John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, Opening Match to Begin ESPN Era with Wrestlepalooza, Match Preview And Predictions

John Cena, a brand in itself, has achieved everything in his Wrestling career that spans over 23 years. His retirement tour that began with Raw on Netflix has been one to remember as he became the 17th time WWE Undisputed Champion and turned heel after two decades. Brock Lesnar and John Cena had parallel careers, and these two dominant forces were bound to clash in WWE at one point or another.

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THE GOAT vs. THE BEAST at #Wrestlepalooza 👊 pic.twitter.com/iS6lqVDRKZ
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025

Brock Lesnar and John Cena have faced each other six times in WWE, and the Beast Incarnate has dominated John Cena in the results. Brock Lesnar has won four out of six matches, while John Cena has won two. John Cena will have an opportunity to reduce the lead Brock Lesnar has on him, but it won’t be that easy to tame the Beast. John Cena, of all the wrestlers, knows it very well.

THE BEAST vs. THE GOAT 😤

Who ya got tomorrow when @JohnCena and Brock Lesnar go head-to-head?! Stream Wrestlepalooza TOMORROW on the ESPN app! https://t.co/jKAIj8nxxt pic.twitter.com/wUF3ahT9XQ
— WWE (@WWE) September 20, 2025

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, a Rivalry Etched in History

The retirement tour was going too well for John Cena since the Royal Rumble. He was the runner-up at the Royal Rumble, the winner of the Elimination Chamber, and became a 17-time WWE Champion at WrestleMania. He then defended the title against the likes of Randy Orton at Backlash and CM Punk at Night of Champions. It was his heel period, but everything went south when John Cena turned face again.

BROCK. LESNAR. IS. BACK.
HERE COMES THE PAIN! 👊 pic.twitter.com/uR2z9RVoZu
— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2025

John Cena lost his title to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, but that was not the worst thing that happened to him that day. Brock Lesnar returned to WWE and re-ignited the rivalry that had gone dormant a decade ago with an F5. Brock Lesnar made sure he ruined John Cena’s last day on SmackDown. He delivered two F5s to John Cena to interrupt his match with Sami Zayn.

THE BEAST HAS BEEN UNLEASHED!!! 😤 pic.twitter.com/MHNdAuLrJY
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025

Brock Lesnar announced his match against John Cena at Wrestlepalooza and has claimed two more victims ever since. He attacked R-Truth last week and delivered two F5s to Corey Graves yesterday when the latter tried to save Michael Cole from his assault. He then delivered a brutal message to John Cena, stating, “I am coming for you, John. It’s D-Day Tomorrow. I am coming for blood.”

This is CHAOS! 😱

After taking out Michael Cole and @WWEGraves, Brock Lesnar has a message for @JohnCena ahead of Wrestlepalooza live on the ESPN app TOMORROW! https://t.co/jKAIj8nxxt pic.twitter.com/zM4RqS6BhB
— WWE (@WWE) September 20, 2025

Brock Lesnar Speculated to Continue His Dominance Over John Cena

Brock Lesnar has been a dominant force in WWE, and it’s not easy to pin him. The superstars who were able to pin him achieved legendary status but had to face an extensive level of brutalization. John Cena, while being a legend, is speculated to lose the match. This will set up Brock Lesnar’s dominance in WWE again, but even the Beast has to go through hell to defeat the legend.

WRESTLEPALOOZA is going to be 🔥

Stream ESPN’s inaugural Premium Live Event THIS SATURDAY at 7PM ET on the ESPN app! https://t.co/kzS0cxoAzD pic.twitter.com/mrcVwsfHAb
— WWE (@WWE) September 16, 2025

The encounters between Brock Lesnar and John Cena have been among the greatest in WWE and pivotal in their respective careers. We are about to witness another match that will be remembered in history.

.@JohnCena and Brock Lesnar will go to war one last time at #Wrestlepalooza 😤

🎟️: https://t.co/Q0O2SZdREB pic.twitter.com/57J6G1znkd
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025

Also Read: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena: What’s Their Head-To-Head Record Against Each Other in WWE?

Image Credit: WWE.com

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena

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Ashish Negi

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I am Ashish Negi, and I work as a WWE and NFL writer at The Playoffs. I have 5 years of experience in content writing, and I have written in different domains like Real Estate, but I found my love while writing in sports. I love watching sports and have been a fan of WWE and cricket. I got an opportunity to write full-time on WWE and NFL here, so following the footstep of my hero John Cena, I turn heel on my last company