Brock Lesnar returns to WWE SmackDown, derails John Cena’s farewell, confirms Wrestlepalooza showdown match

Brock Lesnar made a dramatic return to WWE programming on September 5, Friday night, at SmackDown, marking his first appearance since his shocking comeback at SummerSlam in August. The arrival of “The Beast Incarnate” in Chicago confirmed earlier rumors about his travel plans to the Windy City.

Friday night also marked Cena’s final SmackDown appearance. The 16,600-strong crowd at Allstate Arena witnessed a heartfelt moment as Cena thanked fans for their support and reflected on his WWE journey. The segment was interrupted by Sami Zayn, who sought to create a “full circle” moment with Cena.

In the United States Championship match between John Cena and Sami Zayn, the interference by Lesnar cost Cena the title, continuing a campaign against the 17-time world champion that began with a SummerSlam assault on August 3.


The attack unfolded in the match’s closing moments. Lesnar pulled the referee out of the ring, preventing a potential pinfall by Cena, before hitting Sami Zayn with an F5. He then delivered two consecutive F5s to Cena, leaving the audience in shock. The confrontation sets the stage for a highly anticipated match between Cena and Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.



Over a decade ago, Zayn made his main roster debut by answering Cena’s United States Open Challenge. Friday night, he asked for permission to host his own version of the challenge, offering Cena the first shot at the title. The two delivered a high-energy, back-and-forth contest, with the audience firmly behind the veteran champion, until Lesnar’s shocking intervention.

Moments after the attack, Lesnar approached a camera operator in gorilla and told Cena he'd see him at Wrestlepalooza. The match was quickly confirmed for the next Premium Live Event on Saturday, September 20, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.