John Cena’s ‘Pipebomb’ Parody Rocks WWE SmackDown Ahead of Night of Champions Showdown
Grand Rapids, MI – WWE’s Undisputed Champion John Cena ignited a firestorm on Friday, June 20, 2025, during a heated segment on SmackDown, delivering a controversial “pipebomb” parody aimed squarely at his upcoming Night of Champions opponent, CM Punk. The provocative moment, which directly mimicked Punk’s infamous 2011 promo, has sent shockwaves through the WWE Universe and intensified their rivalry to unprecedented levels.
The Build-Up: From Match to Mayhem
The evening’s events in Grand Rapids began with John Cena’s highly anticipated match against Ron Killings (R-Truth). In a surprising turn of events, Cena intentionally got himself disqualified by striking Killings with the Undisputed WWE Championship belt. This abrupt ending to the match immediately drew out CM Punk, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
What ensued was a chaotic brawl between the two rivals. Cena quickly gained the upper hand, delivering a low blow to Punk before hitting him with the championship belt and ultimately driving him through a table with an Attitude Adjustment. With Punk seemingly incapacitated amidst the wreckage, Cena seized the microphone, perched himself on the turnbuckle, and launched into his shocking parody.
Cena’s “Pipebomb”: Referencing the Past, Shaping the Future
Cena’s promo was a direct, word-for-word recreation of CM Punk’s legendary 2011 “pipebomb” that famously launched Punk into superstardom. However, Cena twisted the narrative to his own advantage, turning Punk’s original criticisms back on him. Cena, breaking the fourth wall, notably called Punk “the best bullshitter in the business” and controversially name-dropped several former WWE Superstars who are no longer with the company, including Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro), Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler), and Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder).
He further berated Punk, implying that Punk’s values had shifted and that he was no longer “The Voice of the Voiceless” but rather a “capitalist” and “Mr. TKO.” Cena’s scathing remarks were a clear attempt to undermine Punk’s anti-establishment persona, using Punk’s own iconic moment against him just days before their pivotal championship clash at Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Impact and Fan Reaction
The segment immediately became the talk of the wrestling world, dominating social media discussions. While many fans were thrilled by Cena’s audacious move and the callback to such a memorable moment in WWE history, some expressed a mixed reaction, feeling the parody was “watered down” by not addressing more recent or controversial aspects of Punk’s career. Critics also pointed out that the match with Ron Killings seemed to serve primarily as fodder to set up the post-match angle with Punk.
Regardless of the nuanced reception, there’s no denying that Cena’s “pipebomb” parody achieved its goal: it intensified the rivalry with CM Punk and created significant buzz for their Undisputed WWE Championship match. As Cena continues his “Last Time Is Now” retirement tour, seemingly making the most of every appearance, this latest verbal volley has added another layer of intrigue to what is already one of WWE’s most storied feuds. All eyes will now turn to Night of Champions to see if CM Punk can reclaim his narrative or if John Cena will indeed prove himself “The Greatest of All Time.”