CM Punk is set to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship later this month at Night of Champions, an event taking place on June 28, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The booking marks a significant moment, as it is the first one-on-one encounter between the two rivals since 2013 and is framed around John Cena’s ongoing farewell tour.
The decision for Punk to compete in Saudi Arabia has sparked considerable discussion, primarily due to his past vocal criticisms of WWE’s partnership with the Kingdom. Previously, Punk had labeled the events as “blood money” and was an outspoken advocate for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, topics he frequently discussed during his time in AEW.
On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed the situation, noting that while Punk has the stature to refuse the trip, his participation has been planned for a considerable time.
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“He could not go if he really wanted to not go,” Meltzer stated. “He was going months ago. I had already asked about that when, a couple of months ago, when the show was first talked about and he was in the original promo package and then he was taken out of the promo package and I asked ‘Am I supposed to see when Seth Rollins replaced him in that promo package that he’s not going?’ And it’s like ‘No, he’s going.’ So it’s been known that he’s going for months, and probably all along. I don’t know if he ever voiced any issue with going at any point since he signed, but he has not in months I know that, so he’s going.”
Meltzer also touched upon the accusations of hypocrisy leveled at Punk by some fans. He commented that times change and suggested the financial compensation is the key motivator for nearly everyone who makes the trip. Despite this, he reiterated that Punk’s star power gives him the unique ability to opt out without facing repercussions if he chose to do so. Backstage reports confirm that Punk was not contractually obligated to appear.
The storyline for the match, made official on the June 9 episode of WWE RAW, heavily references their iconic 2011-2013 rivalry. Cena has adopted a new persona, threatening to retire with the championship, while Punk has positioned himself as the figure attempting to “save WWE,” a narrative that inverts their previous roles.
READ MORE: John Cena Calls CM Punk a Hypocrite on WWE SmackDown Over Saudi Arabia Match
