John Cena reveals CM Punk’s secret message during ‘Basic Thuganomics’ promo

John Cena revealed a deeply personal moment from his 2025 feud with CM Punk, calling it the 'most real thing said' during their iconic 'Basic Thuganomics' promo. The exchange, which aired on *WWE: Unreal Season 3*, saw Punk deliver a subtle message to Cena-'I'm gonna miss you'-away from the mic, leaving the 17-time world champion emotional.

What happened during the promo?

Punk’s promo ahead of their *Night of Champions* match featured the 'Best in the World' in a Chicago Cubs jersey, backwards hat, and chain. He rapped at Cena, but midway through, he quietly told him, 'I'm gonna miss you.' Cena later called it an 'awesome' moment, saying, 'There was never a more real thing said.'

Why did CM Punk give John Cena the message?

Punk explained he wanted to 'center' Cena, who was playing a heel at the time. 'I had to do that to kind of center him and bring him into the moment,' Punk said. 'Because it was emotional for me, and I felt it needed to be emotional for him, too.' Cena agreed, calling it 'very special' that Punk gave him a real moment amid his own.

What came next for John Cena?

Cena defeated Punk at *Night of Champions* in a 26-minute main event. Soon after, Cena turned babyface again, setting up his *SummerSlam* match against Cody Rhodes in August 2025.