We now know the reason Brock Lesnar obliterated John Cena at Wrestlepalooza.
When The Beast Incarnate made short work of Cena on one of his final dates as a WWE Superstar, fans were left perplexed. They were quick to blast the decision, prompting that the “retirement tour” has taken a blow to its legitimacy.
Cena’s final run in WWE has been loaded with impressive matches, such as his bout with CM Punk at Night of Champions, and his five-star match with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam this year, so it makes sense that fans would be unenthusiastic about seeing him be squashed by Brock Lesnar.
But behind the curtains, there was a method to the madness.
WWE’s Reason For Brock Lesnar Squashing John Cena
Insiders have revealed that the Peacemaker star, Cena himself, had agreed to the lopsided defeat. Selflessly, he wanted to use his final matches in the squared circle to elevate his compatriots, ensuring there is a benefit to working with him on his tour.
Of course, WWE has its own reasons for making Brock Lesnar unstoppable, with Wrestlepalooza’s match echoing his bludgeoning of Randy Orton at SummerSlam in 2016, or his quick dispatchment of Kofi Kingston, ending the Kofimania run on SmackDown in 2019. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE were intent on protecting Lesnar’s dominance in an effort to create a giant figure that will eventually be toppled by a WWE Superstar.
Who will be the one to topple an unstoppable Lesnar remains to be seen, but the names that are surfacing for his eventual loss include Bron Breakker and Jacob Fatu, who could be elevated from flirting with the main event, to becoming true faces of the company after pinning The Beast.
Another potential contender is Cody Rhodes, the current Undisputed WWE Champion, which would be a rematch of The American Nightmare’s hard-fought victory at 2023’s edition of SummerSlam.
John Cena’s WWE Retirement
WWE Hall of Famer, Bully Ray, meanwhile, has suggested that Cena should retire in front of a massive crowd at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, rather than calling his career immediately after his final 2025 event in the US capital.
Ray suggests that pushing Cena’s contract through to The Show of Shows in April next year would allow him to settle any unfinished business with Lesnar, give the fans the best send-off possible, and ensure his final chapter is every bit as epic as his career.
Whether fans see Lesnar toppled by the next Superstar, or witness a dramatic rematch with Rhodes, one thing is definitely clear: Cena’s final matches with WWE have made a lasting impact already, and WWE’s plans for Lesnar promise more big moments to come.