John Cena has offered insight into WWE’s long-term creative plans for Brock Lesnar, suggesting the company already has a destination in mind for Lesnar’s eventual farewell.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, John Cena discussed their match from earlier this year, where Brock Lesnar defeated him decisively. He said the booking was designed to re-establish Lesnar as a dominant force, creating “a mountain” for a future star to conquer, likely in Lesnar’s home state of Minnesota.
“You have to figure out who gets the shine that night,” Cena said. “In his return again, only my perspective, this is an attraction where we are going to build until he goes into the sunset, which is, I think, in Minnesota. Creatively, it is very soon to create a mountain to climb for someone, you have to build a mountain.”
Minneapolis will host SummerSlam 2026 across two nights at U.S. Bank Stadium. With Lesnar’s history as an NCAA Heavyweight Champion for the University of Minnesota, the venue has been widely viewed as a natural location for a potential retirement match.
Cena said he had no issue taking a one-sided loss during his farewell tour, believing his role was to help prepare Lesnar for that eventual moment.
“I am on my way out. It is not like it is going to hurt me, but I am a viable commodity, and it is a great main event. See these two titans for the last time, and it is okay. Sometimes your team gets blown out.”
When asked to describe Lesnar in one word, Cena called him “the best,” adding that Lesnar’s presence in the industry is unmatched.
“Brock is a once in a genre. There will be one Brock Lesnar in wrestling, from carnival time to the time we shut the lights out,” he said.
Cena added that if another performer of Lesnar’s calibre emerges, he has not seen them yet.
How Many Times Has John Cena Faced Brock Lesnar In WWE?
John Cena and Brock Lesnar have wrestled seven singles matches against each other since 2002, with their first encounter taking place on the September 17, 2002, episode of SmackDown, where Lesnar defeated Cena in just under six minutes.
Cena got his first win against Lesnar at the 2012 Extreme Rules pay-per-view, defeating him in the main event of the show in an Extreme Rules match in what is widely considered the pair’s best match together. Their last encounter took place at this year’s Wrestlepalooza, where Lesnar defeated Cena in just under nine minutes.
