John Cena vs CM Punk: There have been many rivalries in WWE, but the fight between John Cena and CM Punk had a different level of emotion, intensity, and drama.
Cena and Punk represented two opposite sides, Cena stood for hustle, loyalty, and respect, while Punk stood against the system. Their matches gave WWE a new direction, created unforgettable moments, and gave fans matches that are still fresh in their minds.
Now, as both superstars get ready to fight once again for the Undisputed WWE Title on June 28, 2025, at WWE Night of Champions 2025 in Riyadh, let’s look back at their five biggest matches that defined their rivalry.
Most Iconic Match of John Cena vs CM Punk in WWE
1. Money in the Bank 2011: Punk’s Shocking Win and a Turning Point for Cena
The most important match CM Punk vs John Cena happened at Money in the Bank 2011.
The event took place in Punk’s hometown, Chicago. The crowd was fully behind Punk and booing Cena the whole time. Punk’s WWE contract was ending that night, but before leaving, he did something no one expected.
Vince McMahon tried to help Cena win by interfering, but Cena refused to take advantage. That moment helped Punk, who hit the GTS and won the match. He took the WWE title, gave a flying kiss to McMahon, and left the arena.
This moment changed Punk’s career and became the most iconic moment in the list of John Cena vs CM Punk matches.
2. RAW 2013 – When the WrestleMania spot was on the line
In a 2013 CM Punk vs John Cena fight episode of WWE RAW in a high-stakes match. The winner would get a chance to face The Rock at WrestleMania 29.
Both gave a great match with fast action and strong storytelling. The crowd was fully into it. Cena won the match with an Attitude Adjustment and earned the spot to face The Rock at WrestleMania.
This match showed again that John Cena vs CM Punk matches were more than just wrestling. They were big events.
3. SummerSlam 2011 – When two champions stepped into one ring
At SummerSlam 2011 WWE fans saw a rare situation. Both CM Punk and John Cena were WWE Champions at the same time.
Triple H was the special guest referee and promised to call the match fairly. The match was full of great wrestling and big drama. Punk pinned Cena and won, but after the match, Kevin Nash attacked Punk.
Right after that, Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and took the title from Punk. This added another twist to the Cena vs Punk rivalry.
4. WWE Night of Champions 2012 – When the roles were reversed
In the 2012 Night of Champions event Cena and Punk had another big match. But this time, the roles were switched Punk was the arrogant champion, and Cena was the fan favorite.
The match was full of good wrestling, reversals, and storytelling.
But the match ended in a double pin, which made the result a draw. Punk kept his WWE title, but the ending left fans confused. The match was great, but the finish surprised many fans.
5. WWE RAW 2010 – Punk’s early fight against Cena
In a special “Viewer’s Choice” episode of RAW in 2010, John Cena and CM Punk faced off in one of their early matches.
At that time, Punk was still the leader of the Straight Edge Society and hadn’t yet reached his full popularity. But he already had strong wrestling skills. The match was good and kept fans interested.
But it didn’t end clearly, as Wade Barrett’s group, The Nexus, interfered in the match during their RAW debut.
This fight marked the beginning of the long and intense rivalry between Cena and Punk.
Final Match at WWE Night of Champions 2025
Now at WWE Night of Champions 2025 John Cena and CM Punk will face each other once again. This could be the last chapter in their long story. With Punk’s wild past and Cena’s never-give-up attitude, this final match will surely be another big moment in WWE.
John Cena vs CM Punk matches are one of the most famous rivalries in WWE. And now another big moment is about to happen.
ALSO READ: 3 WWE Titles Naomi Might Target After Winning Money In The Bank
