Brock Lesnar's First WWE SmackDown Appearance Revealed

Lesnar hasn't been seen since dropping Cena with an F5, and it appears he'll be absent from WWE TV for another month. He is advertised for two upcoming SmackDown shows, the first on September 12 at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

The former 10-time WWE Champion will then appear next at the Huntington Centre in Toledo, Ohio, on September 19. He looks set to be a member of the blue brand rather than RAW as he embarks on another feud with Cena.

Lesnar and Cena's likely one-on-one match, a result of Lesnar's SummerSlam attack, could take place at Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, on October 11. They may not encounter one another in person before that date because Cena is advertised for the two SmackDown shows (September 5 and September 15) that Lesnar will seemingly miss.

Those dates come after Clash in Paris, which is WWE's next PLE and sees Cena face Logan Paul in a singles match on August 31. There is a possibility that we see Lesnar make an unannounced appearance, and a potential surprise attack on Cena in Paris could also be a possibility.

How Brock Lesnar's Return Was Kept Quiet

Lesnar's return was shocking for several reasons, including the fact that there was no word at all of him appearing at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He stunned fans in attendance who gave him an almighty pop before he took out Cena to make a statement of intent.

It had been two years since the former UFC heavyweight had appeared in the company, last seen raising Cody Rhodes' hand after losing to the American Nightmare at SummerSlam. It was ironic that he'd make his return at the very same PLE.

According to a report from Fightful, Lesnar's appearance was kept on the hush by WWE's higher-ups, and they went to "great lengths" to keep it a surprise. He was reportedly flown into Teterboro Airport on August 2, a smaller airport that wouldn't attract attention.

It's claimed that not even some WWE writers and producers were informed of the plans to close the PLE, and that the cancellation of the post-show press conference was a result of keeping the appearance a secret. It was one of only a few times when the media hadn't had any inkling that a big return was on the cards.