John Cena © vs CM Punk - Clash Of Champions 2025 (WWE Undisputed Championship Match)

The retirement tour of Champion John Cena had used the slogan of “The Last Time Is Now”. A fitting slogan for this match as both men with a deep rivalry and history in WWE would face off for the final time in this match. From the first time they faced each other in 2009 to the iconic Money In The Bank match in 2011 and to now facing each other in Saudi Arabia for their final match for the greatest prize in WWE once again, 

As soon as the static hits and Cult of Personality played the Saudi crowd was electric singing along to every word loud and clear. At the top of the ramp Punk said “Clobberin’ time is now” taking the first swipe of the night at his opponent putting his own spin on the “Time is now” gimmick of Cena. The crowd continued their loudness, as they joined in with Punk at the top of the ramp for “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME!” 

The Champion was next to enter the arena, with a huge pop from the crowd for potentially the last time they will see him wrestle. The screen went black with white writing of JOHN CENA as has been his entrance from Wrestlemania when he won the title. A straight faced Cena walked to the ring with the camera following him as he held the “The Last Time Is Now” towel and backwards WWE title behind him. The crowd chanted “JOHN CENA SUCKS!” extremely loudly to make their feelings known to Cena who didn’t budge. 

As the bell rang, the crowd erupted into contrasting chants for both men. “LET’S GO CENA!” chants for the Champion and “CM PUNK!” chants for the Challenger. As the pair began their final battle the crowd continued their chants this time with “OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!” with phone torch lights filling the arena. 

A slow start from both men as they cancel each other out with different classic wrestling moves from headlocks to suplexes to collar and elbow tie ups. The Champion did take control and looked for shoulder tackles but would get caught out and almost ended in a GTS from Punk but Cena managed to escape and roll out of the ring. 

The pair continued to go back and forth as Punk gained control. Various moves from Punk included a Russian Leg Sweep a leaf out of his Wife AJ Lee’s book as he appeared to put Cena in a Black Widow submission. Cena spun Punk round ending the submission and a near fall after a slam to the mat from Cena. 

The momentum shifted again as Cena took control again, this time he hit the shoulder tackles and pointed to the crowd before putting his hand in the air. Michael Cole on commentary said it was “vintage Cena” but also “will he give the fans what they want?” which he did. He immediately looked for the Attitude Adjustment but it was reversed by Punk into a heel drop kick. 

A classic running knee from Punk into the corner before he went to the top rope. He got to the top with Wade Barrett saying “Oh yeah!” as Punk dropped a Flying Elbow in homage to Macho Man Randy Savage. 

CM Punk looked to finish the match as he went for the GTS. He got Cena up and looked to deliver it but a last second reversal from the Champ to catch Punk’s leg and turned it into an STF submission. A brilliant reversal was then met with a smooth reversal of Punk’s own into the Anaconda VIce. 

Another near fall for Cena as he escaped the Anaconda Vice but quickly maneuvered it into an AA but only another near fall for Cena as Punk kicked out at 2. Straight after Cena tried again for an AA but was reversed into a nice DDT from Punk. Then “adding insult to injury” by putting the Champ in a STF to get him to submit to his own move. 

The best sequence of the match so far followed with a running knee by Punk followed by an attempted running Bulldog. That was reversed by Cena into an attempt at another Five Knuckle Shuffle but Punk caught Cena with a kick to the head as he tried to do the “You can’t see me”. Punk then went for the GTS but was avoided by Cena. As he bounced off the ropes Punk looked for a neck breaker but Cena once again reversed into another AA. CM Punk kicked out yet again for the near fall. 

After 2 Attitude Adjustments didn’t work, Cena tried to do another this time from the top rope. Punk elbowed him way out of the hold and onto the top rope again as he looked for a cross body from the top rope. However, “Cena rolls through!” as Michael Cole explained on commentary with freak strength still in the last year of his in ring career. He hoisted Punk onto his shoulders again for a third AA. Once again not enough to put the challenger away. The match continued. 

The desperation of this new heel John Cena crept in again as he looked at the Undisputed Title, picking it up to use it perhaps to take out his opponents and win the match as he had already done many times since February. A surprise for most when the WWE Universe in Saudi Arabia chanted “NO! NO! NO!” and John Cena obliged as Michael Cole said with surprise in his voice also. That cost Cena as he was caught out and suffered his first GTS of the night, but he kept himself in the match. 

Both men continued the match when they got to their feet with big right hands or “haymakers” as Michael Cole said. But Cena managed to duck underneath one and started his signature shoulder tackles again. However, he miscalculated his second attempt and ended up taking out Referee, Dan Engler. CM Punk took advantage of the mistake and delivered another GTS to the Champion. There was only one problem, there was no referee to count the pinfall. 

In disbelief Punk looked around the ring asking “where is he?” about the Official who didn't seem to know was out on the outside of the ring. He then gestured to the ramp in hopes of another official appearing. However, he was met with the theme song of his old rival and now Mr. Money In The Bank in Seth Rollins. He was backed up by Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker as well as his new right hand man in Paul Heyman. 

After making his way down the ramp, Rollins took off his jacket (giving it to Paul Heyman) and took the briefcase before putting his hand in the air and clenching his fist. This appeared to be the signal to Reed and Breakker to enter the ring and take out Punk. 

CM Punk was able to get the better of both men initially but was then put through the Arabic announce table on the outside. Meanwhile, Seth Rollins was in the middle of the ring and looked up the ramp after seeing the devastation on the outside waiting for someone to come down. 

Out of nowhere appeared a sprinting Charles Robinson reminiscent of the Wrestlemania 24 sprint down the ramp in the main event of The Undertaker vs Edge for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, he was unable to make it to the ring and a rushing John Cena sent him flying after a brutal shoulder tackle from the now 17 time World Champion. 

Yet another Referee was laid out on the outside of the ring as the chaos continued. Cena and Rollins got into a heated argument in the middle of the ring with both men becoming increasingly annoyed before Rollins tried to hit Cena with the briefcase. The Champ was equal to it and ducked out of the way before an AA to Rollins before Breakker and Reed got back into the ring and started attacking Cena. 

As Bronson Reed looked to go to the top rope for a Tsunami to Cena, the music of Penta began as he came to confront the men he has had trouble with in Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Despite seeming to get the better of Breakker, Penta was thrown over the back of Breakker onto the ramp with Penta shouting in pain. 

Just as it seemed everyone was down and out of luck against Rollins and his group, out came the crowd favourite of Sami Zayn. He wasted no time going after Breakker, as it looked to be heading down the side of the ramp. Both men looked back to find a flying Penta coming their way as he took them both out next to the ramp. 

With the distractions outside, Bronson Reed tried to finally deliver a Tsunami from the top rope to Cena. Once again he was intercepted by a returning CM Punk. The men that were rivals at the start of the match worked together to take care of Reed with a “330 pound AA” to the Australian from John Cena. Another freak show of athleticism and strength of the Champion. 

Despite the distractions from Rollins and co, both men were now standing once again in the middle of the ring face to face with one another as they looked to put an end to their final match. 

An unusual gesture from CM Punk as he extended his hand to Cena as a sign of respect. Which seemed to be greeted with the same respect and agreement from Cena as he shook the hand of Punk and hugged him. Right after a look into the camera, identical to the look he gave The Rock after hugging Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber in February. 

The dirty tactics appeared to take over again as he tried to low blow CM Punk the same way he did to Cody Rhodes. The Best In The World was prepared and blocked the kick before picking Cena up. The Champ managed to get off the back of Punk and was blasted by a running Seth Rollins with the briefcase to the head of the Second City Saint and a Stomp almost through the canvas to him as well. 

The mistake for Rollins was then not going after the Champion in John Cena, in which his quick thinking to get Rollins out of the ring allowed him to cover the down and out CM Punk. The Referee returned to the ring at the perfect time for John Cena as he got the 1...2…3! 

Once again John Cena was victorious in the defense of his precious 17th World Title. This time he did not need to do any dirty tactics of his own as much as he tried to. All he needed to do was be in the right place at the right time. AND STILL WWE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION, JOHN CENA! 

A match which once again delivered on many different levels. From renewed rivalries over 15 years in the making to start the match to fresher rivalries to end the match in Rollins and Punk. The ever changing momentum in the match made for exciting viewing as neither man was dominant for sustained periods of time. Interruptions in the match which made for edge of the seat unpredictability of a failed cash in for the Money In The Bank and a jump of the stage by Penta.  

The match to end of the most historic rivalries in WWE this century was a great one with John Cena now being the one to say he will walk out of the company with the Title as was threatened by CM Punk all of them years ago. The build up to the match and the match itself lived up to the expectation that these 2 men had built in both of their entire careers. One man on his last run in WWE and another still chasing the dream of regaining the WWE World Championship once more.