Brock Lesnar is confirmed for two Friday Night SmackDown episodes in September, setting up his next storyline. He’ll appear on September 12 in Norfolk, Virginia, and September 19 in Toledo, Ohio—both just before WWE’s September 20 Premium Live Event.
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The timing points to a likely face-off with John Cena, following Lesnar’s return at SummerSlam. Lesnar had been away for nearly two years, his absence tied to mentions in the Janel Grant/Vince McMahon lawsuit. At SummerSlam, he attacked Cena, reigniting a long-standing rivalry. With Cena’s retirement tour wrapping in December 2025, the program is positioned as a featured draw.
WWE reportedly brought Lesnar back after he was legally cleared about a month before SummerSlam. Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque called the match part of “John Cena’s wishlist,” while Cena responded, “They deal ’em, I play ’em.” The company’s recent decision to drop post-PLE press conferences reflects the sensitivity around Lesnar’s return.
These SmackDown dates will serve as the final lead-in to the September 20 PLE in Indianapolis, which goes head-to-head with AEW’s All Out. A high-profile Lesnar vs. Cena match would give WWE a major selling point, and the next episodes will show how the story unfolds.
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