John Cena suffered a surprising quick defeat against Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza 2025, losing in under 10 minutes. Despite this unexpected outcome, Cena’s fans can look forward to his next outing scheduled for Crown Jewel 2025, set to take place in Australia on October 11, just three weeks after Wrestlepalooza.
Before the event, Brock Lesnar was widely regarded as one of Cena’s toughest rivals during his retirement tour, but few anticipated such a swift finish. The match called to mind their SummerSlam 2014 encounter, where Lesnar also dominated Cena decisively in a prolonged squash match. This loss has left many fans disappointed but has intensified speculation about Cena’s WWE future.
Anticipation Builds Around John Cena’s Next WWE Appearance
As WWE prepares for Crown Jewel 2025, questions remain about who will face Cena in his upcoming match. The possibility of a rematch with Lesnar is still open, especially after Lesnar launched a fierce post-match attack on Cena at Wrestlepalooza, hinting at ongoing tensions between the two superstars. WWE’s decision regarding Cena’s next opponent could significantly shape the narrative around his final months in the ring.
Vince Russo Suggests Chris Jericho as Cena’s Potential Final Opponent
With John Cena’s retirement match approaching within three months, speculation has intensified regarding his last WWE adversary. Vince Russo, former WCW Champion, weighed in on his podcast Writing with Russo, proposing that Chris Jericho might be brought in as Cena’s final opponent. Russo pointed to Jericho’s AEW contract reportedly ending around December 2025, making him a viable candidate for a high-profile send-off match.
“You may think this is crazy. Is Jericho’s contract up by December? Because they would put Jericho in that spot before they put one of their own players in that spot. So I swear, is it a pop card? Who is going to be available at that time?”
—Vince Russo, Former WCW Champion
Cena and Jericho have a long history in WWE, having faced each other numerous times throughout the mid-2000s and beyond, which adds weight to Russo’s suggestion. The prospect of Jericho returning to WWE to close out Cena’s career evokes excitement and debate amongst wrestling fans and analysts alike.
WWE’s Plans Could Influence the Final Chapter of Cena’s Career
The aftermath of Wrestlepalooza 2025 has set the stage for potentially defining moments in John Cena’s retirement tour. With Crown Jewel 2025 just weeks away, the decisions WWE makes regarding Cena’s opponent and storyline will heavily impact fan expectations and the legacy Cena leaves behind. Whether it involves a rematch with Brock Lesnar or a historic encounter with Chris Jericho, the wrestling world is poised to witness a crucial period in Cena’s career.
As the sports entertainment giant prepares for its next major event in Australia, the build-up to Crown Jewel promises high drama, intense rivalries, and emotional farewells, providing Cena one last opportunity to engage his loyal supporters and end his WWE journey on a memorable note.
The next WWE show John Cena is currently advertised for is Crown Jewel PLE on Oct 11.
No Cena for the next 3 weeks. pic.twitter.com/MytYRzGu2E
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) September 21, 2025
