On the latest episode of Wrestling Uncensored, Dave and Ben Simon jumped into the live stream to break down a packed week in professional wrestling, with no shortage of opinions from the hosts and the vibrant live chat community. This week’s hot topics included the explosive promo between CM Punk and John Cena, the controversy surrounding Punk’s upcoming match in Saudi Arabia, R-Truth’s menacing return, and the ever-evolving King of the Ring tournament. Additionally, the guys delve into AEW’s recent marathon Dynamite shows and the buildup to All In.
It was a jam-packed episode with plenty to discuss. Let’s get into the breakdown.
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WWE’s Week of High Drama and Big Returns
The Cena-Punk Feud Reignites with a Saudi Twist
The wrestling world was buzzing after John Cena and CM Punk shared the ring on SmackDown, and the hosts of Wrestling Uncensored were right there to cover the fallout. The segment, which took place in Lexington, Kentucky, saw the two legends set up their upcoming WWE Championship match in Saudi Arabia.
Dave Simon immediately pointed out that the biggest story wasn’t just the match announcement. “The news coming out of the John Cena, CM Punk announcement on Raw this week wasn’t that John Cena was gonna wrestle CM Punk for the WWE Championship,” Dave explained. “It was that CM Punk, after all the things he said about Saudi Arabia, is gonna go to Saudi Arabia. That was the story. People seeing some hypocrisy there”.
The hypocrisy was a significant point of discussion, with Dave noting how Punk had previously been very vocal against WWE’s events in the country. “When he told… go suck a blood money covered, you know, going to Saudi Arabia, I mean, he talked a lot of smack about Saudi Arabia… how he would never do it,” Dave recalled. “And now he’s doing it. He’s following the money. He’s going”. Ben agreed, adding that in 2025, Punk “is doing it”. Dave continued, saying Punk has fallen back on his principles. “In 2025, he’s just breaking it all,” Dave lamented. “CM Punk used to have something that he stood for… Now he works for WWE, so he’s going to Saudi Arabia”.
Despite the controversy, the in-ring promo itself was electric. Punk delivered a fiery speech, telling Cena, “CM Punk is here to make John Cena’s retirement… more interesting”. He declared he would follow Cena anywhere to prove he was better, saying, “I would follow you to Mars to beat your ass. I would follow you to hell to prove that I’m better than you”.
Punk also laid out his own Mount Rushmore of wrestling, a clear counter to Cena’s claim that his was just “Cena, Cena, Cena, and Cena”. Punk’s list included legends like Harley Race, Terry Funk, Bret Hart, and Eddie Guerrero. “That’s pretty good,” Dave commented, adding that Punk claimed he was going to beat Cena for those guys.
The hosts noted that Cena seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the verbal sparring session. Cena’s face is not serious. He’s just like, this is great,” Dave observed. “He seems just to be enjoying the fact that he’s got CM Punk in front of him. This is an entertaining opponent for Cena”.
The segment was a masterclass in building anticipation, but the elephant in the room remained Punk’s decision to travel to Saudi Arabia. The hosts speculated on the reasons, with Dave suggesting a possible incentive: “Maybe that’s like the sweetener for Punk to go… It’s like Punk… [could win the title]”.
"The truth hurts!"@RonKillings attacked @johncena AGAIN!! 🤯#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/MlNiFX7kEp
— WWE (@WWE) June 14, 2025
R-Truth is Back, and He’s Not Joking Around
Adding another layer of intrigue to the WWE Championship picture is the return of R-Truth, or as he’s now being called, Ron Killings. He made his presence felt by attacking John Cena from behind for the second time, applying the STFU submission hold. This new, more serious version of the character has the hosts and fans wondering about his motives and his future.
R-Truth’s transformation has been stark. “He cut his hair off, though,” Dave mentioned, referencing the shocking promo where he did it. “It’s got a completely different look. We’ve never seen him look like this”. This character shift seems designed to make people “put some respect on his name”.
The big question is, why does he hate Cena? The hosts speculated it could stem from a past loss at a Saturday Night’s Main Event, after which Truth was fired. While it wasn’t Cena’s fault, he may have made light of the situation in subsequent promos, fueling Truth’s rage. “I’m not sure why he keeps attacking John Cena,” Dave admitted. “I think he’s just mad”.
His contractual status with WWE is also a mystery. The initial word was that his contract was expiring and wouldn’t be renewed. His return led many to believe he had been rehired, but the hosts considered another possibility. “Maybe now it’s going to just expire like in a couple weeks, and he’ll have this one-off match, and that’ll be more of like a proper send-off?” Dave posited. It remains to be seen if this is a short-term program or the start of a new, “unhinged R-Truth” run.
Whatever the long-term plan, the immediate future seems to be a showdown with Cena. But as Dave pointed out, “He’s not beating Cena for the belt. He’s not becoming WWE Champion”.
💬 What do you think of CM Punk going to Saudi Arabia? Join the Wrestling Uncensored community and share your thoughts!
The King of the Ring Picture Sharpens
The King of the Ring tournament is in full swing, and the SmackDown quarterfinals delivered some major developments.
Men’s Tournament
In the night’s main event, Cody Rhodes punched his ticket to the semi-finals in a thrilling Fatal Four-Way match against Andrade, Damian Priest, and Shinsuke Nakamura. The outcome was never in doubt for the hosts. “I’d be flabbergasted, surprised if anybody else wins that match,” Dave said before the match began. Cody secured the win after hitting a Crossroads on Nakamura. He now advances to face the winner of a massive Fatal Four-Way on Raw featuring Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, Rusev, and Sheamus.
The other quarterfinal saw Randy Orton emerge victorious from a Fatal Four-Way that also included LA Knight, Aleister Black, and Carmelo Hayes. The match was interrupted by Braun Breaker and Bronson Reed, who attacked LA Knight. Orton capitalized, hitting an RKO on Carmelo Hayes, who landed on top of the stunned Knight, allowing Orton to get the pin. Orton now advances to face Sami Zayn in the semifinals on next week’s SmackDown.
This sets up some fascinating potential matchups. The hosts threw around several possibilities for the finals:
- Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
- Sami Zayn vs. Jey Uso
- Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes
The idea of Sami Zayn making a run is exciting, given that the Royal Rumble is rumored to be in Saudi Arabia. Dave noted, “If the rumor right now is that Sami Zayn… is going to win Rumble… He doesn’t win King of the Ring”. The hosts debated the booking strategy for Sami, an underdog character who can’t win too much. Dave suggested, “I would have him go to the finals of King of the Ring, have a big match in Saudi, come up short. And then when they come around next time for the Rumble, that’s when he wins”.
Women’s Tournament
On the women’s side, a major upset occurred as Alexa Bliss won her Fatal Four-Way qualifier, eliminating the self-proclaimed queen, Charlotte. The match, which also featured Alba Fyre and Candice LeRae, had a chaotic finish. While Charlotte had Alba Fyre in the figure eight, Bliss hit Sister Abigail on LeRae for the pin. The ref counted the three just as Fyre was tapping out, giving Bliss the victory.
Bliss now advances to face the winner of a stacked Raw qualifier featuring the returning Asuka, Ivy Niles, Raquel Rodriguez, and Stephanie Vaquer. The hosts were excited about Asuka’s return after being gone for over a year.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Nikki not only talks about her fearless return; but she also shares what it means to approach life fearlessly, as well. This episode is not only a celebration of Nikki Bella’s return, but a reminder that we are capable of anything! Listen now!!❤️🔥🎧 #thenikkiandbrieshow… pic.twitter.com/ZX62MVYLgw
— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) June 13, 2025
Bella-Mania: The Return of Nikki and the Legacy of the Twins
The women’s division is getting a significant boost with the return of several stars, seemingly in preparation for an all-women’s premium live event, Evolution 2, in July. Nikki Bella is back and already embroiled in a feud with Liv Morgan. Nikki returned to cut a promo on Raw, only to be confronted and attacked by Morgan.
The hosts discussed the rumors that WWE is trying to book the Bella Twins against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Evolution. “That’s a great matchup,” Dave said. “I think that they have a good idea there”.
The conversation then turned to the often-underappreciated legacy of the Bella Twins. Dave passionately defended their contributions to the business. “A lot of people don’t like Nikki and Brie,” he said. “I’ve always been a Bella defender. They’ve brought in such a huge audience to pro wrestling that never would have cared about wrestling. They changed the whole face of women’s wrestling”.
Dave highlighted Nikki Bella’s role as a pioneer who blended strength, sexiness, and in-ring skill, a formula many current stars follow. “There was a time when you could wrestle or you were sexy,” he explained. “Nikki kind of was like, ‘I’m going to do both'”. From her reality show success to her evolution as a performer, Dave argued that Nikki is a true legend. “When she comes back, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s Nikki Bella.’ The same as if Trish comes out”.
The discussion also touched on the brutal promo Liv Morgan cut on Nikki, referencing Nikki’s public personal issues. Liv told Nikki, “I’ve got everything you don’t have. I’ve got a championship. I’ve got a man”. Dave noted how rough the line was, considering Nikki’s situation. “That line was written knowing that,” he said. “And Nikki Bella just, you know, ‘What’s the line? Don’t sell it'”.
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Hosts Unload on Overrated Legends and Corporate Disdain
The episode took a fiery turn as the hosts vented their frustrations about several figures in wrestling, both past and present.
Goldberg, Reigns, and the “Most Overrated” Debate
The news of Goldberg’s impending return for a retirement match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta was met with groans. “That’s the worst,” Dave declared. This sparked a debate about Goldberg’s place in wrestling history, with Dave calling him “Ultimate Warrior level bad” and ego-driven. He questioned whether Goldberg is the most overrated wrestler of all time, given how strongly he has been booked despite his limited ability.
This led to a critique of Roman Reigns, prompted by a live comment from viewer Jason Pete, who said, “I don’t like Roman Reigns. He’s got three moves a shitty Superman punch finish and the charisma of a wet cardboard box. Bill Goldberg is a better wrestler than reigns”.
While Dave didn’t fully agree that Goldberg was better, he conceded that Roman’s in-ring arsenal is minimal. He listed Roman’s primary moves: a spear, a Superman punch, and a Samoan drop. “Roman has fewer moves than John Cena,” Dave stated bluntly. “He does less than Kevin Nash. He does very little… Roman has like three moves”. He concluded that while Roman possesses undeniable star power and charisma, his actual wrestling skills are not very good, placing him in the same category as Hogan or Cena.
The Rock, Triple H, and Backstage Politics
The conversation about wrestling’s most prominent names delved deep into backstage politics, particularly the long-simmering rivalry between The Rock and the duo of Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Dave recounted how Bret Hart was one of The Rock’s early supporters at a time when others were trying to sabotage his career. “The rock was like he said, like he’s talking about Shawn and Hunter,” Dave explained, referencing an interview where The Rock praised Bret Hart for looking out for him.
This history is why a dream match between The Rock and a returned Shawn Michaels never happened. “I remember the story, I remember that Rock didn’t want to wrestle Shawn Michaels because he did not like Shawn Michaels,” Dave said. “Didn’t want to give him that rub”.
The hosts shared a recent story about The Rock’s preparation for WrestleMania 40, where he allegedly refused to travel to a training session until WWE sent a private plane for him, a standoff likely fueled by his history with Triple H. They played out a hilarious hypothetical scenario of the corporate power struggle between The Rock, Ari Emanuel, Nick Khan, and Triple H.
This spiraled into a critique of WWE’s corporate leadership, with Dave arguing that figures like Nick Khan and even Triple H show disdain for wrestlers and the business itself. He pointed to Khan’s dismissive look towards Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania as evidence. “Whatever you say about Vince, not a great guy, but he loved those people,” Dave argued. “Nick Khan does not seem to feel for those people, and honestly, I don’t know if Triple H does either”.
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A growing contingent of the AEW and CMLL locker rooms being tired of @TheDonCallis Family and FTR's actions led to an all out brawl last night on #AEWSummerBlockbuster!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 12, 2025
Don't miss #AEWGrandSlamMexico on TBS + MAX, THIS WEDNESDAY! https://t.co/V3NvptZVhj pic.twitter.com/32r6DHg2tq
AEW Dynamite Weekly Review: Is More Actually Less?
This week, AEW delivered another supersized, four-hour episode of Dynamite, as Collision is preempted for the basketball finals. While the intention might be to give fans more content, the hosts argued it’s having the opposite effect.
“I can easily sit through two hours of dynamite every week,” Dave said. “But when it’s like… it’s four hours. I go, I don’t think I even want to start that. It’s just too much”.
The consensus was that the extended runtime results in a card filled with matches of little consequence, thereby diluting the overall quality of the show. “It was honestly it felt less like a four-hour Dynamite and more like a four-hour collision with Osprey and Swerve tacked on as a special attraction,” Dave summarized.
Dynamite Highlights and Lowlights
- Main Event Worthy Opener: The show kicked off with a fantastic match between Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay that went to a time-limit draw. It was a high point, but as Dave noted, “the rest of the show is going to be so bad in comparison”.
- Filler Matches: The rest of the four hours was padded with numerous matches that felt like they lacked stakes, such as The Hurt Syndicate vs. Jet Speed & Mascara Dorada, Kyle Fletcher vs. Anthony Bowens, and a mixed tag match featuring the former Maximum Male Models.
- Okada and Omega: A contract signing between Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega for their upcoming title vs. title match at All In turned violent, with Okada attacking Omega and leaving him spitting up blood.
- Main Event Slog: The four-hour show concluded with Pentagon and Daniel Garcia facing the Don Callis Family, a main event that Dave described as “rough”.
Looking Ahead to All In
Despite the lackluster weekly show, the announced card for All In has some stellar matchups that have the hosts excited:
- Title vs. Title: Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada
- AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Hangman Page
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Timeless Toni Storm (c) vs. Mercedes Moné
The hosts are particularly invested in the AEW World Title match, with Dave stating emphatically that Hangman Page winning “has to happen”. They speculated on potential run-ins, including a returning Bryan Danielson getting revenge on the Blackpool Combat Club. The ongoing story between Swerve, Ospreay, and Hangman also points to a potential number-one contender’s match between the two at All In, with the winner facing the new champion.
The week in wrestling provided no shortage of action and controversy, setting the stage for some massive encounters in the coming months for both WWE and AEW.
