On the latest episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown, John Cena delivered an explosive segment that turned heads across the wrestling world. By referencing the legendary “Pipebomb” promo from 2011, Cena took direct aim at his longtime rival CM Punk, labeling him a capitalist during a heated address. This bold statement marked another chapter in the Cena-Punk saga, and John Cena delivers epic promo on WWE SmackDown has quickly become a top topic among wrestling fans.
Cena didn’t hold back as he verbally sparred with Punk’s legacy, saying Punk’s chief talent was, in Cena’s words, being “a better bullsh*tter.” The moment was packed with tension, as Cena also called out notable wrestlers including Claudio Castagnoli, Matt Cardona, and Nic Nemeth as part of his remarks, heightening anticipation among the audience and sparking debate over his pointed comments.
Kevin Owens shows support for John Cena after the promo
Shortly after the segment aired, Kevin Owens made his allegiances clear by sharing a photo online of himself wearing a John Cena-T-shirt. This show of support further stirred fan reactions and suggested possible alliances ahead in upcoming WWE storylines, drawing in fans of both Superstars such as John Cena and Kevin Owens. The atmosphere surrounding SmackDown was marked by excitement and speculation following Owens’ public nod to Cena.
Hikuleo returns to the ring with back-to-back victories
The same SmackDown episode also featured several dark matches, with Hikuleo making his presence felt for the second consecutive week. Hikuleo claimed victory over an as-yet-unnamed opponent, continuing the momentum from his previous win against Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson on June 13. While these dark match successes keep Hikuleo active, his last major appearance in front of a televised WWE audience occurred at NJPW Dominion 2024. Fans following Hikuleo-WWE updates are eager to see when he’ll next be featured in a televised event or storyline.
Lash Legend shares her dream match ambitions
WWE NXT talent Lash Legend recently appeared on the Busted Open Radio podcast to talk about her wrestling aspirations. She expressed a strong desire to take part in a Triple Threat match against Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley, two of WWE’s top female competitors. In her words:
“My modern day dream match would be me versus Rhea Ripley versus Bianca Belair. Since I’ve gotten into wrestling and watched them, that has been my dream match and it hasn’t changed.”
—Lash Legend, WWE NXT star
Lash Legend also reflected on a significant moment she experienced as a wrestling fan, recalling Bianca Belair’s clash with Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37. This historic bout between two African American women deeply moved Legend, as she noted:
“I feel like you can name so many really good matches, but as far as the one that I really felt something, and it’s probably because I was just getting into wrestling, was literally Bianca versus Sasha Banks. I cried. They were making history, one. Two African American women, just to even think about it, I’m getting goosebumps.”
—Lash Legend, WWE NXT star
Nic Nemeth criticizes Goldberg’s upcoming retirement match stipulation
In another interview on the Busted Open Radio podcast, Nic Nemeth voiced strong opinions against the stipulation attached to Goldberg’s rumored retirement match versus GUNTHER at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12. The proposed Career vs. Title angle for the World Heavyweight Championship drew sharp criticism from Nemeth, who minced no words:
“It’d be worse storytelling if he puts his career on the line after he gets the world title match, I’d be like, ‘What a dumb story, what an idiot.’”
—Nic Nemeth, WWE star
He expanded on why he disapproves, stating:
“You’re now seeing not some four minute Goldberg match, you’re seeing a four minute Goldberg match that’s for the world title and if he doesn’t win, he’s done. The stipulations went from an attraction match to two different huge stipulations that makes it an extra draw, now I want to see it. I want to see him get his a*s kicked, hit his two dumb moves, have GUNTHER sit up like Undertaker, chop him in the face 10 times or whatever the hell he does and drop him … his career is over, beat it, good riddance.”
—Nic Nemeth, WWE star
Liv Morgan faces surgery following injury on RAW
Recently on Busted Open After Dark, wrestling veteran Tommy Dreamer addressed Liv Morgan’s shoulder injury sustained during a match against Kairi Sane on Monday Night RAW. Morgan is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the damage, sparking concern and discussion within the wrestling community. Dreamer offered his own insights on the difficulty of such injuries:
“The woman got hurt. It sucks. From someone who has separated a dislocated shoulder, the moment it happens, it takes the breath out of you. You could tell right away, she rolled out, she knew something was wrong with your body. For me, I dislocated my left shoulder, and like I said, the pain went away. Watching it, a few things here. And there’s no blame. I can’t say it’s a freak accident because every bump we take, every move that happens, every move that’s executed both offensively, defensively can end a career, can cause an injury.”
—Tommy Dreamer, Wrestling Veteran
Regarding Morgan’s recovery timeline and the challenges ahead, Dreamer stated:
“She’s going to be out. I was out about two to three months. The other part is you have to strengthen that shoulder because it could happen again. And you don’t want that to continue to happen. It’s a lot of rehab. It’s a lot of tedious work.”
—Tommy Dreamer, Wrestling Veteran
What’s next for the WWE landscape?
The recent developments on WWE SmackDown, from John Cena’s disruptive promo to key injury updates, underline significant shifts in ongoing storylines and talent trajectories. The focus on established names like John Cena, along with the emergence of stars such as Lash Legend and Hikuleo, keeps the audience captivated and hints at evolving feuds and alliances.
As Goldberg’s potential retirement match approaches and Liv Morgan begins her road to recovery, the wider WWE community awaits further updates. With intense rivalries and high-stakes challenges unfolding, the excitement and uncertainty promise more twists in the coming weeks, ensuring that WWE remains at the center of the pro wrestling conversation.
