WWE Nights of Champions: Will CM Punk participate in Premium Live in Saudi Arabia despite the controversy and criticism?

On Saturday’s Backlash PLE, it was announced that WWE Night of Champions 2025 is scheduled on June 28th in Riyadh. The trailer of this event showcased CM Punk being featured in the advertisement for the upcoming WWE Premium Live Event in Saudi Arabia. Past comments of Punk on The Miz, ahead of working 2020’s Super Showdown, are being criticized and highlighted by fans all over the internet. As of now, there is no confirmation about Punk's participation in Saudi Arabia’s event, but his appearance in the trailer led to many assumptions about his anticipation.Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman, Turki Alalshikh, hints at an enhancement of WWE’s events, and the long-awaited WWE Night of Champions is finally happening on June 28th, 2025, in Riyadh. A trailer for this premium event was aired on Saturday's Backlash PLE, which ended abruptly for many WWE fans. The trailer had a glance at CM Punk’s first promo with WWE from November 2023. After the appearance of Punk in the trailer, WWE fans heavily criticized him due to his previous comments. Back in 2020, for Miz’s Super Showdown appearance, Punk tweeted sarcastically about Saudi Arabia.Though there is no clear information about Punk’s participation in the WWE Night of Champions 2025 event, his glance in the trailer is making headlines all over the internet, and fans are heavily criticizing him because of this previous comment. Following the trailer drop, on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned that “Wrestlers technically have the option not to go, but there’s a lot of pressure to participate. Punk once said he’d never go, but people say a lot of things.” The appearance of Punk in the trailer, despite his previous comments, raises controversy over WWE Night of Champions 2025 and Saudi Arabia's policies. It's Punk's decision eventually whether he appears or makes any arrangements for his participation. His case showcases the tension between wrestlers’ personal ethics and professional commitments, especially in WWE’s expansion period. Additionally, Saudi Arabia can host the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, the big events of WWE in upcoming years. These premium events signify the potential significant shift in the global wrestling scene.Also read: Saudi Arabia's plan to host WWE's events like Royal Rumble and WrestleMania