A backstage update has finally emerged on CM Punk going to Saudi Arabia for a WWE event.
WWE Night of Champions is scheduled to take place in the Middle East, and one of the participants in the lineup has already stirred up speculation online.
On last night’s episode of RAW, John Cena and CM Punk had a face-off which ended with the champion accepting Punk’s challenge, but only if it happens at WWE Night of Champions, which the Second City Saint accepted.
This led to rumors on whether The Best In the World was forced into this decision. Dave Meltzer provided an update on the matter.
Speaking on the recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave addressed the issue, stating that he doesn’t think that CM Punk was forced. He added that according to his sources, this was in the works for months. He said:
“He could not go if he really wanted to not go. He was going months ago, I had already asked about that a couple of months ago when the show was first talked about, and he was in the original promo package and then he was taken out of the promo package and I asked am I supposed to see when Seth Rollins replacing him in that promo package that he’s not going and it’s like, ‘Nope, he’s going.’ So, it’s been known he’s going for months, probably all along. I don’t know if he ever voiced any issue with going at any point since he signed, but he hasn’t in months. I know that.”
While Punk’s inclusion at the event does seem odd, given his history of bashing the company’s participation there, this may be just his personal decision and not something he was coerced into.
Also, this year marks the 13th anniversary of the two superstars facing each other at the same WWE event.
Dave Meltzer Claims Everyone In The WWE Is Willing To Go To Saudi Arabia Now
While WWE stars in the past have voiced their discontent about going to the Middle East, it seems that they have come to terms that it is a necessity, as the city is host to some of the promotion’s major events.
Talking about this situation, Meltzer added that many stars have changed their stance on the situation and are more open to the idea of performing there. He also added that at no point since he returned to the company has Punk stated he would not go to Saudi Arabia.
“At no point did he indicate that he did not want to go to Saudi Arabia and that he is being forced he just said alright, we are doing it and he has the right to do it. Everybody goes now I think, you know Cena didn’t go too in the past, because he thought it would hurt his movie career and now it doesn’t anymore, everybody goes there’s no qualms, Khashoggi died many years ago, and it’s all forgotten and money’s the money.”
While Dave does imply the monetary aspect, it could really be a case of stars just wanting to be a part of the big event.