John Cena issued a surprising message on social media, emphasizing the importance of respecting differences and celebrating common ground. This comes just a day after he delivered a scathing “pipebomb” promo targeting CM Punk.
Cena and Punk are on a collision course, set to cross paths at Night of Champions, where Punk will challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship. If successful, Punk would become a three-time WWE Champion. Cena currently holds the Undisputed WWE Championship, a title he captured at WrestleMania 41 and successfully defended against Randy Orton at Backlash.
On this past Friday’s SmackDown, Cena launched a significant verbal attack on Punk. During the segment, Cena also put Punk through a table with an Attitude Adjustment. The “Second City Saint” had intervened to aid R-Truth, who Cena had brutally assaulted in a post-match incident.
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Cena’s promo mocked Punk’s own iconic 2011 “pipebomb,” with Cena asserting his own enduring relevance and claiming the title of the greatest of all time, unlike Punk, whose impact he suggested was fleeting. He also referenced several former WWE superstars by name during his statement. Reports indicate that Cena is independently crafting his promos for this storyline, without input from WWE’s creative team.
Beyond this rivalry, Cena is currently on his farewell tour with WWE, planning his retirement for the end of 2025. He cited his body’s inability to handle the demands of a full-time wrestling schedule as the reason for his decision. A significant development in his final run has been his surprising heel turn, a stark contrast to his long-standing babyface persona. This shift occurred at Elimination Chamber on March 1, 2025, where he seemingly allied with The Rock against Cody Rhodes. This heel turn is seen as a transformative moment in the twilight of his career. As of June 2025, Cena holds his record-breaking 17th World Title, won at WrestleMania 41.
An additional date has been added to Cena’s farewell tour, bringing his total announced appearances to 18. His confirmed schedule for the remainder of 2025 includes WWE SmackDown in Saudi Arabia on June 27, followed by Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on June 28. Future appearances also include WWE SmackDown events in Newark, New Jersey on August 1; Montreal, Quebec, Canada on August 8; Dublin, Ireland on August 22; and Lyon, France on August 29. He is also scheduled for WWE Clash in Paris on August 31 in Paris, France, and WWE Crown Jewel: Perth in Perth, Australia on October 11.
Earlier this month, Cena teamed with Logan Paul at Money in the Bank, though they lost their match against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. That loss came after R-Truth made a surprise return to assist Rhodes and Uso. Prior to veteran R-Truth’s WWE release, Cena had reportedly pitched an idea to work with him in an effort to save his job. Outside of the ring, the second season of Cena’s television series, Peacemaker, is scheduled for release on August 21.
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