Summerslam 2025: Why Did Brock Lesnar Attack John Cena?
Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE at Summerslam 2025 threw the whole wrestling world upside down. Honestly, most fans were just starting to believe we'd seen the last of "The Beast" in a WWE ring, but after John Cena’s huge clash with Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, Lesnar showed up and wrecked Cena with an F5. It was classic Lesnar—loud, shocking, and a little bit ruthless, sending Twitter and Instagram into a frenzy overnight. The conversation right now isn’t just about the attack itself, but why Lesnar chose this moment, this target, and what it means for Cena’s so-called “final year.”
On X/Twitter, @WWE: "BROCK LESNAR HAS RETURNED. THE BEAST IS UNLEASHED!"
On another X/Twitter, @WWEUK: "THE BEAST HAS RETURNED!!!"
On X/Twitter, @TannyWrestling: "Believe me, kids—this isn’t the first time. Brock Lesnar loves making a comeback and dropping John Cena with an F5."
On X/Twitter, @bunnymon_tv: "I never saw Brock Lesnar’s return coming, and I’m thrilled that I get to see him live for the very first time!"
Why Did Brock Lesnar Come Back To WWE
Lesnar’s return looked like it was all about making a statement, and the story is as wild offscreen as it is on. After being out for two solid years, stuck in legal drama surrounding former WWE execs and his own rumored ties to lawsuits, Lesnar was off the radar for most of 2024 and half of 2025. WWE insiders hinted that he was under a sort of “legal lockdown,” but suppose that’s cleared up now. Some say he just couldn’t stay away: with Cena celebrating what may be his last ride and rumors swirling about one final Cena-Lesnar showdown, this was a moment too big for Lesnar’s ego to ignore.
On X/Twitter, @LobCityGimmick: "Don’t believe the dirt sheet reporters—most fans aren’t glued to X like they are. The crowd erupted for Brock, and there wasn’t a single boo in the building."
There’s also the business side. WWE has always pulled out the Brock Lesnar card when things need a shock to the system—the guy is money, simple as that. He returned before at key moments (think 2012 and that F5 to Cena), but this time, some fans think Lesnar didn’t just want a pop—he wanted Cena, right as millions of eyeballs tuned in to see if this was the end for the sixteen-time champ.
When Did Brock Lesnar Leave WWE
You gotta dig into Lesnar’s strange WWE timeline to get how big this return really is. He originally left WWE back in 2004, saying he couldn’t stand the schedule or the travel. He wasn’t coming back, or so he said; but then, just like now, he showed up, back for the drama, back for the money. His more recent exit came after the summer of 2023, right after losing a killer feud to Cody Rhodes. That seemed like it for a bit, especially after Lesnar’s name started floating around in all the backstage legal mess tied to WWE’s leadership. Because of all that, WWE actually scrubbed Lesnar from tons of their promos and even their video games while the company waited out the legal mess.
But even before Summerslam 2025, plenty of people guessed he’d be back if the legal issues cleared and business needed a jolt. Guess they were right.
Was This Just About Cena?
When Lesnar finally hit the ring after Cena’s brutal street fight with Rhodes, he didn’t chase the title or pick a fight with match winner Cody. No, he went straight for Cena. That’s something most older fans recognized: Lesnar and Cena’s rivalry is a thing of legend, dating back more than a decade. Maybe Lesnar just wanted one last shot to cement his place—especially since Cena might really be on his “retirement tour” this year. One popular theory, all over social, says Lesnar would never pass up one last chance to ruin Cena’s curtain call. Pure wrestling drama.
On X/Twitter, @WWE: "Cody Rhodes has taken the Undisputed WWE Championship from John Cena at SummerSlam!"
What’s Next After Summerslam? Pain, Maybe.
No official match is set, but almost everyone expects Cena vs. Lesnar to headline again, probably at ‘Clash in Paris’ at the end of August. There’s gonna be more pain—the kind WWE fans crave: the two big names who made SmackDown must-see, battling as Cena’s run winds down. If you’re a Cena fan, it hurts to see him get flattened like that. But if you’re here for the chaos, Lesnar is the ultimate chaos engine.
One more thing: after that F5 at the end of Summerslam, you couldn’t ask for a clearer message from Lesnar. He ain't interested in titles, at least not yet. It’s about pride, about legacy, about ending, or ruining, Cena’s final act. Honestly? Watching wrestling icons crash into each other like this is why fans never truly log off.
Lesnar’s attack on Cena wasn’t just about one night or one grudge. It’s years of history, unsettled scores, and, I’d argue, Lesnar’s hunger to always make sure he, not Cena, gets the last word. If you’re in it for pain and spectacle, and you love a good swerve right when it matters, you got your money’s worth at Summerslam 2025. Cena’s looking for a legacy finish; Lesnar just wants a legacy of pain
