Tag: CM Punk

CM Punk references Kevin Nash criticism in WWE house show moment

Posted on by Joseph Currier

At a WWE house show on Tuesday night, CM Punk appeared to poke fun at criticism that had recently been levied against him by Kevin Nash.

Punk was in Fort Myers, Florida yesterday for a live event on WWE’s annual Holiday Tour. He defended his World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of the show, retaining against Bronson Reed. There was a moment at the start of the match where Punk teased taking his shirt off. Once he finally did, it was revealed that Punk was wearing another T-shirt underneath.

Punk wrestling with a T-shirt on was one of the things Nash mentioned while critiquing Punk’s performance from the December 22 episode of WWE Raw. While saying Bron Breakker should defeat Punk in their upcoming title match, Nash noted that he thought Punk’s in-ring work looked slow on the Raw episode.

“I watched Punk in the main event of that match last Monday. Number one: if you’re the Heavyweight Champion of the WWE and you wrestle in a T-shirt — ouch,” Nash said on his Kliq This podcast. “Number two: his punches looked really slow. He looked slow. I think it’s time for him, I think he’s done. I think Bron should beat him.”

Nash and Punk were once rivals on WWE television in a storyline that took place in 2011.

The Punk vs. Breakker World Heavyweight Championship match is happening on the January 5, 2026 episode of Raw. The show is being held in Brooklyn, New York and will feature a crossover with the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.”

Kevin Nash critiques CM Punk: ‘I think he’s done’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

If Kevin Nash were making the call, CM Punk would drop the World Heavyweight Championship to Bron Breakker on the first WWE Raw of 2026.

Punk and Breakker are set to face off on the January 5 episode of Raw from Brooklyn, New York. The title match will help set the stage for WrestleMania season — and Nash would like to see a new champion crowned. On his Kliq This podcast, Nash critiqued Punk’s performance from Raw last Monday. He thought Punk looked slow and like he was “done.”

“I watched Punk in the main event of that match last Monday. Number one: if you’re the Heavyweight Champion of the WWE and you wrestle in a T-shirt — ouch,” Nash said. “Number two: his punches looked really slow. He looked slow. I think it’s time for him, I think he’s done. I think Bron should beat him.”

The tag match from last week saw Austin Theory & Bronson Reed defeat Rey Mysterio & Punk. Following the match, Punk was laid out by a spear from Breakker.

Punk vs. Breakker is happening on the same Raw episode that will have a crossover with the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.” The episode will also celebrate the one-year anniversary of Raw coming to Netflix.

Nash, a WWE Hall of Famer, was once rivals with Punk on-screen with Nash playing a role in the Punk vs. Triple H rivalry that took place in 2011.

Jack Perry reflects on CM Punk incident: ‘I feel like I’ve grown a lot from it’

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

AEW’s Jack Perry has finally opened up about his growth from his infamous incident with CM Punk at AEW All In 2023.

Recently speaking on Up Close with Renee Paquette, Perry was questioned about his growth over the past two years. Discussing his incident with Punk without mentioning it by name, Perry claimed,

“I think, I feel like I’ve grown a lot from it, but I feel like the growth came from a lot of it sounds dramatic to say pain, but it wasn’t the nicest of times, for most of that time. I think it really freed me in a lot of ways. It’s kind of like before all that feels like another lifetime at this point, and I think back to how I felt before that, and I think a big thing I had was like, I just really, it sounds silly, I just wanted everyone to like me.”

He further continued, “I was new to being on TV. This was my dream job since I was a little kid, and I wanted to do it perfectly, and I wanted everyone to like me, and it’s not something I worry about so much in my real life, but this was different. I kind of wanted to micromanage it and make it perfect,” he added. “So then when I would come up short of that, it was very disappointing, and I think coming up short of anything sucks, but doing it in such a public way, and then there are a million people telling you you’re a piece of shit or whatever, it’s hard.”

Without taking anyone’s names, he claimed, “I think, through all that, I finally realised there are some people that are never gonna like me no matter what I do, and in a way that was really freeing because then I was like I don’t have to worry about that anymore, what do I wanna do?”

Punk and Perry’s fallout began at AEW All In 2023 in London, after their difference of opinion on using real glass during a spot. The incident led to a shoot backstage brawl between the two, with AEW firing Punk soon after.

Perry would also be sidelined from AEW television for nearly six months before he returned with the ‘Scapegoat’ moniker. Following his run as a heel and part of The Elite, he would again take nine months off after Full Gear 2025, before returning at All Out 2025, reuniting with Luchasaurus.

WWE Raw live results: CM Punk & Rey Mysterio vs. The Vision

Posted on by Steve Khan

Air Date: December 22, 2025 (taped Dec 19, 2025)
Location: Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI 

The Big Takeaway —

Austin Theory teamed with Bronson Reed to beat the team of CM Punk and Rey Mysterio, with Theory pinning Rey after a curb stomp. It was an audition for Theory, who is not yet a member of The Vision. 

It was a taped show and easy to get through, with a runtime of about 90 minutes. 

**********

Show Recap — 

This show was taped on Friday, so the announcers were Michael Cole and Corey Graves (instead of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett). 

I realized during the opening match that the feed isn’t being treated as ‘live’ on Netflix, so you can just skip ahead if you want. 

CM Punk & Rey Mysterio, Judgment Day, Je’Von Evans, Gunther, and The Vision were shown arriving.  Cole said Evans was a soon-to-be free agent. 

Paul Heyman approached Austin Theory and asked him what the hell he was doing. Theory said he wore the mask because he wanted everyone to feel his actions before they saw his face. He made some mistakes in the past. He got comfortable before getting injured. He appreciated that the Vision didn’t wait around. They take. Theory said that was him now. He wanted to take that opportunity and help out. Heyman was skeptical but intrigued. 

********

Rhea Ripley asked Iyo Sky to stay in the back for her match tonight. She wanted Sky to take care of herself after getting laid out last week. 

Rhea Ripley vs. Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka (w/ Kairi Sane)

Because this show is taped, we’re not getting the usual commercial breaks, but they are still cutting to break as if it were live. Asuka took control thanks to a Kairi Sane distraction, and they acted as if they were heading to break as usual (90 seconds into the match, as usual), but the action picked right back up. 

Ripley tried mounting a comeback but was tripped from the outside by Sane. Ripley mounted a comeback anyway and fended off a flurry of offence by Asuka ahead of another “break.” Ripley applied the standing cloverleaf, but Asuka countered with a German suplex and sliding kick for two. 

Asuka blocked a Razor’s Edge attempt and later hit a German suplex on the apron. Asuka came off the top, but Ripley hit her with a mid-air thrust kick, followed by a cannonball off the apron. (Ripley used more kicks in this match than usual.) 

Ripley went to the top but was tripped by Sane, so Sky ran out (while selling her back) to attack her. Sky jumped on the apron to yell at the referee for allowing Sane to interfere yet again, but Sane used the opportunity to drop her on the apron. 

Asuka used that distraction to catch Ripley in a cradle for the pinfall win. 

As Cole mentioned, Asuka was winless in 8 singles matches against Ripley before this. 

Match result: Asuka defeated Rhea Ripley (approx. 11:30 of TV time) 

********

Backstage, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker seemed skeptical about Theory. Heyman said they were both much better off today than they were months ago, and that was thanks to him. That all happened thanks to his vision.

He did not pimp that out easily. He was selective, and he had a vision for Theory. Tonight, it would be Theory and Reed against Punk and Mysterio. Either Theory carried out their vision, or the two of them could carry Theory’s ass out of WWE. (This immediately made me think of Steve Austin and Kurt Angle kicking Buff Bagwell out of the arena that one time.) 

********

Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri segment 

Lynch stormed out wearing a fur coat. She said we would not be getting a celebration for Maxxine Durpi. There was a corrupt referee in their match, and Lynch was still the rightful Women’s Intercontinental Champion. 

If petty Pearce wouldn’t do anything about it, Lynch knew some powerful people who would. She had the most powerful lawyers in the country, but the bigwigs at Netflix advised her to go to miserable Michigan and take matters into her own hands because she was the greatest of all time. 

Dupri interrupted. She agreed with Sports Illustrated that Lynch was the greatest of all time. Dupri herself was just a rookie—but this rookie just beat the greatest of all time. (Dupri’s first match was in 2023.) Dupri bragged that she beat Lynch three times (the other two were by DQ and count-out), and said she would give Lynch a rematch anytime, anyplace. 

Dupri fired up and said she would stop at nothing to beat her again. She would train until her blood, sweat and tears on the mat. She added, “Not only am I their Intercontinental Champion, I am your Intercontinental Champion.” 

Dupri wanted Lynch to admit that, but she knew Lynch wouldn’t take it on the chin like the Man she said she was. In this moment, Lynch didn’t look like the greatest of all time. Lynch looked like someone who was afraid her best years were behind her. 

Lynch decked Dupri with a suckerpunch and held up the IC title belt. Lynch was about to leave, but went for another attack, so Dupri picked the leg and applied an ankle lock until Lynch tapped out. Dupri let go, and Lynch bailed. 

Dupri was good here. 

******** 

Pearce spoke to Je’Von Evans backstage. Pearce wished him luck in his match tonight and wanted to talk about his future afterward. Evans was in a good mood, and he left for his match. 

Stephanie Vaquer approached Pearce next. She wanted to face both Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez. Pearce was happy with that and made a triple threat match for the world title next week.  

******** 

There was a video package for The Usos, who face AJ Styles and Dragon Lee for the world tag team titles next week. Well, that was a quick road back to title contention.

Je’Von Evans vs. Rayo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano & Bravo Americano) 

Cole said he tried a Wikipedia search on Rayo Americano but couldn’t find anything, even though a Google search for him takes you right to Pete Dunne’s results. 

Evans hit a flip dive ahead of a “break,” but Rayo brought him off the top rope with an arm drag after the break to take control. Evans fought back with a forearm, a vertical suplex (where he pops right back up to his feet), and a springboard clothesline for two. 

El Grande Americano distracted the referee while Bravo and Rayo double-teamed Evans. Rayo followed with a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Evans avoided a Rayo moonsault attempt and hit an OG Cutter for the pinfall win. 

El Grande and Bravo tried to attack Evans, but he escaped the ring and smiled back at them. 

Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated Rayo Americano (approx. 7:00 of TV time) 

This was fine. A mostly easy win for Evans, and they really pushed hard that he’s a pending free agent. 

********

Cathy Kelley interviewed Styles and Dragon Lee about facing Jimmy and Jey Uso, who have been a tag team a lot longer than they have. Styles and Lee weren’t worried because they’ve beaten established teams like Judgment Day and New Day. Styles said having the titles meant they were better than the best. 

Bron Breakker promo 

There was a pre-taped Breakker promo package. Breakker said Punk thought they had a personal vendetta because of the barbs he mentioned about his family, but the reality was that Punk didn’t care about his wife. He never cared about anyone other than himself. 

Breakker wondered which version of Punk would show up on January 5th: the watered-down 2025 version, or the best in the world. Either way, the result would be the same. Breakker was the mountain Punk couldn’t climb, and the dog he couldn’t outrun. In Punk’s words, he was only here to make money. Breakker hoped Punk saved his money, because after he beats him, Punk won’t be worth a dollar to anyone. 

This was really good. 

********

Nikki Bella segment 

The announcers were talking when Nikki Bella interrupted. She called herself “the most famous person.” She reminded the fans that she was Nikki Bella, a Hall of Famer and a former champion. 

She said they wouldn’t know what a champion looked like because they cheered for the Detroit Lions. The Lions wished they were the Philadelphia Eagles or, better yet, Ohio State. 

Bella was the star of the division. She destroyed Rodriguez’s face, and she would destroy Vaquer’s reign. Vaquer was a big deal in the ring, but Bella was a big deal everywhere. It was about time the title was around the waist of a true global superstar. 

******** 

Bayley (w/ Lyra Valkyria) vs. Roxxane Perez (w/ Liv Morgan)

Perez worked over Bayley’s knee (through a break) until Bayley made a comeback. Raquel Rodriguez appeared at ringside and was about to slide into the ring, but Valkyria took her out with a spinning kick to stop her from interfering. Morgan responded by chucking Valkyria over the announce desk. 

Perez distracted the referee while Morgan tripped Bayley. (This precise spot happened in the opening match.) Perez used the distraction to drop Bayley face-first into an exposed turnbuckle, but the idiot referee was distracted by Rodriguez on the apron. Valkyria wiped out Rodriguez and Morgan with a dive off the table. 

Valkyria psyched up Bayley and slapped her in the face. This fired up Bayley (and healed her knee), and she hammered away at Perez before hitting a flying elbow drop for the pinfall win. 

Another match filled with interference and distractions. It’s especially exhausting when it happens in multiple matches in a row every single week.

Match result: Bayley defeated Roxanne Perez (approx. 7:00 of TV time) 

********

In the locker room, Reed told Theory he was in the big leagues now and to follow his lead, kid. Theory told him he wasn’t his kid. Theory said he would start the match, and Reed would follow his lead. 

Elsewhere, Rodriguez argued with Morgan and Perez. Rodriguez was pissed because she had a world tile match to prepare for, so she bailed. 

Gunther segment

Gunther entered and was booed heavily again. He took his time basking in the heat. He said the fans shouldn’t be mad at him, they should be mad at the guy who tapped out like a little bitch. (He definitely got a ton of heat, but it also sounded like they manipulated the sound to make it pop louder.) 

CM Punk marched out to his music. He very quickly got into the ring and straight into Gunther’s face. The fans loudly chanted for Punk. Gunther laughed in his face before leaving the ring. Gunther gave him the ‘you can’t see me’ gesture before taking off. 

Gunther was confronted next by Rey Mysterio in the aisle. The disappointed Rey put his hands on his hips and shook his head (like he was looking at his own son). Gunther laughed at him and left. 

After a break, Styles confronted Gunther backstage. Styles said Gunther didn’t know when to shut up. Gunther said, “Guess I don’t,” and he laughed. 

********

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory & Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman) 

Punk and Rey both wore pink and black gear. 

The Vision got the heat on Punk as Theory used his familiar offence and held Punk in a rest hold after a break. Reed took his turn next until Punk rolled out of the way of a senton and made the hot tag to Rey, who knocked Theory off the apron. Reed tried to squish Rey, but Rey avoided it and hit a running seated senton off the ropes. 

Theory tagged in, but Rey got rid of him with a hurricanrana and a seated senton off the barricade. After a “break,” Theory was suddenly in control. Fortunately, they showed a replay of what happened during the break, which was Reed clubbing Rey from behind. Reed’s offence on Rey included a standing frog splash and a delayed vertical suplex. 

Theory worked over Rey next as Cole asked Graves what looked different about Theory tonight. Graves said he looked more focused, but besides his hair and his pants, the answer is nothing. 

Rey hit Theory with a bulldog and made the hot tag to Punk, who hit Theory with punches, a neckbreaker, corner knee strikes, and a bulldog. Theory avoided a GTS and tagged in Reed, but Punk fended him off and hit a flying clothesline for two. 

Rey tagged in and set up Reed for a 619, but Theory made a blind tag and levelled Rey with a running clothesline. Rey fought him off anyway to hit a 619 and a springboard splash. Rey had it won, but Reed yanked him out of the ring to break up the cover. Punk hit Reed with a suicide dive and clotheslined him over the barricade (taking them both out of the mix). 

Rey went to the top rope, but Theory tripped him and hit a curb stomp for the pinfall win. (Rey looked great all match, and the crowd was into this until Theory won.)

— Punk chased Theory out of the ring post-match. Breakker tried a sneak attack as Punk was distracted, but Punk fought him off. Punk fought off Theory next, but that distraction allowed Breakker to nail a spear as the taped show quickly went off the air. 

Match result: Austin Theory & Bronson Reed defeated Rey Mysterio & World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk (approx. 15:00 of TV time)

Fight Game: What will keep WWE hot in 2026?

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I return with a brand-new Fight Game to discuss some of the most interesting topics in pro wrestling this week.

After doing our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down segment, we hit on our major topics of the week which included:

  • Austin Theory unmasking
  • If WWE can stay hot in 2026 and how
  • AEW Continental Classic update
  • AEW Worlds End lineup thus far

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

WWE Raw live results: Gunther appears after retiring John Cena

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: December 15, 2025
Location: GIANT Center in Hershey, PA 

The Big Takeaway —

Austin Theory is the masked man. 

CM Punk cut a fiery promo on Bron Breakker, repeatedly insulting the intelligence of Bron, as well as Rick and Scott Steiner. Breakker speared him for his efforts at Raw’s conclusion. 

Gunther opened the show and received a ton of heat. He called John Cena a bitch for tapping, and his words were so upsetting that he was kicked out of the arena by Adam Pearce (facing off with AJ Styles as he left). 

**********

Show Recap — 

There was a big video package recapping John Cena’s retirement match and loss to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The video showed Cena’s career flashing before our eyes while he was locked in the sleeper before tapping out. They included the “Thank you, Cena” chants (and only those chants) as the video ended with him walking off. 

Gunther kicks off Monday Night Raw

Gunther walked out to an absolute ton of heat, and he was all smiles. A few fans chanted, “You tapped out,” but it quickly turned into more booing as he tried to speak. 

Gunther stated, “I did what I said I would do. I made John Cena give up! And when he gave up, he tapped out like a little bitch!” 

Gunther dropped the mic and left as the crowd loudly (and I mean loudly) booed. Gunther returned to the ring to pose on the turnbuckle and bask in the heat. He teased leaving again, but instead posed on the announce table with one more statement. 

“I made John Cena tap out like a little bitch! It is my time now. I will forever be the man that made John Cena give up.” 

Gunther continued to smile as he left to a chorus of boos. The camera followed as he walked to the back, where he bumped into Otis and Akira Tozawa. Otis asked if Gunther felt good rubbing it in. Gunther said he did. Gunther then bumped into R-Truth, who called him a piece of trash. Gunther was cool with that. 

Gunther bumped into Adam Pearce next. Pearce was pissed that he was walking all over Cena’s legacy because he knew Cena wasn’t coming back. That didn’t make him the Ring General—that made him an asshole. Pearce told him he was done for the night and to find the exit. 

Gunther gladly left the arena. He bumped into AJ Styles outside. Styles got in his face, but did not say anything. He motioned to Gunther to get in his car. Gunther rolled the window down to give Styles the “You can’t see me” gesture before driving off. 

(It felt like all of these people were overreacting, but Gunther was perfect here.) 

********

Arriving at the arena were The Vision, Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile & The Creed Brothers, and CM Punk. 

The Usos vs. The New Day (w/ Grayson Waller) 

Jimmy and Jey Uso entered and were about to run back their entrance music, but The New Day interrupted.

I believe this was the first time these teams have wrestled each other in three years. 

The New Day took control ahead of an early break, and Jimmy Uso made a comeback as soon as they returned, but a Waller distraction allowed New Day to take over again. 

Jey made a hot tag and missed a Stinger splash, colliding head-first into the ring post. He bounced right back and hit Xavier Woods with a superkick for two. Wade Barrett credited Jey’s “Samoan head” for being able to absorb the damage. Jey followed with a dive and flying crossbody for two, leading to a second commercial break. 

New Day took control again during the break. Jey began his comeback when they returned, but he was tripped by Waller, who was kicked out by the referee. The Usos handed out superkicks to Woods and Kofi Kingston before hitting Woods with a double splash for a nearfall. 

Kingston shoved Jey into the steel steps, and Woods followed with a tornado DDT to Jimmy off the apron. New Day hit their double-team finisher on Jimmy, but Jey broke up the cover. 

Jimmy came back with superkicks before Jey nailed Woods with a spear outside the ring. Jimmy speared Kingston in the ring, and the Usos hit him with 1-D for the pinfall win (Jey pinned Kingston). 

Match result: Jimmy & Jey Uso defeated Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods (17:25) 

This match was pretty boring until the finishing sequence. 

******** 

Confirmed for the January 5th edition of Raw: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the world title, and Asuka & Kairi Sane defend the tag titles against Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley. 

Asuka and Kairi Sane cut a pre-taped promo in Japanese. They accused Iyo Sky of betraying them, even though they loved her, and choosing Rhea Ripley over them. Asuka said they would retain their tag titles on January 5th. 

Byron Saxton interviewed Dominik Mysterio during commercials. Dom was happy to be the last person to beat Cena in a title match. It made him the greatest Mysterio of all time and the greatest luchador of all time. Dom was excited to see Raquel Rodriguez bring more gold home to Judgment Day tonight. 

The Vision meets backstage 

Logan Paul was gushing with Bronson Reed over what they did to LA Knight. Bron Breakker told them Knight was gone and they should focus on CM Punk. Logan agreed, and he assumed the masked man would show up to help. Paul Heyman didn’t know who the masked man was, but they had a lot on their plate, so he would take the help if the masked man was on the same page. 

Breakker pulled Heyman aside to tell him he would take out Punk if he showed up tonight (they already showed Punk arriving earlier). Heyman urged him to wait for January 5th and do it with the title on the line. Breakker wasn’t thrilled with this. Logan calmed him down and asked for his help getting ready for Rey Mysterio. 

********

Asuka & Kairi Sane attack Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley 

Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley entered, presumably for an in-ring promo. However, Ripley looked back into the crowd to find Asuka, who misted her in the face. Sane wiped out Sky as she checked on Ripley. 

Officials ran down to try to break things up, but Asuka and Sane continued the assault. Asuka held down Ripley for Sane to do the Insane Elbow, but Sky crawled on top of Ripley to take the brunt of the damage. Sky sold her back, while officials checked on Ripley. 

(A good, simple heat segment that felt more spontaneous than the usual angles.) 

********

The second match of the evening began 1 hour and 5 minutes into the show. 

Maxxine Dupri wore all black (with silver boots). Gunther wore all black earlier, and both the Usos (black and silver) and The New Day (black and gold) wore mostly all black gear as well. Ivy Nile had a lot of black, too, but at least her gear had the American flag incorporated into it. 

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Ivy Nile 

This was a title match between two wrestlers who have one pinfall win between them in the last year, and that one win was Dupri beating Becky Lynch for the title (thanks to interference). The crowd was understandably quiet for it. 

Dupri applied an armbar trapping Nile between the ropes, but she lost the grip, and Nile slammed her into the apron. Nile followed with a safe-looking German suplex on the outside and maintained control through a break. 

Dupri mounted a comeback, but Nile ducked a spinning kick and hit a powerbomb. Dupri responded with a sit-out powerbomb of her own (dropping Nile on her lower back/rear end) for two. There was a moment where Dupri was stuck upside down in the ropes and fired up by dropping her straps, but even that didn’t get much of a reaction. 

Dupri applied an ankle lock, and Nile kept trying to counter, but Dupri blocked every attempt. Dupri grapevined the leg, and Nile tapped out. 

Match result: Maxxine Dupri defeated Ivy Nile to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (9:57)

******** 

Je’Von Evans met with Pearce backstage. Pearce was impressed with his performance at SNME. They were approached by El Grande Americano and the other two. El Grande spoke ill of NXT and Evans, so Evans basically told him to watch his mouth. Pearce suggested a match for next week, and Rayo stepped up for the challenge. Pearce made it official. 

CM Punk promo

Punk stormed to the ring to his music. He was not in a good mood, and he ripped the logo cover off the microphone before cutting his promo. 

Punk said he missed two consecutive Raws because people smarter than him said he wasn’t cleared to compete or fly. What happened to him at WarGames hurt, but it wasn’t as painful as having to listen to Bron Breakker talk. Punk called him a cross-eyed Neanderthal nepo baby. 

Punk recalled Breakker being mad at him for trying to end his career at WarGames. Punk knew brains didn’t run in Bron’s family, and reminded him that he didn’t sign up to play board games. Punk congratulated him on the win, but said Breakker had the audacity to claim it was easy to beat him. 

Breakker wanted the 2011 version of Punk, but Breakker couldn’t beat the 2025 version of him without a lot of help. Breakker got assists from a Brock Lesnar F5, Bronson Reed Tsunami, and Drew McIntyre spitting his head open. Not to mention the masked man. Breakker earned a title match, but he didn’t do it alone. 

Punk has been here many times before. This wasn’t the first time Heyman gassed up a talent too fast, too soon, only to watch him wilt under the bright lights. If Punk had a dime for every time someone not as smart as him gassed up a wrestler to be a future WrestleMania main eventer, he’d have a pocket full of dimes. 

Punk warned Breakker not to mention his wife again, or this would get personal faster than he could run. This wouldn’t be about the belt anymore. Punk would rip his eyes out of his head and piss on his single-digit IQ brain. 

Punk would challenge Breakker to show up alone to fight him for the title, but he knew he didn’t have the balls. Punk invited Breakker to invite the Vision, his dumb father, and his even dumber brother Scott, because he would need all the help he could get. 

Punk would win, and Heyman would leave Breakker to move on to the next next big thing. Meanwhile, Reed would be forced to do TikToks with the YouTube scammer. All Bron would have left was dumb and dumber—his father and uncle—and even with Steiner math, they would realize GTS equalled 1-2-3.

******** 

Judgment Day met backstage. Dom was excited for the Women’s title main event. Liv Morgan said they’d all have a great Christmas, but she wondered where Finn BĂĄlor was. Dom said he was with JD McDonagh, who would be out a while. 

Morgan approached Raquel Rodriguez and was excited to see her become world champion, before she and Roxanne Perez became tag team champions. Rodriguez was pumped up, and she left for the match. 

Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez 

This went through a break, and the crowd was quiet until Vaquer hit Devil’s Kiss. Rodriguez came back with a clothesline before the fight spilled to the outside. 

Nikki Bella suddenly appeared to attack Vaquer for the DQ. Bella laid out Vaquer with “Rack Attack 2.0.” 

Match result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Raquel Rodriguez via disqualification (8:43) 

********

Pearce wanted Heyman to tell him who the masked man was. Heyman said he didn’t know. It could be Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Nick Aldis, or Bruno Sammartino. Heyman left because he wanted to get Logan ready for Rey Mysterio. Pearce wanted to know the masked man’s identity by the end of the night. 

After Heyman left, Ripley approached Pearce and demanded a match with Asuka. Pearce made it official for next week. 

********

Punk approached Rey backstage and told him he’d have his back tonight. Rey appreciated it. 

Jackie Redmond asked AJ Styles and Dragon Lee about the “throwback” match between The Usos and New Day earlier. Styles appreciated their rivalry, but he and Dragon Lee were the team to beat. Dragon Lee said they would face any team, any time. They left to speak to Pearce. 

Bella approached Redmond because she had something to say. She would not apologize for putting people beneath her in their place. She was sick of these women not respecting the road she paved. Vaquer and Rodriguez should be polishing her boots. 

********

Next week on Raw: 

  • Bayley vs. Roxanne Perez 
  • Je’Von Evans vs. Rayo Americano 
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka 

******** 

Bayley congratulated Dupri on retaining the title, and Dupri said it meant the world coming from her. Durpi showed off her bloody finger, perhaps from losing a nail, so she left to take care of it. 

Lyra Valkyria approached Bayley. Bayley admitted she didn’t feel great losing to someone so much less experienced (she didn’t mention Sol Ruca’s name). Bayley wondered if there was truth to what Asuka said about her. 

Valkyria purposely egged her on by shoving her and saying that wasn’t the Bayley she knew, and called her an idiot. It worked because Bayley fired up and said she would destroy Perez next week. Bayley called Valkyria an idiot and left. Valkyria was happy her plan worked. 

******** 

Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul (w/ Paul Heyman)

Rey played cat-and-mouse with Logan early on and taunted him while doing so. They went back and forth before Rey hit a seated senton off the apron. However, Logan took over during a break after shoving him into the barricade. I think Logan tried a bronco buster of sorts during the break, but he just kind of sat with his crotch in Rey’s face for a few moments before getting up. 

Logan went to the top rope, but Rey cut him off with ten punches and a hurricanrana for two. Rey tried a springboard moonsault, but Logan caught him and hit a running powerslam for two. 

Rey went for a 619, but Logan hit an ill-timed boot to cut him off, followed by the most deliberate three amigos suplexes. Instead of hitting the third suplex, Logan placed Rey on the top rope. Rey fought him off and hit a sunset flip powerbomb. Logan spilled outside the ring, so Rey hit a sliding splash. 

This brought out the Brons, but Punk immediately ran out behind them with a chair. He attacked them with the chair and chased them to the back. Rey caught Logan in a crucifix pin for a nearfall. Logan blocked a hurricanrana and hit an alley-oop facebuster. 

Heyman handed Logan the brass knuckles as the referee checked on Rey. However, Rey tripped Logan and hit a 619. 

Logan dropped the knux, and Rey considered grabbing them. Rey did grab them and placed them on his hand, but the masked man appeared and hit him with a curb stomp. Logan followed with a frog splash for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Logan Paul defeated Rey Mysterio (14:59) 

— The masked man faced off with Logan Paul, but scampered into the crowd upon seeing Punk run down to the ring. 

Punk stood on the turnbuckle as the camera focused on the masked man, who removed his face mask to reveal it was Austin Theory. (The reveal didn’t get a big reaction, but people did chant his name as he stood in the crowd.) 

Punk dropped down from the ropes and was speared by Breakker. 

Breakker grabbed the world title belt. He told Punk that this was business, but if Punk ever talked about his family like that again, he would never walk on two feet ever again. Breakker held the belt up high as the show ended.

CM Punk says he’s ‘not going anywhere anytime soon’ following John Cena’s final match

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

CM Punk has opened up about his own retirement plans moments after John Cena’s final WWE match.

On December 13th, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C., Gunther defeated Cena to put an end to his career. Soon after, at the post-show, CM Punk was asked by Big E about his own retirement plans. Big E stated that Punk had previously mentioned his own career being near the end rather than the beginning, and asked if he wanted a similar event like Cena’s finish.

“When I make allusions to the end of whatever my career is going to look like, it’s not because I feel like I’m there,” Punk added. “It’s because I look back at the entirety of my career and there is a lot more road behind me than there is in front of me.”

“Trust me, I am the champion for a reason, and I’m here to stay, and nobody’s going to change that. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Further speaking at the post-show, Punk also commented on Cena’s retirement and admired his legacy.

“John [Cena] has always taken what the task was and made it better and knocked it out of the park, and that’s admirable. To watch him go into the sunset with such class and dignity is such a rare thing.”

CM Punk comments on working with John Cena during his retirement tour

At the same post-show, CM Punk also opened up in detail about how ‘fun’ it was working with Cena during his retirement run.

“It was a ton of fun. You can make what you want from John Cena selling his soul, saying it wasn’t the right idea. He obviously made amends and apologized to the fans; he’s a Jedi again.”

Cena and Punk faced each other at Night of Champions 2025, where the 17-time World Champion successfully retained his title.

CM Punk says it was ‘a ton of fun’ working with John Cena during his retirement tour

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

CM Punk praised working with John Cena during his retirement tour, calling the experience “a ton of fun” while reflecting on their recent rivalry following Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Speaking at the event’s post-show, Punk discussed sharing the ring with Cena once again and highlighted how much he enjoyed the role reversal between the two longtime rivals.

“It was a ton of fun. You can make what you want from John Cena selling his soul, saying it wasn’t the right idea,” Punk stated. “He obviously made amends and apologized to the fans; he’s a Jedi again.

“I just have a blast every time I get to work with John, and being reversed roles was something we both had a lot of fun with.”

Punk and Cena share a close off-screen relationship but are remembered for one of the most fierce on-screen rivalries in modern WWE history. Their decades-long storyline culminated earlier this year at Night of Champions, where a heel Cena defeated a babyface Punk.

Earlier this year, in 2025, Cena broke the record by winning his 17th World Championship at WrestleMania 41. Before that, he turned ‘heel’ at Elimination Chamber after aligning with The Rock. Although a few months later, he turned back into his babyface character.

At his final match tonight, Cena finally gave up and tapped out to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

CM Punk return, new match added to WWE Raw

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The World Heavyweight Champion will return to WWE Raw for the first time since Survivor Series on Monday’s episode.

WWE announced during Friday’s SmackDown that World Heavyweight title holder CM Punk will return on the Monday, December 15 Raw show. It will be Punk’s first appearance since taking part in the WarGames match at Survivor Series on November 29.

In storyline, Punk has been out selling injuries suffered in the WarGames match when a masked attacker hit him with a curb stomp.

A singles match has also been added to Monday’s Raw, with Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio announced for the December 15 episode.

Those two new additions join a Women’s Intercontinental Championship tilt between Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile, plus a tag team bout featuring The New Day vs. The Usos as part of Monday’s card.

WWE Raw, Monday, December 15 —

  • World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk returns
  • The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Usos (Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso)
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri defends against Ivy Nile

Update on identity of masked man from WWE Raw and Survivor Series

Posted on by Ian Carey

An update is available regarding who has portrayed the masked man who attacked LA Knight and Rey Mysterio on Monday’s WWE Raw and CM Punk at Survivor Series.

Our own Bryan Alvarez posted to subscribers on X that in an attempt to throw fans off, at least two different people have portrayed the masked character thus far.

Alvarez wrote:

“In an effort to throw fans off, it appears at least two different people have been under the mystery man mask”

The mystery masked character first appeared during the Men’s WarGames Match at WWE Survivor Series in San Diego. The person scaled the cage and gave Punk a curb stomp while mimicking other Seth Rollins mannerisms.

Dave Meltzer addressed the character in the December 8 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, writing that it was Austin Theory, who had once been scheduled to be on the heel men’s WarGames team, under the mask. Meltzer wrote that Paul Heyman wants Theory in The Vision to take pins for the faction.

Meltzer wrote:

“Austin Theory was the guy under the mask. Paul Heyman had wanted to bring Theory into the Vision, largely to make him a star and to protect Breakker and Reed from having to take pins. He would have been in this match had Jacob Fatu not gotten hurt, which sped up the Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre feud since they were going to be on this show originally instead of the prior show which was to be Fatu vs. McIntyre to set up this show with McIntyre winning. The Fatu injury led to Rhodes moving into the WarGames team, and with him in the match, McIntyre made far more sense than Theory.”

‘This Book is All Elite’ author addresses lack of coverage of CM Punk’s AEW exit

Posted on by Ian Carey

Keith Elliot Greenberg has addressed why his book, This Book is All Elite, does not discuss CM Punk’s departure from the company.

Greenberg was interviewed by Features of Wrestling and said he did not focus on what led to Punk leaving AEW because the book is intended to be a tribute.

“So one of the criticisms I telegraphed in advance, and I even discussed this with AEW, was the people were going to be unhappy that I don’t talk about whatever chicanery occurred backstage that led to the departure of CM Punk” Greenberg said in the interview.

Regarding why he did not address Punk’s exit from AEW, Greenberg continued:

“This is a tribute book. If I wrote a book about the New York Mets, which is my favorite baseball team, I even have a Mr. Met tattoo. I would talk about the two World Series runs. I would talk about their marquee players, but I wouldn’t talk about the fact that the owners at the time were supposedly investors with Bernie Madoff.”

Greenberg went on to describe the issues Madoff’s Ponzi scheme created for the Mets before adding:

“But if the New York Mets asked me to do a tribute book about the New York Mets, I could do a really great tribute book, and not mention Bernie Madoff. So I was asked to do a book that is a tribute to AEW during the first five years, and that doesn’t belong in a tribute book, because really, we’re just talking about one or two incidents, but there’s a lot of backstage stuff in it, and a lot of positive backstage stuff in the book.”

Greenberg, a New York Times best selling author, has published numerous wrestling books including 2006’s Tangled Ropes with “Superstar” Billy Graham, which was voted Best Pro Wrestling Book in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards that year.

He has also published “Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks” about “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “Too Sweet: Inside the Indie Wrestling Revolution,” “Follow the Buzzards: Pro Wrestling in the Age of Covid-19,” and more.

The full interview with Keith Elliot Greenberg is available on the Features of Wrestling website here.

John Cena: CM Punk going to Saudi Arabia was ‘awesome,’ made me cry

Posted on by Joseph Currier

John Cena was a huge fan of CM Punk’s controversial decision to wrestle in Saudi Arabia.

After criticizing the WWE-Saudi relationship in the past, Punk traveled to the country this summer to face Cena at Night of Champions. While there, Punk apologized for the tweet he posted in 2020 telling The Miz to “go suck a blood money covered d**k in Saudi Arabia.” Punk said he was cranky when he sent out the post — and it did not actually have anything to do with Saudi Arabia. Punk noted that he was grateful to be in the country.

A new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet was released today with Cena appearing as the guest. He reflected on his retirement tour, calling the Punk match something that was “larger than sports entertainment.” Cena got emotional over Punk coming to Saudi Arabia because of how “awesome” it was.

“Gosh, one of the moments in sports entertainment that’s larger than sports entertainment is Phil Brooks going to Saudi Arabia. That sh*t made me cry — like, awesome, awesome,” Cena said. “Accountability, vulnerability, apology, forgiveness. Cultures melding into each other. And then he comes out and does my gimmick. Like, how do you follow what I did? He came up with this crazy idea. I’m like, ‘Dude, you have to do that.’ And he crushed it. He absolutely just crushed it.

“And what a trip for him. Like, redemption, acceptance. He can go there wherever he wants and he can entertain fans who are incredible over there. When we started early on, they didn’t know what was going on. Now, they’re loud and they pack that place and it’s a great place to perform. And they welcome him and he welcomes them. And that’s super cool.”

When asked about his favorite moment of his entire career, Cena pointed to everything surrounding the Punk match in Saudi Arabia because of how meaningful it all was. Cena called Punk his “wrestling soulmate.”

WWE’s business relationship with the Saudi government formed in 2018 and has continued to grow in the years since. On January 31, 2026, Saudi Arabia will host the Royal Rumble. It’s also been announced that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

Bray Wyatt once wanted to ‘main event’ WWE WrestleMania with CM Punk

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

CM Punk has recalled a heartfelt conversation with Bray Wyatt from several years ago.

Over a decade ago, in 2011, long before WWE star Windham Rotunda embraced the persona of Bray Wyatt, he performed under the name Husky Harris as part of the faction. Initially aligned with Wade Barrett’s Nexus, he later joined CM Punk’s version of the group after Punk assumed leadership. However, shortly before Punk’s rivalry against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 27, the veteran lost several of it’s members. Husky Harris was relegated back to NXT. Recently, speaking on WWE Break it Down, CM Punk recalled his hearfelt conversation with Wyatt following the group’s dissolution.

“I was upset for Bray because he was being sent back down to developmental, and he was in high spirits.”

Punk noted that Wyatt wanted to figure himself out before expressing his desire to main-event a WWE WrestleMania with CM Punk.

“He said ‘Hey don’t worry man, I’m gonna go back down there I’m gonna figure myself out and I’m gonna come back up here and someday me and you are gonna main event WrestleMania and I thought that was really cool.”

Bray Wyatt went on to become one of the most beloved and creative performers in WWE history. Tragically, the wrestling world lost one of its brightest minds in 2023.

WWE star CM Punk joins cast of Netflix rom-com

Posted on by Joseph Currier

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk has joined the cast of a new Netflix romantic comedy movie.

It was announced via Deadline today that Punk will have a role in the film adaptation of the novel “The Bodyguard,” which was written by Katherine Center and released in 2022. Punk is playing a character named Doghouse, who is described as a physically intimidating security detail member known for his loyalty and humor.

Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum is directing the film, with Leighton Meester and Jared Padalecki starring as the two leads. Here is the description:

A skilled bodyguard is assigned to protect a reclusive movie star from a stalker and must pose as his girlfriend to keep the threat hidden. On his family ranch, the assignment blurs lines as proximity complicates the job.

Being part of a rom-com is one of the goals Punk set for his acting career. Along with this film, he has a role in the upcoming horror movie “Night Patrol” and a cameo as a voice actor in the recently released “Zootopia 2.”

Earlier this week, WWE confirmed that Punk will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker on the first Raw episode of 2026. Breakker was set up for the title shot by pinning Punk in WarGames at Survivor Series.

JNPO: June 2025 wrestling year in review – Mr. Punk heads to Saudi Arabia

Posted on by Josh Nason

On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, the best pro wrestling year in review podcast series from here to there continues with a stop in June 2025 and returning guest Kate Elizabeth of Fightful.

June featured another WWE trip to Saudi Arabia but this time with a new passenger: CM Punk. We talk about the controversy in his first visit, his apology when he arrived, and all the hubbub around it.

The month also featured R-Truth’s run in WWE coming to an end…for about a week. Remember this story? We do.

Josh and Kate also talk AEW Grand Slam Mexico, all the happenings in NXTNAAA, Japan, and the rest of the pro wrestling world.

If it was important in June, we talk about it here.

Click here to listen for free or stream on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts (currently processing), also for free.

Past episodes: