John Cena Set to Face CM Punk for the First Time in 12 years at the Night of Champions

CM Punk challenged John Cena for a showdown one last time in WWE for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

John Cena Set to Face CM Punk for the First Time in 12 years at the Night of Champions

John Cena and CM Punk (via WWE)

John Cena opened this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw to address his future as the Undisputed WWE Champion. The Cenation Leader demanded gratitude from the WWE Universe, reminding them they were witnessing his final run. However, what Cena didn’t anticipate was a surprise confrontation from his longtime rival, CM Punk, who had been waiting for the perfect moment to step into the spotlight.

The Best in the World stepped out to defend the honor of the WWE Universe. Staring Cena in the eye, CM Punk declared that he had become a corrupted man. Punk claimed the Undisputed WWE Championship had transformed Cena into a monster—and now, he had no choice but to become a monster himself to stop Cena from destroying everything wrestling stands for.

The Franchise Player looked at The Second City Saint with a smirk and said he was more than willing to face his old rival—but only on his terms. Cena laid down the challenge for a showdown at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia for the Undisputed WWE Title. Given CM Punk’s past controversies with the Kingdom, accepting the match was no easy decision for him.

However, later in the night, Monday Night Raw GM Adam Pearce made it official—CM Punk will head to Saudi Arabia to face John Cena one final time for the coveted Undisputed WWE Championship. This marks their first one-on-one battle in WWE in over 12 years. While they did clash during the Elimination Chamber match earlier this year, their last singles encounter dates back to February 2013.

Why is CM Punk challenging John Cena for the Undisputed Title all of a sudden at Night of Champions?

CM Punk had been locked in a heated feud with Seth Rollins and his faction on Raw, leading many to believe he was focused on settling that score in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, John Cena was entangled in ongoing storylines with Cody Rhodes and R-Truth over on SmackDown. That’s why fans are now left wondering why WWE is suddenly booking this legendary showdown right after Money in the Bank.

John Cena and CM Punk
John Cena and CM Punk (via WWE)

The reason may lie in Night of Champions being a Saudi Arabian event. WWE is known for booking high-profile matches for its premium shows in the Kingdom. At present, neither John Cena nor CM Punk is involved in a headline-worthy feud, making this the perfect opportunity to create a blockbuster clash.

Booking this long-awaited showdown not only injects star power into Night of Champions but also creates major buzz around the event. Interestingly, many fans expected this clash to take place at SummerSlam. However, WWE’s decision to schedule it earlier suggests they have even bigger plans for Cena and Punk at The Biggest Party of the Summer.

CM Punk spoke about a tattoo that symbolizes the loss of his passion for wrestling in WWE

Punk is known for his many iconic tattoos, each reflecting a part of his personality. While several are tied to his journey in professional wrestling, others represent his personal beliefs and goals. Recently, Punk opened up about one particular tattoo that symbolizes the moment he lost his passion for wrestling in WWE.

CM Punk
CM Punk [via- Cageside Seats]

Speaking on WWE Tattooed, The Best in the World reflected on a tattoo he got in 2013, just before he clashed with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. The tattoo features dark imagery—black roses, cobwebs, and a coffin with an upside-down cross. While Punk admitted it was a strange choice, he called it the perfect representation of how he felt about wrestling at that point in his life.

I got this one, which is very dark — black roses, cobwebs, a coffin with an upside down cross on it, and a candle with an extinguished flame. But in talking through with my friend who did the tattoo, I realized, the passion I have for this is gone, the flame has been extinguished.

CM Punk said

The Second City Saint further revealed that he felt the spirit had left professional wrestling and all he wanted was a chance to rest. That SummerSlam in 2013 turned out to be Punk’s last appearance at the event before he controversially departed WWE in 2014.

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