Fans Furious As CM Punk Ignores Child Ahead of WWE Night of Champions; June 27th Wrestling News Round-Up

In a shocking and unannounced appearance, AEW star MJF showed up at Major League Wrestling’s Summer of the Beasts event and reignited his feud with CMLL’s Mistico in brutal fashion. Known for his sharp tongue and unapologetic heel tactics, MJF has been engaged in a heated rivalry with the luchador that began at AEW Grand Slam Mexico. It was during that encounter that he shocked the wrestling world by unmasking Mistico—an act considered sacrilegious in lucha libre culture. Many fans assumed that was the final chapter in their volatile story. It wasn’t.

Mistico, who currently holds the MLW Middleweight Championship, was delivering a promo at the event when he was interrupted by Contra Unit. Just when it looked like the threat had been neutralized, a masked figure wearing Mistico’s own signature mask entered the ring and delivered a low blow. That individual then revealed himself to be none other than MJF, much to the crowd’s disbelief.

Never one to miss a moment to provoke, MJF delivered a venomous promo that left no doubt he’s far from done with Mistico. He taunted the fallen star and launched into a tirade that targeted not just Mistico but his homeland and his home promotion, CMLL. In his own words:

“Mistico, while you’re laying down there holding your little la cucarachas, I need you to listen to me real quick. I ain’t through with you yet, boy—not by a long shot. We’re going to wrestle again, and when we do, I am going to beat you within an inch of your life. And that’s after I’m done making a mockery of your country, your countrymen, and your company of CMLL. Listen, p**ta madre cabrón, listen, because my name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and I’m better than you and you know it.”

This surprise appearance sent shockwaves across both promotions and has left fans speculating on where the next battle between the two will take place. One thing is clear: MJF isn’t finished, and this cross-promotional war just escalated.

You can catch the full moment in the official video at the 1:08:07 mark.

It’s time for the ITR Big Question of the day.

Rey Mysterio’s career must ultimately come to an end but who should be the man to end it?

The obvious pick is Dominik Mysterio, but is he the right choice?

Let us know using get involved feature or by responding to the tweet below!

Who should be the man to finally retire Rey Mysterio? pic.twitter.com/537o6qM2SN

— ITR Wrestling (@ITRWrestling_) June 27, 2025

Chelsea Green has become one of WWE’s most entertaining personalities in recent years. From her over-the-top antics to her consistent in-ring performances, the former Women’s United States Champion is always a highlight on SmackDown. But her personal and professional life may soon collide in a nostalgic—and chaotic—way.

Green’s husband, Matt Cardona (fka Zack Ryder), hasn’t been a full-time WWE superstar for a few years now, but that didn’t stop his name from resurfacing during John Cena’s pipebomb promo on SmackDown. The promo was a tribute to CM Punk’s iconic 2011 moment, and it came shortly after Cena laid out CM Punk and R-Truth, adding even more tension to WWE’s top storyline heading into Night of Champions.

WWE analyst Sam Roberts had fans buzzing with a suggestion on his Notsam Wrestling podcast. He said he’d like to see WWE recreate some of the most infamous moments from Cena’s past—particularly the time he stole Zack Ryder’s on-screen girlfriend, Eve Torres, in 2012.

Roberts pitched a scenario where Cardona returns to WWE, only for Cena to send flowers to Chelsea Green, just like he once did with Eve. He even suggested bringing back the infamous wheelchair spot, where Kane pushed Ryder off the stage during their feud.

“Zack Ryder returns and then Chelsea Green gets flowers from John Cena or something,” Roberts joked.

While Roberts’ comments were light-hearted, the concept isn’t far-fetched. WWE has a long history of blending real-life relationships with storytelling. With Green consistently featured on WWE TV and Cardona’s name being dropped more frequently, the possibility of a surprise return isn’t off the table.

In fact, it could add a fresh and personal twist to Cena’s current heel-leaning run, while giving Chelsea Green even more screen time in a high-profile storyline.

Check out the full highlights from this weeks AEW Collision!

Rhea Ripley, one of WWE’s most dominant and beloved superstars, recently opened up about a serious lower back issue that nearly kept her out of WrestleMania 41. Speaking candidly on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former Women’s Champion detailed the lingering injury that had plagued her for years—and intensified just weeks before the biggest event of the year.

According to Ripley, the issue stems from an old match in NXT against Raquel Rodriguez. During the bout, Raquel delivered a back body drop that went wrong, causing Ripley to land directly on the edge of the announce table.

“We undershot it, and I hit the very edge of the table, like right on my lower back. After that, my lower back was never the same,” Ripley explained.

As the date for WrestleMania 41 approached, Ripley was unsure if she would be able to compete. The pain became so severe that she had to call in her personal masseuse, Matthew, for emergency sessions during WrestleMania weekend.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to compete because my back was so bad. The two nights beforehand, I got Matthew to come to my room… He worked on me the night before and the night of the Hall of Fame,” she said. “Thank God for him… It loosened completely just in time for the match.”

Despite the scare, Ripley went on to compete in one of the most talked-about matches of WrestleMania 41—a triple threat against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair. The performance was widely praised, with many fans and critics calling it one of the best matches of the entire two-night event.

Relive The Phenomenal One’s incredible year-long run as WWE Champion in this documentary that gives you a special look at AJ Styles inside and outside of the ring.

Check out the full documentary below courtesy of WWE!

WWE fans were surprised when Chelsea Green, one of SmackDown’s most consistent performers, was absent from the June 13 episode of the show. While her on-screen excuse was “vacation,” the real reason behind her absence has now come to light—and it’s far more serious than initially portrayed.

According to a recent report by Fightful Select, Chelsea Green’s absence was due to a severe sinus infection that escalated to the point of temporary hearing loss. The condition was serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room, prompting WWE to write her out of the show via a FaceTime segment.

In that episode, Green informed SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis that she wouldn’t be appearing in person, which resulted in her being pulled from the Queen of the Ring Tournament qualifier. Fellow stablemate Alba Fyre took her place instead.

Fortunately, Chelsea Green returned to action on the June 20 episode of SmackDown, where she faced Charlotte Flair in singles competition, though she came up short. While she appeared ready to compete, fans have expressed concern about her recovery, especially given the sudden and intense nature of her health scare.

Green, a two-time WWE champion (as the inaugural Women’s United States Champion and former Tag Team Champion), has become a standout presence on WWE television. Known for her in-ring versatility and character work, her absence didn’t go unnoticed—and the reason behind it has only made her fanbase more vocal in their support.

It’s been over two months since the WWE Universe last saw Roman Reigns, but the wait may soon be over.

The Undisputed WWE Champion was last seen 67 days ago, when he made a surprise appearance to confront Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman on RAW. The standoff turned into a brutal beatdown as Reigns was laid out by Rollins and his new ally, Bron Breakker, leaving fans stunned and concerned for The Tribal Chief.

Since that moment, Reigns has been conspicuously absent from WWE programming — until now. In a recent update on X (formerly Twitter), Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer revealed that Roman Reigns is expected to return to begin building his match for SummerSlam:

“Last I heard he’s back to build SummerSlam,” Meltzer wrote.

With SummerSlam 2025 on the horizon, this news has ignited speculation about what WWE has planned for one of its biggest stars at one of its biggest shows of the year.

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May, now competing under her real name Blake Monroe, has officially joined WWE and made a splash with her recent NXT debut. Confronting current NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Monroe wasted no time signaling that she’s ready to make waves in her new home.

The British star’s arrival in WWE comes after months of speculation and a dramatic final chapter in her AEW journey, which saw her lose the Women’s World Title to Toni Storm and get pulled into a brutal, emotionally charged feud. Her last AEW appearance came at the Revolution pay-per-view, where she went toe-to-toe with Storm one final time.

Now, in a candid video titled “I’M A WWE SUPERSTAR” uploaded to her YouTube channel, Monroe spoke openly about her exit from All Elite Wrestling — and the emotional toll that chapter of her career took.

“I felt a little dejected at the end of last year, and I didn’t know [WWE] was an option for me,” she shared. (H/T: Sports Illustrated)

Monroe admitted that she wasn’t in the best mental space during her final AEW months, and the uncertainty about her future played a major role in her decision to leave. Her honesty reflects what many wrestlers face behind the scenes: personal doubt, shifting career opportunities, and the emotional weight of high-stakes competition.

With her WWE contract now signed and her eyes set on NXT gold, Monroe seems ready for a fresh start and new challenges — a move that’s already building excitement among fans eager to see how she evolves under the WWE banner.

Dominik Mysterio, the current WWE Intercontinental Champion, has found himself sidelined due to a reported rib injury, forcing WWE to cancel his highly anticipated title defense against AJ Styles at Night of Champions. While some fans initially speculated it was part of a storyline, credible reports have confirmed that Mysterio is indeed dealing with a legitimate injury.

This has sparked renewed conversation about WWE’s handling of inactive champions, and legendary wrestling journalist Bill Apter has weighed in with a strong opinion on the matter. During an episode of the Wrestling Time Machine podcast, Apter called on WWE to reinstate the classic 30-day title defense rule — a stipulation that once mandated a champion must defend their title at least once every 30 days or be stripped of it.

“Well, from what I understand, he’s gonna be out for a while. I’m not quite sure what the injury is yet, but he is injured,” said Apter. “You know what I miss? When a champion gets injured, I miss the old ruling, which I wish they’d bring back. If you can’t defend the title within 30 days, you’re stripped of the title.”

Apter’s comments resonate with a growing number of fans who have noted inconsistency in title defenses. He pointed to IYO SKY, the reigning WWE Women’s World Champion, who has yet to defend her title since capturing it at WrestleMania 41 in April — a gap now exceeding two premium live events.

“There are champions that don’t defend their title for like two PLEs, and they still have the belt. It’s not fair. Change that.”

The 30-day rule was once a staple of WWE (and wrestling in general), helping maintain competitive legitimacy around championship gold. While the company has largely moved away from enforcing it strictly, Apter’s comments suggest that revisiting such a rule could help improve storytelling, elevate new contenders, and ensure champions remain active on television.

Roman Reigns has officially joined the Street Fighter cast — and he’s stepping into the shoes of one of the game’s most fearsome warriors, Akuma. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reigns will portray the iconic character in Legendary Pictures’ live-action reboot, directed by Kitao Sakurai. Filming kicks off this August, marking a major leap for Reigns as he continues blending his WWE dominance with Hollywood ambitions.

He’ll be sharing the screen with fellow heavyweight Jason Momoa, who’s taken on Blanka, and rapper-actor 50 Cent, who plays Balrog. The ensemble also includes Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken, and Callina Liang as Chun-Li—forming an impressive line-up of fighters for this adaptation.

Reigns’s character, Akuma, is known as a dark, powerful warrior with a strict code of domination. It’s a stark contrast to his WWE “Tribal Chief” persona and marks a bold move in his acting career.

WWE’s presence in Saudi Arabia ahead of SmackDown and Night of Champions has stirred more than just excitement. A fan meet and greet held before the events took an unfortunate turn when CM Punk became the subject of social media backlash after a clip surfaced showing him apparently turning away a young fan.

In the viral video, a child is seen approaching CM Punk and Randy Orton, seemingly for a selfie or hug. The moment quickly turned sour when Punk — alongside security — appeared to stiff-arm or push the child away. While Orton looked on without incident, Punk’s gesture sparked intense outrage online.

Is anyone legitimately surprised at CM Punk doing this to a fan at this point? pic.twitter.com/wouYaEmtAM

— Took (@TookTimbo) June 26, 2025

The video ignited a wave of criticism, with users calling out Punk’s behavior:

“Voice for the voiceless my a** @cmpunk,”

“Wow Punk is a bi**h,”

“Glad to see Phil is so nice to fans.”

Others used humor to underscore the awkwardness, joking about Punk’s “heel turn” being back in full swing.

Neither CM Punk nor WWE has issued a statement about the incident, leaving room for speculation. While some fans defend Punk by suggesting security might have instructed him to limit fan interactions, others believe the video clearly shows avoidable coldness from the star.

This backlash is amplified by Punk’s past criticism of WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia. In 2018, he referred to the company’s shows in the region as being fueled by “blood money.” That context, coupled with his visible lack of enthusiasm in recent appearances, has led fans to speculate he may still hold personal reservations about being part of the Riyadh show.

Ironically, the man once known as the “Voice of the Voiceless” is now facing scrutiny for allegedly ignoring one of his youngest fans.

Hello and welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog

My name is Liam and I will be with you from 10:30am to 4pm (UK) covering all the biggest stories from the past 24 hours across the world in wrestling.

Kicking things off today we have:

• Fans are furious as CM Punk turns his back on the WWE Universe by pushing away a young child in Saudi Arabia ahead of Night of Champions.
• We finally have a rumoured timeline on Roman Reigns highly anticipated WWE return.
• Rhea Ripley reveals she almost missed WrestleMania 41 due to previously unknown health complications.
• Nia Jax has a hilarious five word response to her viral stinkface moment with Rhea Ripley.