Triple H Makes John Cena & Brock Lesnar Announcement Before WWE Wrestlepalooza

Brock Lesnar made a shocking return at SummerSlam 2025, delivering a brutal F5 to John Cena, reigniting their fierce rivalry.

Lesnar struck Cena again on the September 5 episode of SmackDown during the latter’s match against Sami Zayn for the United States Championship, intensifying their feud. Lesnar then challenged The Never Seen 17 for a high-profile match at Wrestlepalooza.

Triple H revealed more about this upcoming clash during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show. He described their intertwined careers as a fascinating story, explaining how The Next Big Thing burst onto the scene as a rookie sensation, becoming champion within five months. Meanwhile, Cena initially struggled to find his footing.

Their paths shifted over time. The Beast Incarnate left WWE, and The Chain Gang Soldier rose to prominence, resulting in two legends who have evolved separately but remain dominant forces at different stages. Triple H emphasized that this match is part of a larger career retrospective showcasing the unique journeys and legacies of these iconic wrestlers.

We’re working on a career retrospective between the two that it’s just fascinating to see their rise and who comes up how and sort of they’re doing this, but at different wavelengths, you know, like Brock comes in and just sort of takes over as this rookie sensation. He’s champ within like five months. Cena just can’t get his feet under him. Then, it slowly shifts. Then Brock leaves, and Cena goes and you know it’s wild to see. (4:45 to 5:12)

Brock Lesnar vs John Cena: A Two-Decade-Old Rivalry

Brock Lesnar and John Cena’s WWE rivalry is legendary, spanning over 20 years and multiple iconic matches. Their clashes are known for intense physicality, including The Beast’s brutal destruction of Cena with 16 German suplexes at SummerSlam 2014.

Despite Lesnar’s dominance, The Champ has scored memorable victories, such as their violent Extreme Rules 2012 match. The rivalry saw multiple high-stakes encounters, including matches at Royal Rumble 2015 and Night of Champions 2014.

Many people may not know this, but Lesnar and Cena had a history before WWE. Before their big fame, they crossed paths in the Ohio Valley Wrestling. They belonged to the same “OVW class” of 2002. Although they never had a major feud in OVW, the experience shaped both their WWE futures.

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