John Cena vs CM Punk: Who won at WWE Night of Champions 2025 and what's next? Feat - Seth Rollins

John Cena and CM Punk clashed in the main event of the WWE Night of Champions 2025 on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh

Updated on: Jun 29, 2025, 01:29:28 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

John Cena and CM Punk clashed in the main event of the WWE Night of Champions 2025 on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the two entered the arena, fans cheered to see what could be the last chapter of the Cena vs Punk rivalry.

John Cena and CM Punk at WWE Championship at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh (AFP)

This blockbuster match, the first singles clash between Cena and Punk since 2013, reignited a storied rivalry from 2011-2012, notably their iconic Money in the Bank 2011 bout. Cena, on his 2025 farewell tour after turning heel at Elimination Chamber, won the title from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, vowing to ‘ruin wrestling’ by retiring with it.

Follow Live: WWE Night of Champions 2025 Live: John Cena takes on CM Punk in much-hyped main event

CM Punk, challenging as a fan-favorite, aimed to ‘save’ the title, leveraging nostalgia with a Doctor of Thuganomics spoof promo.

Ahead of the bout, several experts heavily favored Cena to retain the championship, epecially since he is on his retirement tour. WrestlingNews suggested a potential Seth Rollins interference, possibly with his Money in the Bank briefcase, leading to a disqualification where Punk wins but doesn’t claim the title.

Who won the John Cena vs CM Punk bout?

John Cena, with the help of Rollins, beat CM Punk.

What’s next for John Cena and CM Punk

If Cena wins, he is expected to carry the title into SummerSlam (August 2-3, 2025, MetLife Stadium), facing Cody Rhodes, who won the King of the Ring tournament against Randy Orton at Night of Champions, earning a title shot.

A Punk victory would set up a rematch with Cena at SummerSlam, possibly with Rhodes added for a triple-threat. CM Punk could also feud with Rollins or McIntyre, whose returns were teased.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

Home/Sports/Wwe News/John Cena Vs CM Punk: Who Won At WWE Night Of Champions 2025 And What's Next? Feat - Seth Rollins