John Cena May Have Let Slip Brock Lesnar's Imminent WWE Retirement Plans

Right before offering up that explanation for why it was okay that he was dominated by Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, Cena noted that the reason The Beast Incarnate needed to be built up in that way was because he is heading towards his own WWE retirement. "This attraction where we are going to build until he goes into the sunset, which is, I think, in Minnesota? Creatively, it’s very soon."

Even though Lesnar wasn't born there, he has a strong bond with Minnesota. He went to college there, was billed from there for most of his career, and even briefly played for the Minnesota Vikings. It makes sense that he'd wrestle his final match in what is effectively his home state, and Cena's comments have fans thinking that final match will take place less than a year from now at SummerSlam 2026.

Brock Lesnar Is Synonymous With SummerSlam

SummerSlam moved to a two-night model this year, and when that new tradition continues in 2026, the second biggest show on the WWE calendar will emanate from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Not only will the event take place in the city Lesnar is synonymous with, but SummerSlam is the PLE on which Lesnar has chalked up some of his biggest and most memorable WWE accomplishments.

The match Cena and Lesnar paid homage to via their Wrestlepalooza performance was SummerSlam's infamous 2014 main event, which I believe was also the match in which Lesnar coined the term Suplex City. SummerSlam 2002 was the show on which Lesnar beat The Rock for his first WWE Title, he and The Undertaker had a rematch at SummerSlam 2015 after The Beast broke The Deadman's streak, and the infamous match that led to Chris Jericho confronting Lesnar backstage after he busted Randy Orton open by delivering multiple legitimate elbows to the top of his head also happened at SummerSlam.

Lesnar's career started at the same time as Cena's, they were in that same OVW class, and they're both 48. With Cena's career ending this weekend, it's likely Lesnar will call it quits in the near future too, perhaps as soon as 2026. I hope that he's added to what might soon become a growing list of big names Gunther has retired. First Goldberg, Cena this Saturday, and perhaps Lesnar and AJ Styles next year.