At SummerSlam 2025, Brock Lesnar made a stunning comeback by delivering a devastating F5 to John Cena, reigniting the intense Brock Lesnar John Cena Rivalry. The conflict escalated further on the September 5 episode of SmackDown when Lesnar struck Cena again during Cena’s United States Championship match against Sami Zayn, setting the stage for a major showdown.
Lesnar officially challenged John Cena, known as The Never Seen 17, to a high-profile match at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event. This announcement was unpacked by Triple H during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show, where he discussed the deep history and unique trajectories of both wrestlers’ careers.
Triple H Highlights the Career Paths of Two Wrestling Icons
Triple H described the Brock Lesnar John Cena Rivalry as more than just a simple feud, emphasizing its narrative depth. He pointed out that Brock Lesnar entered WWE as a prodigious rookie sensation, capturing a championship within five months, while John Cena initially struggled to establish himself. Over time, their fortunes shifted—Lesnar departed WWE for a period, during which Cena rose to extraordinary prominence.
This match at Wrestlepalooza will serve as a reflective journey through their intertwined legacies, emphasizing how these two legends evolved on different timelines yet remain dominant forces within the wrestling world.
We’re working on a career retrospective between the two that it’s just fascinating to see their rise and who comes up how and sort of they’re doing this, but at different wavelengths, you know, like Brock comes in and just sort of takes over as this rookie sensation. He’s champ within like five months. Cena just can’t get his feet under him. Then, it slowly shifts. Then Brock leaves, and Cena goes and you know it’s wild to see. (4:45 to 5:12)
—Triple H, WWE Executive and Legendary Wrestler
Two Decades of Rivalry: Lesnar and Cena’s Enduring Legacy
The history of Brock Lesnar and John Cena’s rivalry stretches back over 20 years, featuring some of WWE’s most electrifying matches. Their encounters have been marked by extreme physicality, including Lesnar’s infamous display of dominance at SummerSlam 2014 when he delivered 16 German suplexes to Cena.
While Lesnar often appeared overpowering, Cena secured his share of significant victories, such as their brutal clash at Extreme Rules 2012. Their rivalry included other key battles at events like Royal Rumble 2015 and Night of Champions 2014, cementing their status as two of WWE’s greatest competitors.
Less widely known is the fact that Lesnar and Cena’s professional paths first crossed before WWE’s global spotlight, in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Both men were part of the OVW class of 2002, an experience that helped prepare them for future stardom, even though they never engaged in a major feud while there.
Wrestlepalooza Set to Spotlight Their Legendary Conflict
The upcoming Wrestlepalooza match between Brock Lesnar and John Cena promises to be a pivotal moment in their longstanding rivalry. Not only will it highlight their recent intense confrontations, but it will also serve as a broader career retrospective that draws attention to their separate yet intertwined journeys within WWE.
This bout is expected to carry significant implications for both wrestlers, potentially shaping the next chapter of their legacies and stirring fresh excitement among fans who have long followed their battles. With both competitors still performing at an elite level, the anticipation surrounding this clash is at an all-time high.
