WWE Reportedly Reviving Wrestlepalooza for September PLE — Cena vs. Lesnar Main Event in Play?
WWE’s Premium Live Event calendar isn’t slowing down anytime soon. After an action-packed summer that included Saturday Night’s Main Event, NXT’s Great American Bash, the Evolution special, and the first-ever two-night SummerSlam, the company is rumored to be adding yet another major show to the mix before Crown Jewel in October.
According to new reports from WrestleVotes, WWE is preparing to announce a September 20 PLE that could directly challenge AEW All Out. The event name? None other than Wrestlepalooza — a title that will immediately ring bells for longtime fans of ECW.
From ECW Legacy to WWE Spotlight
Wrestlepalooza was originally the name of ECW’s flagship shows in the mid-to-late ‘90s, with editions running in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2000. WWE has never used the moniker for its own programming, which makes this rumored revival a surprising but intriguing choice.
Initial speculation suggested WWE might dust off names like Bad Blood or another classic PLE title, but instead the company appears to be digging deeper into wrestling history. If confirmed, it would mark a fresh addition to the WWE calendar — and one carrying major expectations.
September 20th, it’s a “Wrestlepalooza”…
— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) August 18, 2025
Cena vs. Lesnar on the Horizon?
The bigger buzz surrounding Wrestlepalooza isn’t just the name, but the potential card. Dave Meltzer recently reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE is exploring a blockbuster main event between John Cena and Brock Lesnar for the show.
Fans had speculated that Cena vs. Lesnar might headline Clash in Paris on August 31, but plans shifted with Cena now set to face Logan Paul overseas. That leaves Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the rumored host venue for Wrestlepalooza, as the more likely site for the long-awaited rematch.
If confirmed, it would mark Cena and Lesnar’s first singles encounter since Night of Champions in September 2014. Their last clash of any kind came at the 2015 Royal Rumble in a Triple Threat Match also involving Seth Rollins, where Lesnar walked out still WWE Champion.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
If WWE truly goes forward with Wrestlepalooza, it’s a fascinating move. Not only does the name carry underground nostalgia from ECW, but it would give WWE a fresh branding option at a time when the company is experimenting with global expansion and creative scheduling. Cena vs. Lesnar as the headliner? That’s as box office as it gets. WWE clearly wants to plant its flag opposite AEW’s All Out, and there’s no bigger way to do it than rolling out two of the most iconic names of the last two decades. If this comes together, expect fireworks — both in the ring and in the industry.
