able to defeat John Cena at Night of Champions. However, it would surely be a blockbuster match to witness at the Premium Live Event. Also read: The Undertaker's Role in WWE may be changing — And It can be big! Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
John Cena vs CM Punk: Match records, rivalry recap and more
Image via WWE John Cena and CM Punk are one of the most storied rivalries in WWE history. John Cena was the reigning poster boy of WWE back in the early 2010s. His remarkable success was challenged by the unlikely rise of CM Punk, who dropped one Pipebomb in 2011 and changed the landscape forever. While the duo faced each other on some occasions, the true feud began after Punk rose to main event status. Since then, the duo has had one of the most captivating rivalries of all time, which is set to culminate at the Night of Champions 2025 PLE in their last-ever showdown. John Cena and CM Punk's match records John Cena and CM Punk have competed against each other in 14 singles matches. Both men have won 6 matches each, while two of those bouts ended in a draw. So the Night of Champions match will decide the true victor of their storied feud. John Cena vs Cena: A rivalry revisited The true beginning of John Cena and CM Punk's rivalry happened at the 2011 Money in the Bank event. It took place in Punk's hometown of Chicago and saw him defeat Cena to win his first WWE Championship. In doing so, Punk's contract expired and he left the company, only to return a few weeks later. Since that night, the duo engaged in a classic feud that saw them battle in high-stakes showdowns for the next two years. Cena and Punk had their last match on an episode of RAW in 2013. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo The Unseen 17 won the match to retain his right to challenge The Rock for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 29. John Cena and CM Punk are set to have one last showdown On the RAW after Money in the Bank PLE, Cena and Punk confronted each other in the ring. Following a classic war of words, the duo agreed to battle each other for the final time. The 17-time World Champion agreed to a title match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the 2025 WWE Night of Champions Premium Live Event. This will be the first time they will collide in 12 years. With the stakes higher than ever, it will be a match to witness and the true culmination of their rivalry on John Cena's farewell tour. Also read: CM Punk steps out in support of 'No Kings Day' protest in Chicago
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
CM Punk steps out in support of ‘No Kings Day' protest in Chicago
Image via WWE WWE star CM Punk made a surprise public appearance at the 'No Kings Day' protest in downtown Chicago, signaling strong support for civil action amid growing nationwide unrest. Known for his outspoken nature, Punk was photographed alongside demonstrators, wearing a black 'SAVAGE' hoodie and cap, mingling with protest leaders and supporters in the Loop area. CM Punk steps into the streets amid unrest Thousands took to the streets across major U.S. cities to protest perceived injustices and centralized authority. Punk's participation added star power to the movement and drew immediate attention online. While the wrestler made no formal speech, his presence was widely shared on social media, with fans and critics alike weighing in. RVD Has An EPIC Announcement - LIVE! The demonstration stood in stark contrast to fellow wrestling legend Rob Van Dam's remarks made during a livestream, where he defended the right to protest but condemned violence and property damage. 'You're gonna get caught on camera,' RVD warned, referencing past legal crackdowns on protests. 'They're going to come back after you just like they did when they stormed the White House.' While RVD focused on legality and restraint, Punk's boots-on-the-ground approach reflected a more direct alignment with protestors' sentiments. His involvement sparked mixed reactions online, with some praising his civic engagement and others accusing him of political inconsistency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo 'He goes to that protest but he's okay collecting blood money from the Saudi regime. Make it make sense,' one user posted on X (formerly Twitter), questioning Punk's appearance at Saudi events under the WWE banner. However, others defended Punk's actions, calling out the divisiveness in fan culture. 'His prerogative to do so. Whatever his politics, it does not impact the way I see him in the ring,' another user wrote. Supporters also pointed to Punk's long standing image as a moral voice in professional wrestling, citing past moments where he spoke out on issues beyond the squared circle. 'People s*** on him for the Saudi stuff, but he's still one of the most moral wrestlers out there,' a fan noted. CM Punk, who has often blurred the lines between his wrestling persona and real-life principles, has yet to publicly comment on his protest appearance. But for many, his message was already clear - he'll continue to stand where he believes it counts, whether in the ring or on the streets of his hometown. Also Read: Carlito declares he's 'Back in Business' after WWE exit
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WWE SmackDown results, highlights (June 13): CM Punk, John Cena switch roles; Cody Rhodes advances in King of the Ring
The first episode of "WWE SmackDown" after Money in the Bank took place at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The show kicked the build to June 28's Night of Champions into high gear with four King and Queen of the Ring first-round matchups and continued building toward a massive clash between CM Punk and John Cena. Let's get right into it! Main-event math isn't adding up Cena opening the show laying out his grand, calculated plan that has played out over the past 25 years was a solid promo. He even spit hot fire when he listed his wrestling Mount Rushmore — just don't ask him who the five greatest rappers of all time are (these are "Chappelle's Show" references, for the younger generation reading this). Advertisement Cena was then interrupted by Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and LA Knight, who each cut a promo on the 17-time champ explaining why they were going to dethrone him. Rhodes has a natural case since he never got his rematch against Cena after WrestleMania 41 and just pinned him at Money in the Bank last weekend. Orton also has a legitimate claim since his match at Backlash was spoiled by R-Truth. LA Knight, on the other hand, doesn't really fit in here, especially since he continues to come up short on big stages. The truth is that none of these REALLY make sense right now though, because Cena is facing CM Punk in a Undisputed WWE Championship match at Night of Champions in two weeks, and therein lies the problem. The talent involved aside, this main-event picture has too much going on and quite frankly, it's hard to buy into any of these challengers as Cena's SummerSlam feud because we have the Punk hurdle to get over first. This segment somewhat undermines a potentially epic feud and works infinitely better three weeks from now, at the very least. Advertisement Essentially, this open served as a way to get Knight and Orton into the ring for their King of the Ring first-round match and for Truth/Ron Killings to attack Cena as he made his exit and set up a brilliant segment later on in the night that earned our... 👑 Uncrowned Gem of the Night 👑 If math was the theme of the "SmackDown" open, hypocrisy was the theme of the way Hour Three of the show kicked off and I'm taking part in it. Cena, furious after being attacked by Killings, went to the ring to call out the veteran but was instead greeted by Punk. My Uncrowned colleague Drake Riggs alluded to the nonsensical nature of this somewhat thrown together feud once it started on Monday, but I'm ok contradicting him four days later because when these two are in the ring together, it's magic, plain and simple. Advertisement During his extended promo, Punk pointed out exactly what makes this hopefully not abbreviated feud so special — essentially he and Cena have flipped spots from where they were over a decade ago. We got a tease of how special this can be in 2025 during the Elimination Chamber, Friday added to that hype and this should be given plenty of time to shine, not muddied up with Rhodes, Orton, Knight and even Truth right now. Kings and Queens The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continued on Friday night, with two more first-round, fatal four-way matches taking place. The opening contest was an absolute banger between Knight, Orton, Aleister Black and Carmelo Hayes. Orton emerged victorious, pinning Knight after interference from Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed — continuing the feud between the Megastar and the Rollins crew. Orton also pulled off an impressive, mid-frog splash RKO on Hayes, further illustrating why it's on the short list of the best finishers in wrestling today. The main event of the night was the other men's first-round matchup, pitting Rhodes against Damian Priest, Shinsuke Nakamura and Andrade. Much like the first match, this was a very entertaining matchup involving four stars with contrasting styles. Naturally, Rhodes pulled out the victory and will face the winner of the final "Raw" first-round matchup. With the American Nightmare and Orton on seperate sides of the bracket, a showdown between them would be a really awesome cap to the tournament. On the women's side, Jade Cargill advanced over Michin, Jax and Piper Niven. A Cargill win in this tournament is precisely where WWE should be going, lining her up to face Tiffany Stratton and then get cashed in on mid-match or post-win by Naomi. Cargill takes on "Raw's" Roxanne Perez in the semifinals. The other women's first-round match saw Alexa Bliss pin Candice LeRae in a creative finish that furthered the simmering tensions between Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Bliss faces the winner of the final first-round contest, set for "Raw" on Monday night. Naomi's revolution continues Fresh off her Money in the Bank win, Naomi continued her impressive heel turn with a strong segment before getting interrupted by Stratton. There's really great potential here for a drawn-out "will she" or "won't she" feud here considering Stratton cashed in earlier this year to win the WWE Women's Championship and now faces the very same threat. [Wyatt] Sicks of this The Wyatt Sicks have a very cool entrance, and maybe there's a future where this angle works better than it currently is, but if you just listened to the crowd during the Motor City Machine Guns-Joe Gacy/Dexter Lumis match, you'd have been able to hear a pin drop. Hyperbole aside, isn't there supposed to be some sort of supernatural aspect at play here? If you're going to book the stable as an overwhelming, threatening force, book them that way. Instead, what we got was a decent, but forgettable, TV tag match. Smack Talk 🗣️ 1. Jacob Fatu's first promo since his betrayal of Solo Sikoa at Money in the Bank was good, but Sikoa interrupting and making demands doesn't quite work at this point since Fatu — the United States Champion — has the upper-hand by all accounts. This feels like a rehash of parts of what we've seen over the past five years of the Bloodline saga and it's not ideal for anyone involved. 2. I think I speak for everyone when I say we do not need to see Jax and Stratton feuding any more. After losing her Queen of the Ring match by getting tackled through the ringside barricade, Jax hung around and pounced after a promo segment between Stratton and Naomi. Jax had her run as champion and even got a somewhat bizarre title shot last month, which she lost. You know what "SmackDown" has and could use a breath of fresh air? The Women's United States Championship. Let Jax feud there with the winner of Zelina Vega and Giulia. Book it! ✏️ "SmackDown" GM Nick Aldis gave Truth a match against Cena next week after the former's second ambush of the night. If you give me the pencil for next week's show, Truth-Cena is the opener, but Cena doesn't show up. If this new version of Truth is going to work, losing to Cena (again) doesn't help him and let's be honest — Cena isn't (and shouldn't) lose in that spot anyway. Truth can become frustrated further and attack someone later in the match, opening the door for a kayfabe suspension and allowing Cena to come back for the "go-home" episode the following Friday. 👑 This "WWE SmackDown" wasn't without its issues, but it did have some great matchups and solid promos. All things considered, I give this show a Crown score of: 7/10. 👑
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'WWE SmackDown' Preview: John Cena Addresses CM Punk, Jacob Fatu's Face Turn
'WWE SmackDown' Preview: John Cena Addresses CM Punk, Jacob Fatu's Face Turn originally appeared on Athlon Sports. WWE is getting closer to its "Night of Champions 2025" PLE, which means there will be some major appearances on Friday's episode of "SmackDown." Advertisement Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena will be inside Rupp Arena in Lexington to address his next challenger. During Monday's episode of "Raw," CM Punk laid out a challenge to "The Doctor of Thuganomics." Cena only agreed to Punk's request on the condition that they square off at "Night of Champions" in Riyadh on June 28. Cena is expected to address his history with Punk and their upcoming title match. Could "The Second City Saint" make an unannounced appearance? Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena will appear on Friday's episode of "SmackDown."(via WWE) Also, "The Samoan Werewolf" Jacob Fatu will address turning on Solo Sikoa during the men's "Money in the Bank" ladder match. Just one night after overhearing Sikoa mock his intelligence, Fatu sent Sikoa crashing through a ladder. How will Sikoa and JC Mateo respond to the turn? WWE United States Champion Jacob Fatu will address his face turn during "SmackDown" on Friday.(via WWE) Plus, there is a new women's MITB briefcase holder. Naomi outlasted five other women to secure a guaranteed WWE Women's Championship match anytime she wishes to cash in. Naomi still has unfinished business with Jade Cargill, who is looking to advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament. Advertisement Speaking of the tournaments, there will be fatal four-way qualifiers for both the King and Queen of the Ring. Randy Orton, LA Knight, Aleister Black, and Carmelo Hayes will do battle, while Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Piper Niven, and Michin are set to clash. Friday's episode of "WWE SmackDown" will air live on USA Network at 8 p.m. ET. Related: 3 Key Reasons Jey Uso Lost WWE World Heavyweight Championship This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
