WWE has made a surprising change to its Wrestlepalooza card this Saturday, moving John Cena and Brock Lesnar from the main event to the opening battle, marking a shift in focus that may finally give Becky Lynch a chance to headline. This John Cena Wrestlepalooza Update signals a break from a six-year main event streak and potentially allows Lynch to reclaim the spotlight as one of WWE’s premier stars.
Becky Lynch Positioned to Lead Wrestlepalooza’s Final Match
Originally, the highly anticipated match between John Cena and Brock Lesnar was announced as the show-closing main event at Wrestlepalooza. However, WWE analyst Pat McAfee disclosed on his show that the Cena-Lesnar bout would instead open the live event, opening the door for another contest to finish the night.
This reshuffle puts the mixed tag team match featuring Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins against CM Punk and AJ Lee in the strongest position to close the event. Such a move breaks Cena’s recent pattern of main event appearances at major WWE events and highlights the growing narrative focus on Lynch’s evolving rivalry.
🚨 BROCK LESNAR AND JOHN CENA WILL KICK OFF #Wrestlepalooza THIS SATURDAYpic.twitter.com/CYxPj98HBA— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) September 18, 2025
The Significance of Becky Lynch’s Potential Wrestlepalooza Main Event
Becky Lynch last headlined a WWE Premium Live Event in April 2019 at WrestleMania 35, where she made history by defeating Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey in the company’s first women’s main event, capturing both the RAW and SmackDown Women’s Championships simultaneously. This night marked a landmark achievement, as she became the first woman to pin Rousey in WWE and hold both major titles at once.
Since that groundbreaking performance, Lynch has been a leading figure in WWE but has not topped another major show, making the six-year gap her longest without a main event slot at a Premium Live Event. The current card adjustments could end this hiatus and reposition her at the forefront of WWE’s biggest stage.
Deepening Rivalries Raise Stakes for Wrestlepalooza’s Climax
The tensions that have built up between CM Punk and Seth Rollins add further emotional weight to the potential main event. Rollins cemented his hold on the World Heavyweight Championship by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract at SummerSlam, defeating Punk. Subsequently, Lynch intervened at WWE Clash in Paris with a low blow against Punk during a Fatal 4-Way match, intensifying the feud.
When Punk confronted Rollins on Raw, Lynch unexpectedly appeared instead, exploiting WWE’s wrestling code by humiliating Punk with a series of slaps, knowing he would hesitate to retaliate against a woman. This tension escalated dramatically with AJ Lee’s surprise return after more than ten years away, retaliating against Lynch and controversially taking her championship on SmackDown.
AJ LEE IS BACK!!!!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UPsT7EcVdE— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025
The Broader Impact of Wrestlepalooza’s Card Changes
WWE’s decision to open Wrestlepalooza with the matchup between Cena and Lesnar highlights the company’s desire to build a more compelling narrative arc throughout the event. By placing the emotionally charged mixed tag team match involving Lynch, Rollins, Punk, and Lee at the end, WWE is emphasizing character-driven storytelling, heightening anticipation for the show’s climax.
For Becky Lynch, this reshuffle represents an opportunity to reestablish herself as WWE’s leading female star and main event talent after a prolonged absence from closing Premium Live Events. The altered card offers renewed excitement and may signify a turning point in her ongoing career, while John Cena’s repositioning introduces fresh uncertainty regarding his current status in WWE’s hierarchy.
🚨 BROCK LESNAR AND JOHN CENA WILL KICK OFF #Wrestlepalooza THIS SATURDAY
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) September 18, 2025
AJ LEE IS BACK!!!!! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UPsT7EcVdE
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025
