CM Punk has dreamed of headlining WrestleMania for years, and his journey to Allegiant Stadium could put him on a collision course with Cody Rhodes. During the January 27, edition of WWE Raw, Rhodes spoke to the crowd in Atlanta about this weekend’s 2025 Royal Rumble PLE, where he’ll face Kevin Owens in a ladder match.
CM Punk interrupted Rhodes’ promo, and though he reiterated that he is Cody’s friend, had some choice words for the American Nightmare. Reflecting on his 434-day WWE title reign, Punk said he could see that Cody is stretching himself too thin, and that whoever wins the Royal Rumble will take the Undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania.
Punk then shared that he will be the one to do exactly that, teasing that Punk plans on challenging Rhodes in April should he win the Royal Rumble. Cody said he’s rooting for Punk this Sunday, as he plans on showing that the “Best in the World” isn’t the Best in the World anymore at WrestleMania 41.
Monday Night Raw went off the air with a tense stare down between the two ‘friends’, both of whom have big plans for WWE’s two-night megashow in April. It’s worth remembering that the two were the finalists in last year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match which ended with Rhodes eliminating the Straight Edge Superstar. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from the 2025 Royal Rumble and to see whether Punk punches his ticket to WrestleMania 41 and a shot at Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship.