Overview
- Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet in an interview released during the week of his retirement match, Cena named the Saudi pre-show moment as his favorite of 2025 and one of the best he has been part of.
- Cena said he was “bawling” while watching Punk address the crowd before their Night of Champions match in Saudi Arabia.
- Punk used the segment to apologize for an earlier social-media remark about WWE’s Saudi partnership, which had referenced The Miz.
- The pre-show also featured Punk channeling Cena’s Doctor of Thuganomics persona to deliver a rap targeting his opponent.
- Coverage noted ongoing scrutiny of WWE’s Saudi events for sportswashing concerns, adding ethical context to how the moment was received.