The road to Night of Champions took a volatile turn on the June 20 edition of WWE SmackDown, where John Cena escalated his rivalry with CM Punk through a blistering promo that blended reality with storyline.
Following a disqualification loss to R-Truth, Cena thwarted an attack from Punk, driving him through a table with an Attitude Adjustment. With Punk incapacitated, Cena sat on the turnbuckle and delivered a scathing speech that mirrored Punk’s own iconic 2011 “pipebomb.” The promo, which sources confirm Cena is writing himself, featured direct call-outs to non-WWE talent, including Claudio Castagnoli, Matt Cardona, and Nic Nemeth.
This specific choice of names immediately ignited speculation across the wrestling community. Fan theories connected the first names “Matt” and “Nick” to The Young Bucks, with whom CM Punk had a well-documented backstage altercation in AEW. Further analysis suggested that Claudio Castagnoli’s initials, “CC,” were a deliberate nod to Colt Cabana, a former friend of Punk who was also referenced in the original 2011 promo before their eventual falling out.
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During the segment, Cena directly targeted Punk’s character and history, labeling him a “loudmouth opportunist” who changes his values more than Cena changes t-shirts. He mocked Punk’s past as the “Voice of the Voiceless,” pointing out he was now a “millionaire,” a “capitalist,” and “Mr. TKO.”
Cena concluded his speech by framing their upcoming title match on June 28 as a definitive battle for legacy.
“If you believe you’re the best in the world after Night of Champions, then it really is a small world after all,” Cena stated.
The segment has earned widespread praise from fans and analysts as a creative high point for Cena’s current character run, effectively building anticipation for the collision between “The Best in the World” and “The Greatest of All Time.”
READ MORE: Former AEW Star Responds To John Cena After WWE SmackDown Name-Drop
