John Cena is set to retire from in-ring competition this week, and it sounds like WWE could be planning Brock Lesnar‘s exit, too.
Cena spoke with Chris Van Vliet ahead of his retirement match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. During the conversation, Van Vliet asked about the “quick” match Cena had with Lesnar at WWE Wrestlepalooza in September. Cena and Lesnar went eight minutes, and it was a match that Lesnar dominated.
Cena says it didn’t feel quick from his point of view, but he appreciates the public’s ability to weigh in on things like that. While explaining how he often seems to be lined up as a foil for Lesnar when he returns to WWE, he hinted that Lesnar’s swan song might be coming next year.
“I’ve been in this seat before. It’s like I’m always in the seat when Brock comes back, Rock after Miami, who’s the next guy? SummerSlam with Roman, here he comes again. After he beats Taker for the streak, I’ve sat in this seat before. You have to figure out who gets the shine that night and if, in his return again, only my perspective. This attraction where we are going to build until he goes into the sunset, which is, I think, in Minnesota? Creatively, it’s very soon. To create a mountain to climb for someone, you have to build the mountain,” Cena said.
Brock Lesnar has an important connection to Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, will host SummerSlam at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 1 and August 2, 2026. Lesnar was born in Webster, South Dakota, but has significant ties to Minnesota, as it’s where he made his name as a collegiate wrestler at the University of Minnesota.
When he became a professional wrestler, Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin were known as The Minnesota Stretching Crew in Ohio Valley Wrestling. In addition, Lesnar also briefly played for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings in 2004.
In regard to losing so decisively to Lesnar, Cena said it didn’t hurt him since he’s on his way out, but he’s also still a marquee name. Cena compared it to pro sports and said sometimes, great teams get blown out, but they all did their best to build Brock and make it a good battle.
“We all did the best we could to make it a competitive fight into the middle. People forget I was in that arena when Brock fell down for the first time on the shoulder tackle, and then I was able to give them all the stuff,” Cena explained. “They were into it, and then just a bunch of gratuitous F5’s. That’s how you build Brock.”
Read More: Top WWE Star Seemingly Written Off On RAW