WWE RAW’s June 9, 2025 episode went down at the PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. During the opening segment, John Cena had an old foe step up to him.
R-Truth made his big return at Money in the Bank. He attacked John Cena, because he has no love for his childhood hero anymore. This week on RAW, they continued that angle.
John Cena kicked off WWE RAW this week in Phoenix. Although he did so as Undisputed WWE Champion, he was still in a very bad mood. He opened up his promo by saying that fans proved to him at Money in the Bank that “the truth is a lie.” Cena pointed out how Ron Killings made a career trying to mimic him. He also chastised fans for their “we want Truth” chants, calling them “keyboard warriors” and saying they have no real power to change anything.
Cena said that R-Truth is a gimmick that fans won’t care about in a year. He also said that Truth will never use him to fuel one of his “garbage pity parties” again. Cena pointed out that the only has 19 dates left on his schedule for his retirement run as well, as they are halfway done. He also begged fans to use their voice to send him someone who is competition, not the “freaking class clown” like R-Truth. That is when CM Punk came out.
CM Punk said that he was prepared to have a conversation with John Cena by using his fists. Then he said that Cena will hear out everything he has to say.
Punk said that he’s not there to defend TKO or the billionaires. He was out to be the Voice of the Voiceless once again. He then said that Cody Rhodes is the “best we got,” but Cena cheated to beat him. He then proclaimed that the fans are his boss before Cena held up his title and shook his head.
Then CM Punk said that it’s his job to give the people what they want. If they want the Truth, then they’ll get Ron Killings. Then Punk said it all starts by taking the title off Cena’s shoulder. He recalled how the two locked horns at Elimination Chamber, and how Cena apologized for winning that match using underhanded means.
Fans chanted, “You Sold Out” at John Cena after that. Then, Punk said that Cena will spend his time apologizing to fans for the man he’s become after he takes the title from him. Punk said that his lists of goals in WWE didn’t include winning the top title, because he’s afraid of the man he becomes when he holds that gold. Now, he has realized he must become a monster to stop the monster that Cena has become. That is when Punk said he’ll leave it up to Cena to decide when he loses that title.
CM Punk wanted the match against John Cena tonight. Then Cena said that he’s down for it, but it will go down at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on June 28. Then they were interrupted by Seth Rollins, as he simply held up his Money in the Bank briefcase to remind them that anything could change with a cash-in.
CM Punk’s most recent match took place on June 2, 2025, in a Money in the Bank qualifying triple threat bout for WWE, where El Grande Americano defeated both AJ Styles and CM Punk. Although Punk didn’t win that match, it was okay, because he took a few weeks off.
R-Truth’s WWE departure was legit. His contract expired, and then they brought him back thanks to fan reactions. WWE talent were also kept in the dark about this. We will keep a very close eye on R-Truth from this point on, especially if John Cena is involved. At this point, it seems that Ron Killings is on his way to the top of the WWE roster, but CM Punk is calling his shot at getting one more match against the 17-time champion.
What’s your take on R-Truth’s big WWE return and how WWE followed up on it? Let us know what you think in the comments section!