Although initially promoted as the main event of WWE‘s inaugural Wrestlepalooza, the highly anticipated match between John Cena and Brock Lesnar will not close the show. This shift was revealed shortly before the event, despite the matchup being a focal point after Lesnar’s return at SummerSlam where he reignited his rivalry with Cena. The decision to move the John Cena Wrestlepalooza match away from the headlining spot raises several strategic reasons behind WWE’s booking choices.
Potential Fan Backlash Over a Non-Title Main Event
A John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar encounter would naturally fit as a main event given the star power and history between the two, but the match notably does not involve any championship stakes. WWE has previously featured high-profile non-title matches as main events, like Roman Reigns defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33 despite several champions competing on that card. However, with WWE featuring two title bouts and a prominent mixed-tag team match on the Wrestlepalooza card, some fans might be disappointed that a non-championship match is closing the show. Since Cena is currently on his Retirement Tour, WWE may be balancing honoring him while still elevating their championship contests, which might lead to some viewers questioning a non-title match headlining the event.
Scheduling Conflicts with AEW’s All Out Event
AEW’s decision to hold their pay-per-views earlier in the day during 2025 creates an overlap with Wrestlepalooza, which begins at 7 PM EST. With All Out taking place in Toronto and therefore adopting a different time zone approach, WWE could have opened Wrestlepalooza with the Cena-Lesnar bout to directly counter AEW’s later segments. Nonetheless, the company opted against this strategy. This is consistent with previous occasions where WWE and AEW held shows on the same day, including Forbidden Door 2025 and NXT Heatwave 2025, but WWE appears to have chosen a different approach rather than making the Cena-Lesnar match the opener.
Absence of Surprise Elements Could Influence Match Placement
Big matches frequently close shows when WWE plans major moments or storyline shifts. For example, Night 1 of WrestleMania 41 ended with a non-title triple threat between CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns because of a storyline development involving Paul Heyman abandoning Punk in favor of Reigns. Speculation surrounds the possibility of the return of Gunther confronting either John Cena or Brock Lesnar, which would be a significant moment ideally suited for a main-event slot. Without any such dramatic occurrences planned, WWE may have found it more reasonable to relegate the Cena-Lesnar match to an earlier point on the card rather than the finale.
Opportunity for AJ Lee’s High-Profile Return Match
Women’s wrestling now regularly features as the main event on major WWE shows, a stark difference from over a decade ago when female performers rarely closed events. Iconic wrestlers like Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey have headlined WrestleMania nights, while Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks have similarly led the closing segments in The Showcase of the Immortals. AJ Lee’s anticipated return at Wrestlepalooza after a 10-year absence provides an opportunity for a major spotlight. Given her long hiatus and the fresh context of rivalries involving CM Punk, Seth Rollins, and Becky Lynch, WWE has the ingredients for a compelling women’s match that might be more suitable for ending the show than the Cena-Lesnar bout.
Title Match Between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes Likely to Top the Card
The matchup between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes for WWE’s premier championship presents a strong case for headlining Wrestlepalooza. Rhodes, as the current Undisputed Champion and one of the industry’s leading figures, is making his first title defense of his second reign. The feud with McIntyre has simmered for over a year, maintaining audience interest for this encounter to have main-event status. While the mixed-tag match is also significant, if it does not close the show, this title bout is positioned perfectly to. Adding to the potential excitement are rumors involving Randy Orton that could create additional buzz or surprise moments within the title storyline, enhancing its suitability as the event’s finale.
Altogether, these considerations reflect WWE’s careful planning of Wrestlepalooza’s card, balancing star power, championship prestige, storyline developments, and external competition with AEW. The placement of the John Cena Wrestlepalooza match earlier in the night suggests WWE aims to maintain a dynamic show flow while leaving room for impactful closing sequences that could involve major title defenses or significant returns. Fans can expect a carefully structured event designed to deliver memorable moments on multiple fronts, with the Cena-Lesnar rivalry still serving as a crucial, but not final, highlight.
Pat McAfee has announced that John Cena vs Brock Lesnar will be KICKING OFF Wrestlepalooza this weekend.
It was originally reported by Joe Tessitore that it would be the main event, so it seems plans have changed. pic.twitter.com/s67BUmPbiV
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) September 18, 2025
