John Cena’s Payback Against CM Punk
Almost 14 years after one of pro wrestling’s most memorable promos, John Cena finally got his revenge on CM Punk, his infamous rival. During the latest episode of SmackDown, Cena, the Undisputed WWE Champion, put Punk through a table before launching into a biting Pipe Bomb promo that echoed Punk’s iconic tirade from June 27, 2011.
Fans enjoyed the irony as Cena’s promo mirrored Punk’s style and tone. Notably, R-Truth played a key role in both scenarios. In 2011, Punk interfered, allowing Truth to defeat Cena by slamming him through a table. On the recent show, Truth defeated Cena yet again, this time after Cena got himself disqualified by hitting him with the WWE Championship.
Both promos featured similar visuals: one competitor in pain while the other aired their grievances. In 2011, Cena was left hurting after Punk’s table spot; this time, it was Punk who took the hit from Cena, who struck him twice with the title. However, while Punk delivered his promo from the ramp as Cena recovered, Cena remained in the ring, taunting a motionless Punk.
Cena began his address with a playful nod to Punk’s original line, joking about the fear of being cut off. He expressed admiration for Punk but twisted it, saying he liked him more than anyone Punk had locker room history with. Punk’s assumption of being the best was challenged, with Cena declaring himself the greatest, receiving cheers from the Grand Rapids crowd, unlike Punk’s reception in the past.
Though Cena stayed focused on Punk, he made a notable distinction from Punk’s promo by not criticizing WWE’s management or fans directly. He referred to Punk as “the best bullshitter in the world,” playfully acknowledging his own sarcasm while promoting his upcoming match at Night of Champions. Cena claimed that while Punk had once been rebellious, he was now more aligned with capitalism than his original punk persona.
As Cena concluded, he underscored his dominance over Punk, affirming his status as the best in the ring and on the mic. Crowds cheered him, and the atmosphere reflected a shift in support, with fans rallying behind Cena. The evolving dynamics suggest an intriguing future for both Cena and Punk as Cena’s current momentum could impact other WWE babyfaces like Cody Rhodes.
