During “Saturday Night’s Main Event” on January 25, 2025, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, several WWE championships were defended or changed hands. Cody Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship, while Dominik Mysterio retained the WWE Intercontinental Championship in a Triple Threat match. Jade Cargill secured the WWE Women’s Championship for her first major title since joining the company, and CM Punk regained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after a brief reign earlier at SummerSlam 2025. Notably, three of the four champions previously were affiliated with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Cody Rhodes, who had left WWE for AEW’s launch, and Jade Cargill, an AEW original, both rose to prominence in their careers before joining WWE. After a stint in MMA with UFC, CM Punk returned to WWE following controversies in AEW, leading to his championship win on Saturday.
After the event, Punk, Cargill, Rhodes, and NXT Champion Ricky Saints, who previously wrestled in AEW, took a group photo that gained significant traction online, receiving over 36,000 likes on social media. Fans commented on the significance of their shared past in AEW.
- Why it matters:
- This event highlights the ongoing influence of AEW alumni in WWE, affecting viewer interest and competition between promotions.
- The crossover of former AEW stars into WWE positions the brand as a potential destination for emerging talent.
- The latest: CM Punk’s championship reign marks a significant return to form after previous controversies.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/former-aew-stars-go-viral-with-wwe-snme-link-up-10979585
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/former-aew-stars-go-viral-with-wwe-snme-link-up-10979585