John Cena’s Charlotte Flair defeats Rick Flair’s title record
Professional wrestler Charlotte Flair opens up about John Cena surpassing her father’s iconic title record.
Seriously sports
A new era of WWE’s premium live events begins with a big deal.
WRESTLEPALOOZA 2025 has arrived as it will be WWE’s first premium live event streaming on ESPN. The company’s top show on Top Sports Network will require partnerships with big events to be launched, and will be delivered on cards filled with megastars.
John Cena is nearing the end of his farewell tour, and he opposes Brock Lesnar, who has returned. After her stunning return, AJ Lee joins a match between her husband, CM Punk and rivals Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. The indisputable WWE Championship will also appear, with the new women’s world champions crowned.
It’s a juicy event and certainly the event that sets the stage for the rest of the year.
Follow USA Today Sports for all the actions of Wrestlepalooza 2025:
With an electric introduction to Paul Heyman, Lesnar immediately attacks and puts Cena on the ground. He throws Cena around the ring while he shines on the fans.
Ongoing matches.
The defenders are back in Lesnar. Because Heyman introduced him to a long-time friend after having a conversation on SmackDown the night before.
When children join China at the iconic entrance, it is a party of 17 champions.
The sports media giant travels to Indianapolis from Miami’s “College Gemedai” earlier in the day. McAfee returns to commentary, accompanied by Indiana Pacers star Tyrees Halliburton.
WWE’s Chief Content Officer brings Mike to welcome people into “the final form of sports and entertainment.”
When is WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025?
The event will be held on Saturday, September 20th.
WWE Wrestlepalooza Start Time 2025
Wrestlepalooza starts at 7pm. Wrestlepalooza Preshow starts at 5pm.
Where is WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025?
Wrestlepalooza 2025 is located at Gainbridge Field House in Indianapolis.
How to watch WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025
WWE Wrestlepalooza streams through ESPN’s streaming service. Viewers can sign up for a subscription to the site here. Subscriptions start at $29.99 per month.
ESPN streaming services are available from selected cables and TV packages, including:
If your cable or TV package contains ESPN, you can see here how to activate it. This event will also be shown at select cinemas across the country.
Internationally, Wrestlepalooza will be available on Netflix in most markets.
Stream WWE WRESTLEPALOOZA on ESPN
WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 Preshow: How to watch
Wrestlepalooza Presow can watch ESPN and WWE social platforms such as YouTube and Tiktok.
WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 Match Card
Not match
- John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
- AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rolins
- USOS (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed)
- Women’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer
- Uncontroversial WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (C) vs Drew McIntyre
As announced at The Pat McAfee Show on September 18th, John Cena and Brock Lesnar will be the opening match for Wrestlepalooza.
The uncontroversial WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre finishes the night.
The wrestling writer for USA Today Sports predicts what will unfold at Wrestlepalooza. Check out our full predictions for the entire event here.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
- Jordan Mendaza: John Cena
- Richard Morin: John Cena
AJ Lee and CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch and Seth Rolins
- Jordan Mendaza: AJ Lee and CM Punk
- Richard Morin: AJ Lee and CM Punk
USOS (Jimmy and Jey Uso) vs. Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed)
- Jordan Mendaza: vision
- Richard Morin: vision
Women’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer
- Jordan Mendaza: Stephanie Varker
- Richard Morin: Stephanie Varker
Uncontroversial WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
- Jordan Mendaza: Drew McIntyre
- Richard Morin: Drew McIntyre
Wrestlepalooza marks the launch of a new partnership for WWE with ESPN. This is because we stream premium live events on the platform after doing so with Peacock before.
According to CNBC, the deal averages $325 million per year over five years. All WWE Premium Live events will air on ESPN. “WWE has a dedicated and passionate fan base that is thrilled to be able to provide superservices on the new ESPN DTC platform,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “The agreement, featuring the most important WWE events of the year, will help strengthen our unprecedented content portfolio and drive the future of streaming.”
It’s time to brighten it up.
AJ Lee won the WWE after resigning from wrestling 10 years ago. Lee made a comeback with the September 5th edition on Smackdown and joined her husband’s commercial punk in her hometown of Chicago.
Her return to wrestling is something fans hoped for for years. Known for her volatile persona and her elite promotional skills and signature skip, Lee is considered one of the best wrestlers of the early 2010s. She has consistently been at the top of the women’s category, a three-time diva champion and is most ruler-bound in what was once the top women’s title. She retired in 2015.
Cena’s time is pretty much there as the 2025 farewell tour is the final few months. In the final year of competition in the ring, Cena won the uncontroversial WWE Championship with the Elimination Chamber, becoming the first 17-time title holder in WWE history.
Wrestlepalooza recorded its 31st appearance in 2025, with 36 being promised for the final year of wrestling, so there are only five shows left at Cena after the show. His career will peak in the main event on Saturday night, December 13th.
His next appearance will not be until October 11th of WWE Crown Jewel: Perth. The remaining dates for his final run are as follows:
- October 11th: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Australia, Perth)
- November 10th: RAW (Boston, Massachusetts)
- November 17th: RAW (New York, New York)
- November 29th: Survivor Series (San Diego, California)
- December 13th: Retirement match at the main event on Saturday night (location TBD)
After Naomi frees up the title for pregnancy, the new women’s world champion will crown. She was set to face Vaquer in Clash in Paris, but dropped the championship before the event.
Vaquer, who won the title opportunity in Evolution, is still given the chance and faces Sky, who was the champion before Naomi won by cashing her money in a bank deal.
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