CM Punk Confirms He’ll Never Face WWE Legend Again

CM Punk has had his share of unforgettable rivalries over the years, and none perhaps more high-profile than his clash with WWE legend John Cena.

The pair last squared off at Night of Champions in a fierce showdown for the WWE Undisputed Championship. With Cena heading into a December retirement, their match also marked the definitive end of their in-ring story.

CM Punk Opens Up About His Final Match With John Cena

In a recent interview with ComicBook Nation, host Matt Aguilar asked CM Punk to dig into his mindset leading up to that final showdown. The Second City Saint explained that fans were expecting a “pipebomb 2.0,” a blistering promo that would rival his infamous 2011 shoot.

But instead of going nuclear verbally, he challenged himself to outsmart Cena by engaging him on his own level, channeling the braggadocio and swagger of Cena’s “Thuganomics” persona from the early 2000s. He also confirmed that his Night of Champions 2025 match with John Cena was their final encounter, as The Last Real Champion is set to retire in December.

That entire week was pretty emotional for me, being the last time I was going to get to share a ring with John Cena, and I wanted to make it special and memorable.

With his match against Cena now behind him, CM Punk is fully focused on what’s next. At SummerSlam, he will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship held by Gunther, setting up a fresh and intense rivalry.

Meanwhile, Big Match John continues his 2025 farewell tour. He’ll defend the WWE Undisputed Championship against Cody Rhodes in a SummerSlam Street Fight match. Both men are moving forward on separate tracks, having confirmed that their chapter is closed.