Not only did last week’s historic two-night SummerSlam conclude with John Cena passing the torch to the new WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, but a beast incarnate was unleashed. Brock Lesnar returned to WWE for the first time since 2023 and he targeted John Cena on his farewell tour.

There are two sides to the story and the direction WWE is going: the Brock Lesnar side and the John Cena side.

BROCK LESNAR

Lesnar’s return shocked a lot of fans with the Janel Grant allegations involving Lesnar. These are the same allegations that forced Vince McMahon’s hand to sell the company to TKO and slowly lose control of his creation. So to see Lesnar back in WWE with this looming above his head comes across as insensitive and tone deaf.

Lesnar is likely back because of WWE’s deal with ESPN to air premium live events. As a former UFC Champion, Lesnar’s name attracts a new audience and ESPN is likely hopeful that Lesnar’s name could help their new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Truth be told, a lot of athletes get second chances off their athletic ability alone. Pro wrestling has seen its fair share, while football and basketball have had plenty. Outside of the allegations, this might not be a great move for WWE and its current roster.

Brock Lesnar is known for taking premium spots from the talent there on a weekly basis. Ever since his return in 2012, also attacking John Cena, he has accepted nothing less than the top spot. Would Triple H put the championship on Brock Lesnar? I highly doubt it, considering Triple H’s track record, but Lesnar could be in high profile matches that take that position away from someone else, or even the finances to keep others under contract.

JOHN CENA

While Lesnar has a problem giving up those spots to younger talents, the latter part of John Cena’s career has been giving back to the roster. Cena’s United States Open Challenge helped bring several stars up from NXT while highlighting some of the mid-card talent that wasn’t being used. And for Cena’s farewell tour, it would be ideal to showcase the next generation that will lead up to his retirement match in December.

John Cena could mix it up with so many different wrestlers as opposed to Brock Lesnar. Carmelo Hayes, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu, LA Knight on SmackDown, along with Bron Breakker, Dominik Mysterio, Gunther, and Penta on Raw, are just some of the fresh matchups we could see for Cena in his farewell tour. Instead, we might be getting a rerun with Brock Lesnar, as we have already relived programs with Randy Orton and CM Punk in 2025.

John Cena’s farewell tour might have already been altered due to WWE discontinuing their relationship with Travis Scott and whatever story was brewing with Cena, Scott, and The Rock. Cena turned babyface on the SmackDown before SummerSlam and whether this was the original plan or not, Lesnar coming back has a wrinkle into what WWE fans thought this would be.

We only have a few remaining dates on this tour and I wonder how Brock Lesnar fits into John Cena’s plans. Logan Paul is already confirmed to be Cena’s opponent later this month at Clash in Paris on August 31st. That leaves Crown Jewel on October 11, Survivor Series on November 29, or John Cena’s retirement match as the only three options for Lesnar. If that’s the case, Crown Jewel appears more likely, but fans most definitely don’t want Lesnar to be Cena’s final match. It doesn’t make sense and it doesn’t advance the business forward. That move would, in all honesty, ruin wrestling.

So welcome back, Brock Lesnar. WWE was doing fine without him, and if anything, his return takes away from not only talent, but how special the John Cena Farewell Tour can be these final four months.

What do you think about Lesnar’s return to WWE? Is this best for business or ruining wrestling?