WWE

Major Controversy Erupts in Men’s Elimination Chamber Match Finish

John Cena defeated CM Punk in the 2025 Elimination Chamber after Seth Rollins' unauthorized intervention led to a controversial finish involving the STF submission.

Leonardo Cunha
Major Controversy Erupts in Men’s Elimination Chamber Match Finish

A stunning interference from Seth Rollins dramatically altered the outcome of the 2025 Men’s Elimination Chamber match in Toronto, creating significant controversy as John Cena advanced to face Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.

The match reached its climactic final moments with former rivals CM Punk and John Cena standing as the last two competitors. Both men entered the structure with distinct motivations—Punk seeking his first WrestleMania main event opportunity as his career window narrows, while Cena pursued a definitive conclusion to his legendary WWE tenure.

The pivotal moment occurred following Punk’s elimination of Seth Rollins. Visibly infuriated by his exit, Rollins refused to leave the chamber and instead executed a devastating curb stomp on Punk before officials could remove him. This unauthorized attack provided Cena the opening to apply his signature STF submission hold, causing Punk to lose consciousness rather than submit.

The controversial finish secured Cena’s victory despite the questionable circumstances, establishing his championship opportunity against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. Adding another layer of contention, Cena was the only participant who didn’t qualify through traditional means—instead simply declaring his intention to compete.

Following the match conclusion, Cena confronted Rhodes in a respectful face-to-face encounter before The Rock made his presence known, continuing his psychological warfare against the WWE Champion. The Rock’s appearance, accompanied by hip-hop artist Travis Scott, further complicated the WrestleMania championship picture.

For Punk, the controversial elimination represents a significant setback in his pursuit of WrestleMania glory, with his path to Las Vegas now severely complicated by both Rollins’ vendetta and Cena’s advancement to the championship match.

The finish has sparked substantial debate among wrestling analysts regarding the legitimacy of Cena’s victory given the external interference, creating uncertainty about potential repercussions or adjustments to the WrestleMania card in the coming weeks.