John Cena Offers Perspective on Brock Lesnar's Divisive SummerSlam Return

The unexpected return of Brock Lesnar at WWE SummerSlam, culminating in an attack on John Cena, has ignited a fervent discussion across the professional wrestling landscape, with Cena himself offering a measured perspective on the controversial comeback. Lesnar’s re-emergence, two years after his last appearance, has been met with a contentious online reaction, largely due to his tangential involvement in an ongoing sex trafficking lawsuit against WWE and its former CEO, Vince McMahon. While the company initially distanced itself from Lesnar following the allegations, his sudden reappearance suggests a strategic pivot in its creative direction, potentially setting the stage for a significant program with Cena as the latter embarks on what he describes as the final chapter of his illustrious career.

Lesnar’s hiatus from WWE programming began following his last match, a loss to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2023. His absence became particularly notable when he was named in Janel Grant’s sex trafficking lawsuit, filed against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE itself. The lawsuit, which detailed allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation, mentioned Lesnar without listing him as a defendant, asserting that McMahon had shared explicit content involving Lesnar with Grant and offered her to Lesnar as part of a potential talent contract negotiation. This public association with serious allegations prompted WWE to quietly remove Lesnar from various promotional materials, including the opening "Then. Now. Forever. Together." video package and the WWE 2K24 video game cover, signaling a deliberate effort to create distance during the initial fallout. The company’s actions at the time were widely interpreted as an attempt to protect its brand image, especially under the new corporate structure of TKO Group Holdings, the Endeavor-owned entity formed from the merger of WWE and UFC.

Against this backdrop of corporate repositioning and public scrutiny, Lesnar’s return at SummerSlam 2025 was a moment of profound shock and immediate contention. After John Cena’s defeat to Cody Rhodes in what was presented as a high-stakes encounter, Lesnar’s signature entrance music reverberated through the arena, sending a wave of both cheers and gasps through the live audience. Lesnar proceeded to confront and attack Cena, laying him out with an F-5, seemingly initiating a new storyline.

In the immediate aftermath, Cena provided a brief, yet telling, statement to "Adam’s Apple" in a street interview, shedding light on his role and understanding of WWE’s creative decisions. "I think SummerSlam was an indication from the audience where everybody kind of knows we’re closing our book," Cena remarked, referring to his own winding down of his full-time wrestling career. "And just because I close my book in December, that doesn’t mean the WWE closes its books. They have to continue their programming going forward. So, they’re just trying to make the most exciting show for the fans, man. I got a dozen of them left. They deal ’em, I play ’em."

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Cena’s assertion, "They deal ’em, I play ’em," suggests a pragmatic approach to his remaining contractual obligations and a deference to WWE’s creative direction. It implies that as a part-time performer nearing the end of his active in-ring tenure, he is prepared to work with whatever storylines and opponents the company presents, rather than actively dictating his own path. This statement subtly contrasts with comments made by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque (Triple H) during the official SummerSlam post-show press conference. Levesque had offered a different narrative, stating, "This is John Cena’s wishlist… It’s him writing the last chapter of his book, and I think people saw a conversation with us where he said we’d have to screw it up pretty badly to ruin his career. But it’s not about that for me. It’s about John being able to go out the way he wants to go out. To write his chapter."

The apparent discrepancy between Cena’s "they deal ’em" and Levesque’s "Cena’s wishlist" highlights the complex dynamics of creative control within WWE, particularly concerning a legendary figure like Cena. While Levesque’s statement aims to portray Cena as an active participant in shaping his final acts, Cena’s own words suggest a more passive, company-driven role. This divergence raises questions about the extent of creative autonomy afforded to veteran performers and the official narrative WWE chooses to present to its audience. For a company under increased scrutiny from a corporate standpoint, managing public perception regarding controversial talent decisions is paramount.

The potential program between Cena and Lesnar also taps into a rich history of one of WWE’s most enduring and impactful rivalries. Their careers have been intertwined for over two decades, beginning with their first major championship encounter at Backlash 2003, where Lesnar, then the reigning WWE Champion, defeated Cena. The rivalry was famously reignited in 2012 when Lesnar made his highly anticipated return to WWE after an eight-year absence, culminating in a brutal Extreme Rules match where Cena emerged victorious in a surprising upset.

However, it was their SummerSlam 2014 main event that indelibly cemented Lesnar’s dominance and redefined his "Beast Incarnate" persona. In a shocking display, Lesnar comprehensively decimated Cena, delivering 16 German suplexes and two F-5s to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, essentially launching the "Suplex City" era. This match was widely seen as a symbolic passing of the torch, signaling Lesnar’s ascendancy to an unparalleled level of in-ring destruction and Cena’s transition to a more established, albeit less dominant, figure. Subsequent encounters, such as their clash at Night of Champions 2014, further solidified Lesnar’s upper hand in their storied series.

A new program between these two titans, particularly as Cena winds down his career, carries immense historical weight. Cena, a 16-time World Champion and the face of the company for over a decade, has transitioned into a successful Hollywood career, making sporadic appearances for WWE. His current "retirement tour" status signifies a limited number of remaining matches, making each appearance a significant event. The decision to involve Lesnar in what could be one of Cena’s final major feuds underscores WWE’s strategy to leverage its biggest stars for maximum impact, even amidst controversy.

The immediate reaction from fans at SummerSlam was a mixture of audible cheers and palpable shock, indicative of Lesnar’s undeniable star power and the unexpected nature of his return. However, the broader online discourse quickly shifted to a more critical tone, with many fans and wrestling journalists expressing discomfort with Lesnar’s return given the allegations. Social media platforms buzzed with discussions about corporate ethics, the accountability of public figures, and whether entertainment value should supersede moral considerations. This dichotomy highlights the ongoing challenge for WWE: balancing the desire to create compelling, shock-inducing television with the increasing demand for corporate responsibility in the public eye, especially under the governance of TKO Group Holdings.

Looking ahead, the attack on Cena almost certainly signals a forthcoming match, or series of matches, between the two legends. Given Cena’s statement about having "a dozen of them left," this program would likely be one of the final significant chapters in his in-ring career. Potential venues for a showdown could include major Premium Live Events such as Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia (historically a location for high-profile, part-time talent matches, potentially in November 2025), Elimination Chamber (perhaps in February 2026), or even the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania 42 (tentatively scheduled for April 2026). A match at WrestleMania would provide a fitting, if controversial, send-off for Cena, allowing him to potentially end his full-time career against one of his greatest adversaries.

The narrative possibilities are varied: Lesnar could be positioned to definitively end Cena’s career, or Cena could overcome the controversial shadow of Lesnar’s return to retire on his own terms. How WWE chooses to address, or ignore, the legal context surrounding Lesnar within its storylines will be a critical factor in how this program is received. The commercial viability of such a high-profile feud, despite its controversial backdrop, remains a key driver for a publicly traded company like TKO.

The next several weeks of WWE television will be crucial in informing the wisdom of this decision once the initial shock wears off. The company must navigate a delicate balance between delivering the spectacle that fans crave and addressing the broader public’s expectations regarding corporate accountability and ethical considerations. The situation underscores the complex challenges inherent in modern sports entertainment, where the lines between performance, corporate strategy, and public perception are increasingly blurred.