WWE fans were very surprised by the latest CM Punk update on Raw.
Interrupting John Cena on the June 9th episode, Punk made his intentions clear to the WWE Champion. Aware of what the title has done to Cena, Punk vowed to end his former rival’s record-breaking reign and challenged the Hollywood star to a match then and there. Rejecting Punk’s challenge, Cena made the counter-offer to face Punk at Night of Champions later in the month, which will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Punk has been very critical of Saudi Arabia in the past, most notably telling The Miz to “go suck a blood money covered d**k in Saudi Arabia you f*****g dork” in a social media spat back in 2020. Following the announcement of the upcoming match, screenshots of the post have circulated around social media and many have called out Punk for choosing to compete in the Kingdom.
Speaking about the upcoming match on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that Punk could have turned down the appearance if he wanted to, but has not voiced any objections to Meltzer’s knowledge:
“He could not go if he really wanted to not go. He was going months ago, I had already asked about that, it was 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, ‘Nope, he’s going.’ So it’s been known he’s going for months, 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. So he’s going.”
Meltzer also added that while there is some pressure for certain stars to work the Saudi shows, Punk would not have been affected negatively had he opted out:
“He is big enough he could have said no and it wouldn’t have impacted him. If you’re a mid-level guy and you said no, you would be able to not go, but it would impact you. I know of instances of people who are told essentially, ‘You don’t have to go and we’re not going to force you to go or anything like this, but if you don’t go can we push you in a big spot?’ And they still could, but it’s said. It’s put in your head that you probably ought to go.”
CM Punk To Make Saudi Arabia Debut
After returning to WWE in late 2023, Punk did not compete at either of the Saudi Arabia shows the following year. long with being injured for King and Queen of the Ring, Punk was written off TV for Crown Jewel.
H/t to Cultaholic
Featured image: WWE
