Major Backstage Update: John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar Heavily Expected to Headline WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025

WWE’s Wrestlepalooza is quickly emerging as not just the company’s biggest event of 2025 (yes bigger than WrestleMania and SummerSlam), but potentially a defining moment of the decade for the company. While no official matches have been confirmed, backstage reports strongly point to John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar headlining the September 20 event in Indianapolis. WWE has been meticulously laying the groundwork for this showdown since SummerSlam night two, positioning it as a marquee clash designed to capture both the professional wrestling world and mainstream sports media, thanks to its historic debut as an ESPN-streamed premium live event. 

The anticipated clash stems from Lesnar’s shocking return at SummerSlam, where he blindsided Cena during his retirement tour. That single moment reignited one of WWE’s most iconic rivalries and laid the groundwork for a blockbuster showdown. Insiders believe this will be the marquee bout anchoring WWE’s first premium live event on ESPN. It also explains why WWE has kept Lesnar completely off television and largely absent from their official social channels — a deliberate move to build anticipation and maximize the impact of his next appearance. 

Wrestlepalooza: WWE’s Bold ESPN Debut

Scheduled for Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Wrestlepalooza marks WWE’s first premium live event under its new deal with ESPN. The event will stream exclusively on the ESPN app, underscoring WWE’s push for a complete mainstream sports integration.

The card is expected to feature a star-studded lineup:

• Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Champion)
• Seth Rollins (World Heavyweight Champion)
• Becky Lynch (Women’s Intercontinental Champion)
• CM Punk
• Drew McIntyre

Combined with Cena and Lesnar, the roster guarantees both championship bouts and grudge matches with crossover appeal.

Head-to-Head with AEW All Out

Adding fuel to the fire, Wrestlepalooza will run the same night as AEW All Out 2025. WWE deliberately scheduling its ESPN debut against AEW’s flagship event is being viewed by many insiders as a direct challenge to Tony Khan’s promotion. Fans will be split between two stacked cards, but WWE is betting on Cena’s farewell tour, Lesnar’s return, and ESPN’s reach to dominate the headlines.

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🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

There’s no way to understate this: Wrestlepalooza is WWE making a statement. By reviving an ECW name, securing ESPN as a broadcast partner, and potentially headlining with Cena vs. Lesnar, Triple H and WWE are swinging for the fences.

The head-to-head scheduling against AEW All Out isn’t just business — it’s a shot across the bow in the ongoing wrestling war. While AEW continues to push its own fan-first vision, WWE is flexing star power and media muscle.

If Cena vs. Lesnar goes down as expected, it won’t just be another retirement tour match — it will be a clash that defines WWE’s post-Vince era, cementing ESPN’s entry into the wrestling space while fueling the rivalry with AEW.

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