WWE’s Plan for John Cena vs Brock Lesnar
Credit: WWE / Edited: STAY TRUE LUT
Cena vs Lesnar at September PLE?
The final chapter between longtime rivals John Cena and Brock Lesnar may finally have a date. Following Lesnar’s shocking return at SummerSlam, new reports suggest WWE is saving the final one-on-one meeting between the two megastars for an 'unannounced' premium live event on September 20th. The match would mark Lesnar’s first in over two years, and one of Cena’s last, moving closer to his retirement at the end of 2025.
While many thought that Lesnar's return at SummerSlam would've led to a match against Cena at Clash in Paris at the end of August, it appears WWE could be holding off his in-ring return until September, bypassing the upcoming PLE in favor of a stateside showdown that will generate maximum buzz.
WWE’s Counter-Programming Against AEW
The September 20 date is no accident. AEW is running its All Out pay-per-view in Toronto the same night, setting up another direct head-to-head between WWE and AEW events. According to recent reports, WWE plans to host the show in Indianapolis, with Gainbridge Fieldhouse being the likely venue. This doesn't mark the first time a WWE PLE airs opposite an AEW PPV in attempts to one-up their competition.
Speculation is that this event could be the return of WWE Bad Blood, which last took place in October 2024, featuring the highly-praised CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match. With Cena vs. Lesnar potentially headlining, WWE is clearly looking to make this more than just filling another date on the calendar.
Brock Lesnar Charges
While Lesnar’s return has the WWE Universe buzzing, his absence over the past couple of years sparked the question: Why is Brock Lesnar banned from WWE? UFC legend Daniel Cormier recently fuelled speculation by claiming Lesnar was on a “banned list,” but that rumor was quickly debunked upon Lesnar's return. Dave Meltzer clarified that WWE’s legal team chose not to use Lesnar following the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the company, a decision based on legal caution rather than any official ban.
This move led to Lesnar being pulled from appearances in 2024, including the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. If he does step into the ring against John Cena in September, it would be a blockbuster headline on Cena's road to retirement.
Full official updates available via WWE.com
