Last weekend at WWE Wrestlepalooza, Brock Lesnar returned to the ring with a dominant victory over John Cena, reigniting anticipation for his future appearances. Reports from WrestleVotes Radio reveal WWE has scheduled Lesnar internally for key events, including the 2026 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 42 in April, signifying that The Beast Incarnate will remain a central figure in major pay-per-view shows.
According to insiders JoeyVotes and TC, creative teams are progressing under the assumption Lesnar will be featured at both the January 31 Royal Rumble hosted at Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena and the two-day WrestleMania 42 event set for April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This is aligned with earlier rumors from Bodyslam.net indicating WWE’s efforts to build a high-profile match between Lesnar and Bron Breakker at WrestleMania, aiming to deliver a blockbuster attraction for fans.
John Cena’s Final Match Set for December in Washington, D.C.
John Cena is preparing to step into the ring for his farewell match on December 13 during Saturday Night’s Main Event, streaming live on Peacock. Though WWE has not officially confirmed the exact venue in Washington, D.C., insiders from WrestleVotes Radio state that the organization plans to announce the location very soon, possibly as early as this coming weekend. This comes amid mounting excitement for Cena’s final bout, making his retirement from in-ring competition a major upcoming moment in WWE history.
While Cena’s opponent for the farewell match remains unconfirmed, his upcoming schedule includes a highly anticipated match against AJ Styles at WWE Crown Jewel on October 11 in Perth’s RAC Arena. Additional appearances are planned for Raw events in his hometown Boston on November 10, Madison Square Garden on November 17, Survivor Series on November 29, before culminating with Saturday Night’s Main Event in December.
Former WWE Star Shotzi Opens Up About Her Traumatic Past
Amid the wrestling world’s focus on in-ring stories, former WWE competitor Shotzi shared a deeply personal account of her childhood trauma during an interview on Saraya’s Rulebreakers podcast. She revealed she endured years of sexual abuse by her uncle starting at age eight after he moved from the Philippines to the United States and was taken in by her mother.
Shotzi recounted the experience with emotional clarity:
“So, I was eight when it started. He moved to America from the Philippines and my mom took him in. And it was both me and my sister. And it lasted until I was 12, until I went to the police about it. Which actually made things a lot worse for me.”
— Shotzi, Former WWE Superstar
She further reflected on the importance of speaking about such trauma openly:
“Yeah, four years of sexual abuse. And I just want to say, like, you coming out about that is just so powerful because I feel like a lot of people don’t want to talk about sexual trauma. They are really ashamed about it, really embarrassed about it. And I completely understand that. But so many women and men, too, go through it. And it leads to a lot of suicides. But if we talked about it more, we could prevent a lot of that. So yeah, I just think this is so important to talk about.”
— Shotzi, Former WWE Superstar
Shotzi recalled the difficult process that followed after confiding in a friend and involving a school counselor, who promptly reported the abuse:
“Yeah, I told my friend that it was happening. And she was like, ‘We need to tell somebody.’ And we ended up going to a school counselor and telling her and she immediately reported it.”
— Shotzi, Former WWE Superstar
The emotional toll continued at the police station, as she described the harrowing experience:
“Then I was taken to the police station. And it was so scary. Like, as a 12-year-old, I don’t even know how to explain these things that are happening to me. And yeah, that was really hard. Just going through explaining what was going on with me at the police station. I was there for hours. It was a really grueling day.”
— Shotzi, Former WWE Superstar
Upcoming Events and Ongoing Developments Within WWE
Aside from Cena’s farewell buildup and Lesnar’s anticipated appearances, WWE’s calendar remains packed with significant events. Cena’s farewell tour includes key stops at major venues, heightening expectations for one of wrestling’s defining retirements. His encounter with AJ Styles in Perth is a crucial chapter, while appearances in Boston and New York City serve to honor his long-standing contributions to the company.
Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar’s positioning at high-profile pay-per-views like Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia and WrestleMania in Las Vegas underscores WWE’s reliance on major stars to drive viewer interest and maintain competitive edge. The potential Lesnar versus Bron Breakker showdown hints at WWE’s strategy to blend established names with rising talent for headline matches.
Within the broader wrestling community, former stars such as Shotzi sharing their personal struggles bring awareness and depth to the often overlooked battles faced by those in the industry. Her openness underscores a broader cultural shift encouraging dialogue on sensitive issues, echoing throughout the wrestling world and beyond.
What to Expect Moving Forward for Cena’s Final Chapter
John Cena’s farewell match marks a critical milestone for WWE as it prepares to bid goodbye to one of its most iconic figures. The forthcoming venue reveal will spark fresh buzz and speculation around the event, while fans eagerly await confirmation of Cena’s opponent. This match not only represents the end of Cena’s active wrestling career but also sets the stage for potential legacy moments and tributes that celebrate his impact.
WWE’s careful planning around Cena’s schedule, combined with anticipated high-stakes matches for Brock Lesnar, signals a transitional phase where the company aims to maintain momentum amid changes in its roster and fanbase. The blend of nostalgia and future promise ensures that upcoming pay-per-views will carry significant weight for wrestling enthusiasts worldwide.
