In the main event of WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, John Cena retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against his long-time rival CM Punk, but the story of the match was a moment of profound internal conflict for the champion. The bout, their first singles contest in 12 years, ended not with a decisive blow from Cena, but after a wave of outside interference secured his victory.
A critical juncture in the match saw Cena, who has embraced a more ruthless “heel” persona for his 2025 retirement tour, poised to use his championship belt as a weapon. As he contemplated the act, the crowd in Riyadh chanted “No!”, urging him to reconsider. In a move that defied his recent character, Cena listened to the audience and put the title aside, showing a flicker of the man he once was.
Despite this moment of hesitation, a clean finish was not in the cards. The match descended into chaos when Seth Rollins appeared, attacking CM Punk with the Money in the Bank briefcase. The assault continued as both Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed also targeted Punk.
This interference allowed Cena to capitalize and secure the pinfall to retain his championship. Following the bell, the champion’s conflicting nature was on full display. He shared a brief embrace with Punk before feigning a low blow, a final, villainous gesture that left his alignment ambiguous as the show went off the air.