The first WWE event on ESPN is here! WWE Wrestlepalooza airs live on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET on September 20 from Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the fifth Wrestlepalooza event and first under the WWE banner. The previous four Wrestlepaloozas were held in ECW.
This card features five matches, with three Main Event-worthy matchups. John Cena’s retirement tour rolls on with a highly anticipated match against Brock Lesnar, who is wrestling his first match in over two years. Pat McAfee announced on his show that this match between Cena and Lesnar will open the show.
Also, we will see the return of AJ Lee, who hasn’t competed in a match in WWE since 2015. Lee will team with her husband, CM Punk, to take on Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. Ever since Punk came back to WWE in 2023, he has had a heated rivalry with Rollins. This feud added another element when their wives, Lynch and Lee, joined their side.
There are also two title matches on this card as Cody Rhodes defends his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. After SummerSlam, McIntyre took out Rhodes and the Champion, then retaliated weeks later. This will be Rhodes’s first title defense since becoming a two-time champion. The Vacant Women’s World Championship is also on the line as Iyo Sky battles Stephanie Vaquer.
Check out my predictions for each match on the Wrestlepalooza card right here.
WWE Wrestlepalooza Full Card and Predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship Match
(C) Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre poses a very legit threat to Rhodes and his title reign, but with Rhodes just winning it a little over a month ago, it is unlikely he loses it this soon. After being away for a few weeks, Rhodes needs a big victory to remind everyone how great he truly is.
Rhodes and McIntyre have only had one singles match, with McIntyre winning that one on an episode of Monday Night Raw in February 2024. They faced off in a tag team match on August 8, which was right before McIntyre took out Rhodes.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre.
Men’s Singles Match
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar
This match has multiple marquee matches, but this one stands above the rest in terms of star power. One of the best rivalries in WWE history, John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, faces off for the final time in their careers. Cena and Lesnar have competed in 12 matches against each other, with five singles matches. This is their first one-on-one match since Night of Champions 2014, where Cena won by DQ. The last match both were involved in was a triple threat with Seth Rollins at the Royal Rumble 2015.
After losing to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, Cena needs another win, and if he can get past a returning Lesnar, that would be impressive. Although Lesnar hasn’t wrestled in two years, he has returned with the same aggressiveness and dominant skillset he had before.
Prediction: John Cena defeats Brock Lesnar.
Women’s World Championship Match
Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer
Naomi announced she was pregnant, forcing her to vacate her title, which later caused Adama Pearce to make a title match to crown a new champion. Since debuting on Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania 41, Stephanie Vaquer has had moments, but her appearances have been sporadic since winning the Battle Royale at WWE Evolution in July.
Vaquer and Iyo Sky have had two singles matches, but both ended via no contest. Sky is attempting to become a three-time WWE Women’s Champion, and although she has a tough test in front of her, she has the edge in big-match experience.
Prediction: Iyo Sky defeats Stephanie Vaquer to win the Women’s World Championship.
Mixed Tag Team Match
CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
Although it has been short, the build to this highly anticipated tag team match has been excellent. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch have been perfect heels for the return of AJ Lee and CM Punk. With Lee wrestling her first match in a decade, it would be shocking if she lost her first match back.
This will be the ninth match involving both Punk and Rollins since Punk’s return to WWE. Rollins’ vision will likely make an appearance in this match, as they always does when he competes. But Punk is due for a victory against Rollins after losing his title to him at SummerSlam, while also coming up short at Clash in Paris.
Prediction: CM Punk & AJ Lee defeat Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch.
Tag Team Match
The Usos vs. Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker
The Vision’s Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker have had an excellent run in the past few months, but have had another tough test against one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history. Since Jey Uso began his run as a singles star, The Usos have only had one tag team match on WWE television in nearly two years.
The Usos’ last tag team match on a premium live event was against Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa at Money in the Bank 2023. However, the Usos have unreal chemistry and have proven they are still an elite tag team. They are former eight-time WWE Tag Team Champions and competed in the only tag team WrestleMania Main Event match in 2023.
Prediction: The Usos defeat Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker.
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WWE Wrestlepalooza: FAQ
Where will WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 take place?
The event is taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
What time does WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025 start?
ESPN is airing Road to Wrestlepalooza on Saturday from 3-5 p.m. ET. WWE’s Wrestlepalooza pre-show begins at 5:00 p.m. ET. The main card starts at 7 p.m. ET.
How can I watch WWE Wrestlepalooza 2025?
Fans in the U.S. can view this event live on ESPN’s new unlimited platform.
