At WWE’s WrestlePalooza event held on September 20, 2025, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, the finish of the Brock Lesnar WrestlePalooza finish was never intended to favor John Cena. WWE brought Lesnar back with a clear objective: he was not meant to lose in his first match after returning. Despite circulating rumors suggesting the company considered a Cena victory, WWE’s plans were firm on having Lesnar emerge victorious.
Clarifying Rumors About Cena Defeating Lesnar
Claims surfaced indicating serious talks about John Cena winning the featured match against Brock Lesnar, but reputable sources have refuted these reports. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter emphasized that any conversation about Cena winning was not a substantial part of the planning. Instead, the wrestling promotion prioritized presenting Lesnar as a dominant force while retaining Cena’s established resilience.
We were told that was not the case, and that Lesnar was not brought back to lose his first match,
Meltzer wrote.
There are always discussions and the idea may have been broached for Cena to win, as most expected, but it was never a serious discussion or ever the planned finish.
The Strategy Behind Lesnar’s Booking and Future Prospects
WWE’s focus was to maximize Lesnar’s impact by making him appear as powerful as possible in this marquee encounter, while also preserving Cena’s reputation as nearly unbeatable. Meltzer noted that the approach was to build anticipation for a future where someone else might deliver Lesnar’s first loss, keeping the suspense alive within WWE storylines.
The match was all about making Lesnar as strong as possible, getting a last match with Cena, and the feeling Cena more than anyone, is bullet proof no matter what they do with him. They are spending a ton to get Lesnar and the idea is to make him a monster and have someone slay the monster.
The speculation about who might eventually hand Lesnar his first defeat points towards younger stars like Jacob Fatu or Bron Breakker. Meltzer pointed out that unless Cody Rhodes needs a challenger, in which case Rhodes would ultimately earn the win, preserving Lesnar’s undefeated status for a rising talent is seen as more beneficial.
It would be more valuable saving the big and first Lesnar loss for Jacob Fatu or Bron Breakker,
he added.
Unless Cody Rhodes needs a challenger and if they feud, in the end, Rhodes does have to get a win.
Significance of WrestlePalooza and WWE’s New Era Unfolding
WrestlePalooza marked a historic moment for WWE as it ushered in the new WWE on ESPN Era, held before a live crowd in Indianapolis. The event’s decisions, especially around Lesnar’s booking, signal WWE’s intent to build compelling story arcs by maintaining the established star power of veteran wrestlers while elevating emerging talent thoughtfully. The Brock Lesnar WrestlePalooza finish, therefore, sets the stage for future rivalries that could reshape WWE’s competitive landscape in the months ahead.
