CM Punk would have booked John Cena to win WWE Royal Rumble

If it were up to CM Punk, the winner of the 2025 men’s Royal Rumble would have been John Cena.

Punk and Cena both made it to the final four of the Rumble match on Saturday night. It came down to Cena and Jey Uso with Uso eliminating Cena to get the victory. Punk thinks Uso winning is a fantastic choice, but he would have done things a bit differently if he were booking the match.

While being interviewed on Good Guy/Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen, Punk said his ideal version of the Rumble would have seen him and Cena as the final two — and Punk would have booked Cena to win. Punk said that, at this point in his own career, he believes losing is more valuable than winning.

Punk responded when asked if he was disappointed not to win the Rumble:

• I think early in my career, I would say yes. I think now, I’m actually more inclined to pitch me losing things. Because I think there is a broader story to tell. Oh, 100 percent. It’s all about the chase. It’s like — the most recent example I can give you is Cody [Rhodes] losing to Roman [Reigns] at WrestleMania 39. That was Cody’s time. He loses in the main event and it’s just like — man. And he spends the entire year as like a redemption arc and he chases the title and he wins it at [WrestleMania] 40.
• The Rumble didn’t go the way I would have booked it, so to speak. Since we’re just peeling back the curtain so much here: I would have had me and Cena as the last two guys. And I would’ve had Cena throw my ass over the top rope, you know? Because I think at this stage, I think losing is so much more valuable than winning. I’m almost afraid of me winning everything that I’ve ever dreamed of because what do I do then?

Punk and Cena will get another chance to face off when they both participate in the men’s Elimination Chamber match in Toronto on Saturday, March 1. It will feature six competitors in total with the winner earning a World title shot at WrestleMania 41.

With Cena set to retire from in-ring competition at the end of 2025, Punk told Cormier & Sonnen that he made sure to spend as much time as he could backstage with Cena at the Royal Rumble. Punk said he likes being around Cena and knows moments like this are fleeting.