WWE GOAT John Cena did it again, delivering another unforgettable segment. In the biggest “Pipebomb” since the original, the “Never Seen 17” put CM Punk in his place. From saying things other wrestlers wish they could to the unimaginable on WWE SmackDown, this was can’t-miss television.
Ron “R-Truth” Killings and Cena main-evented SmackDown on June 20, 2025. The match got canceled when the champion hit Truth with his strap, causing Punk to come to his aid. However, his fate was the same – a championship belt to the side of the dome. After putting him through a table, Cena took to the top rope to cut one of the most vicious and entertaining promos ever.
Cena executed this perfectly, better than anyone else could have dreamed of – opening up his promo by telling Punk some things he should have heard a long time ago. Breaking the fourth wall, he’d talk to the cameraman and explain that it was a joke how his challenger had convinced the crowd that he was the best in the world.
“You change your values as much as I change my t-shirts,” said Cena. The next part shocked the WWE Universe, as he called out various wrestlers who “actually” work hard, and talent Punk stepped on to further himself. The shocking part was that none of them are with WWE anymore, with some working for AEW, which was unbelievable to see on SmackDown. Claudio Castognoli, Nic Nemeth, and Matt Cardona received a shoutout from the champ.
Besides his selfish attitude, Cena called out Punk’s highly overrated skillset, including his “Five microphone moves of doom” and “Promo potato salad.” So far, all facts, and he didn’t stop there. “You’re no longer the voice of the voiceless, you’re a friggen millionaire,” continued the champ, “You’re not a punk, you’re a capitalist.”
In just one promo, Cena was able to destroy one of the company’s most popular babyfaces and get cheered for doing so. He pointed out all the hypocrisy during Punk’s career, getting the WWE Universe to turn on someone they have been cheering for months. It was the perfect way to build drama leading to their match at Night of Champions.
Cena has turned his farewell tour around. After the initial shock of him with The Rock, nothing ever came of it, causing underwhelming moments. Calling out wrestlers in unrelated promotions is unheard of, and he did it to get the babyface disliked more than himself. When first announced, the championship match had concerns, including the fact that neither man is known for wrestling classics.
The story and drama of Friday night were the perfect addition to this farewell tour. It’s hard to do something shocking or new in wrestling, and Cena managed to bury one of the most well-known babyfaces of all time. It’s gratifying to see Punk finally called out for being fake. He never wanted to improve the business or help it grow. He only wanted to put himself in a better position and whine when things didn’t go as planned.
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