Brock Lesnar Delivers Brutal Wrestlepalooza-Opening Beatdown on John Cena, Stunning WWE Universe
The WWE Universe was left shell-shocked as Brock Lesnar unleashed a savage, one-sided assault on John Cena to kick off Wrestlepalooza on September 20, 2025, in Indianapolis, evoking the infamous SummerSlam 2014 massacre. In a match billed as a marquee clash on WWE’s first-ever premium live event streamed on the ESPN App, “The Beast” returned after more than two years away, dismantling the retiring 16-time world champion with a barrage of F-5s that turned the opener into a clinical demolition. This Lesnar beatdown on Cena at Wrestlepalooza not only set a ferocious tone for the night but reignited a legendary rivalry, leaving fans buzzing about Cena’s farewell tour and Lesnar’s unstoppable return in the WWE 2025 comeback storyline.
The Shocking Start: Lesnar’s Rampage Echoes 2014 Glory
Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted as John Cena, on his ongoing retirement tour, made his entrance accompanied by a group of wide-eyed children, soaking in the “Let’s Go Cena” chants from over 15,000 fans. Ring announcer Alicia Taylor began hyping the 16-time champ, but the mood shifted when Paul Heyman—fresh off a SmackDown reunion tease with Lesnar—stormed the ramp to deliver a booming introduction for “The Beast Incarnate.”
The bell rang at 7 p.m. ET, and Lesnar wasted no time, charging Cena like a freight train. Within seconds, he hoisted the Cenation leader for a German suplex city tour, followed by a spinebuster that shook the mat. Cena mounted a brief comeback with three Attitude Adjustments (AAs), each met with Cena’s signature roar, but Lesnar kicked out emphatically, his massive frame absorbing the punishment like it was nothing.
The turning point came at the 12:47 mark: Lesnar countered a fourth AA attempt into his first F-5, flattening Cena for the three-count. But “The Beast” wasn’t done. He dragged Cena’s limp body back to the center, hit a second F-5, then a third—mirroring the 2014 beatdown that ended Cena’s reign. As referees and medics swarmed, Lesnar paused, then delivered a fourth, fifth, and sixth F-5, leaving Cena motionless. In a final act of defiance, he F-5’d the referee for good measure before striding up the ramp to Heyman’s cheers, Cena’s music playing ironically in the background.
Michael Cole’s call of “hellacious, uncomfortable beatdown” captured the carnage, as Cena—battered and bloodied from a mid-match bust-open—crawled to the ropes to acknowledge the stunned crowd on his own terms.
Backstory: From SummerSlam Tease to ESPN Debut Collision
This clash traces back to SummerSlam 2025, where Cena’s emotional post-match farewell after losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes was interrupted by Lesnar’s thunderous return—his first appearance since 2023 SummerSlam. The Beast’s music hit amid Cena’s curtain call, planting seeds for this Wrestlepalooza showdown, announced on The Pat McAfee Show just days prior.
Lesnar, sidelined by legal and health issues, looked every bit the 300-pound monster, his physique “as big as ever,” per analysts. For Cena, it’s stop number whatever on his 2025-26 farewell odyssey, ending at WrestleMania 42, but this loss—his second straight major defeat—adds poignant grit to his “One Last Time” narrative. Their history? Six one-on-one bouts, Lesnar leading 4-2, with the last clean win for Cena in 2014 via DQ.
Heyman’s involvement ties into his Vision faction alignment, teasing a Lesnar-Rollins program down the line.
Fan Frenzy and Expert Breakdown: Shockwaves Across Social Media
The beatdown lit up X (formerly Twitter), with #LesnarBeatdown and #Wrestlepalooza trending worldwide within minutes. Fans posted recreations of the 2014 meme, one user quipping, “Yep, WWE recreated Summerslam 2014 beatdown. Brock Lesnar destroy John Cena #Wrestlepalooza.” Cena loyalists mourned the “uncomfortable” finish, while Lesnar marks chanted “Suplex City” in the arena and online.
Experts hailed it as a “textbook Lesnar match,” with CBS Sports’ grading it A- for nostalgia and brutality, though some critiqued the squash as “predictable” in a stacked card featuring AJ Lee’s return. Wrestling Inc. noted shades of 2014’s 16 German suplexes, calling it a “stunner” that buried Cena’s momentum but elevated The Beast’s aura. Pat McAfee, on commentary, screamed, “This is why we call him The Beast!”
What It Means for WWE Fans: Legacy, ESPN Era, and Cena’s Tour
For die-hard WWE enthusiasts, this opener was a gut-punch of nostalgia and finality—Cena’s retirement tour now carries the weight of Lesnar’s shadow, blending Attitude Era echoes with modern storytelling. Casual viewers tuning into ESPN’s PLE debut got a brutal baptism, spiking app downloads by 20% in the first hour.
Economically, it boosted Indy tourism and merch sales, with Lesnar tees outselling Cena’s by 3:1 post-match. Lifestyle impact? Families at watch parties debated Cena’s resilience over barbecues, while kids mimicked F-5s in backyards. Politically in WWE lore, it cements Lesnar as the ultimate conqueror, potentially setting up a Crown Jewel rematch or faction war.
Tech-savvy fans raved about seamless ESPN streaming, making mobile viewing a breeze for on-the-go superfans.
Fallout Preview: Cena’s Resilience and Lesnar’s Rampage Ahead
Brock Lesnar’s Wrestlepalooza-opening beatdown stunned the WWE Universe, reaffirming his dominance while etching another brutal chapter in Cena’s farewell saga. As Cena vows “never give up” on Raw tomorrow—perhaps eyeing revenge at Crown Jewel—Lesnar’s path of destruction looms large, teasing alliances with The Vision and more chaos. In this WWE 2025 comeback era, one F-5 changed everything, proving The Beast is back, hungrier than ever, and ready to conquer the ring once more.