CM Punk Advertised For WWE In Saudi Arabia Despite Past "Blood Money" Comments (WWE News)
WWE Night Of Champions 2025 trailer closed with shot of CM Punk
CM Punk has been featured in the advertisements for WWE's next Premium Live Event in Saudi Arabia.
Night Of Champions 2025 will take place from Riyadh on June 28th, becoming the latest show to honour WWE's decade-long deal with the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia that kicked off in 2018. A trailer for the event aired during Saturday's Backlash PLE, and ended with a clip of CM Punk winking down the lens taken from his first promo back with the company in November 2023. This is newsworthy not just because the 'Voice Of The Voiceless' could potentially work his first one of these shows since returning to WWE, but also because he drew big headlines in 2020 for being extremely critical of the arrangement between company and country.
Following some comments Punk had made as host of WWE Backstage in late-2019, The Miz raised his ire during an appearance on the magazine show, sarcastically apologising for not "changing the culture", as Punk had pledged to do in his return promo. Following the airing, Punk tweeted Miz, saying "go suck a blood money-covered d*ck in Saudi Arabia, you f*cking dork” ahead of Miz working 2020's Super ShowDown.
Though no card has been revealed for the June event as of yet, his inclusion led many to reasonably assume that he will be part of the show, as has been a possible reality since surprisingly re-signing with the market leader. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio following the trailer drop, Dave Meltzer noted "Wrestlers technically have the option not to go, but there’s a lot of pressure to participate. Punk once said he’d never go, but people say a lot of things".
Despite this first advertisement, Punk wouldn't be the first wrestler to reverse course in either direction relating to these shows. John Cena worked Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, but didn't appear again on the shows until a Night Of Champions 2023 return and defeat against Solo Sikoa. Daniel Bryan also worked the inaugural event in 2018, but that was his last in the Kingdom before exiting the company outright in 2021. Due to his Syrian descent, Sami Zayn didn't work one of the shows until 2023, but has since become an Arabic folk hero on the cards and stands to be a heavy favourite for the 2026 Royal Rumble when the 'January Classic' takes place from there next year.
Following Backlash, WWE has Saturday Night's Main Event and Money In The Bank in May and June respectively, so plans and promotions can change, but expect more to be confirmed and/or advertised nearer the time.