WrestlePalooza on ESPN set to feature John Cena vs Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre according to new reports

WWE’s first ever WrestlePalooza on ESPN is shaping up as a landmark night, and the rumor mill has settled on two blockbuster bouts that would headline any era. Reports indicate the card is expected to feature Brock Lesnar against John Cena, alongside Cody Rhodes defending the undisputed title against Drew McIntyre, all on Saturday September 20 2025 in Indianapolis. The event opens WWE’s new partnership with ESPN platforms in the United States, which makes this already historic show even more consequential. 

What WrestlePalooza Represents for WWE and ESPN

WrestlePalooza is the debut premium live event under the new ESPN deal, a multi year shift that moves WWE tentpole shows to ESPN’s direct to consumer service, with the first broadcast scheduled from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at 7 p m Eastern. The announcement formalized what had been bubbling for months, that ESPN would begin carrying WWE events in the United States while Monday Night Raw transitions domestically to Netflix next year. For WWE, the partnership deepens mainstream sports visibility. For ESPN, the addition of a year round live event engine offers a steady rhythm of audience touchpoints beyond the traditional team sport calendar. 

The timing and the branding are deliberate. By launching on September 20 with a fresh event title rather than a legacy name, WWE signals that this is a new chapter rather than a retread. The positioning in Indianapolis, a city that packed the 2025 Royal Rumble earlier in the year, also hints at strong local appetite and a venue that WWE trusts to deliver a hot crowd for a first impression on a new platform. 

Cena vs Lesnar: One More Clash of Titans

Rumors of John Cena facing Brock Lesnar have intensified through August, and multiple outlets have tied the dream match to the September 20 event. The story has heat. Lesnar’s shocking return at SummerSlam set the table when he drilled Cena with an F5 after the main event, a perfect spark for a final act between two icons whose careers have defined entire eras. Industry reporting has framed this as the planned main event for the new show once WWE confirms the date and ESPN alignment. 

The stakes go beyond nostalgia. Cena has already announced a farewell tour that culminates in a final match in December, which places every remaining stop under a bright spotlight. If he meets Lesnar at WrestlePalooza, the narrative writes itself. Cena is on the last lap of urgency, a legend hunting one more signature win. Lesnar is the ultimate final boss, the one man who can turn a curtain call into a fight night. Execution matters. A sprint could capture the old chaos of their prior collisions. A bruising fifteen-minute struggle could mirror the modern main event style and let the broadcast showcase both men as cleverly protected attractions. Either way, the aura will be immense. 

There is also a business lens. WWE wants a launch night that pulls lapsed fans into ESPN’s new service while giving current viewers a must see hook. Cena and Lesnar are crossover names who do not require weeks of explainer packages. Their resumes are the promotion. Placing them on the same card that introduces an ESPN era is clever brand architecture. It tells every casual observer that this is not a soft rollout, it is an event that matters. 

Rhodes vs McIntyre: A Championship Grudge With Real Bite

While the legends draw the headlines, reports also point to an undisputed title defense for Cody Rhodes against Drew McIntyre on the same night. The pairing has logic and momentum. McIntyre has been positioned as a credible menace who can force Rhodes into high-pressure title defenses. Their chemistry has delivered in previous encounters, and both men work at a pace that typically anchors modern WWE main events. Several reputable outlets have aligned on this direction since mid-week, with additional context from earlier predictions that framed the rivalry as a near-term headliner. 

For the ESPN launch, a Rhodes title defense would provide contemporary top-of-the-card substance to complement the Cena-Lesnar nostalgia. It also deepens the value proposition for subscribers. A landmark platform debut featuring a true championship bout and a megastar special attraction is hard to beat. From a booking standpoint, Rhodes retaining on night one of the ESPN era would be the safe play. McIntyre’s win would be the shock that says anything can happen on this new stage. Either call fits the larger strategy: to make WrestlePalooza feel essential, not experimental. 

Final Thoughts 

The ESPN partnership changes viewing habits for American audiences and resets the commercial framing around WWE’s live events. Pricing, bundling, and availability across carriers are all part of the early conversation, and several consumer guides have already spelled out what the first months will look like for subscribers. The headline is simple: Fans who want every monthly special will now look to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer service, with certain television bundles including access, and others still negotiating. WrestlePalooza is the launch pad that makes those details feel real. 

From a creative angle, debuting with Cena and Lesnar signals confidence. WWE is not saving the legends for later. The company is front-loading the ESPN era with a match that can move headlines in both sports and entertainment press. It also allows creatives to use the result as a hinge. If Cena wins, the road to his December swan song carries a sense of triumph. If Lesnar steamrolls him, the farewell becomes a fight against time and mortality. That dynamic sells every stop on the tour and rewards ESPN with a story that mainstream outlets can track week to week. 

At the same time, giving Rhodes and McIntyre a title fight on the same card says the modern roster is the backbone of the new distribution plan. The message is that the platform shift is not only about familiar names drawing attention, but it is also about the current champion delivering the kind of match quality that keeps subscribers engaged after the first month. This balance is the sweet spot for a big rights transition. One match hooks the broadest possible audience, the other game satisfies the core viewers who will stick around for the long haul. 

If these bouts are finalized, WrestlePalooza will not just be a name on a calendar. It will be a statement about what WWE intends to be in this next phase. Legends will still headline when it makes sense. The title scene will remain the weekly heartbeat. The production will aim for a big event scale worthy of a first impression on a sports giant. Indianapolis gets the first look. The rest of the industry will be watching closely.