WWE is reportedly planning its most aggressive competitive move against AEW to date. New reports indicate the company will run a main roster premium live event on the same night as AEW’s All Out pay-per-view in September, and the show will be headlined by a legendary, WrestleMania-caliber match.
According to reports from POST Wrestling and the Wrestling Observer, the new, yet-to-be-named WWE event is planned for Saturday, September 20th. The show’s main event is slated to be Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena.
Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena Showdown
The planned WWE event in Indianapolis, Indiana, is expected to go directly head-to-head with AEW’s All Out pay-per-view, which is scheduled for the same night at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed the blockbuster main event for the WWE show.
“The main event for the show is Brock Lesnar and John Cena, so it’s a big one,” Meltzer said. He noted that this is the reason Lesnar is not scheduled for the Clash in Paris event at the end of August, as WWE was saving his return match for this specific show.
The Final Chapter Of A Legendary WWE Rivalry
The match is the direct result of the shocking conclusion to SummerSlam just over a week ago. At the event, Brock Lesnar made his controversial return to WWE after a nearly two-year absence, brutally attacking John Cena after his main event match. The match in September will be the epic final chapter in their violent, historic rivalry and a key part of Cena’s 2025 farewell tour.
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While Lesnar’s return has been met with a mixed reaction due to his name being included in the Janel Grant lawsuit, WWE is moving forward with one of the biggest dream matches in modern history.
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This move marks a major escalation in the competition between WWE and AEW. While WWE has previously run its developmental brand, NXT, on the same day as AEW pay-per-views, this is the first time a main roster premium live event will go in direct competition.
By loading their show with a main event as massive as Lesnar vs. Cena, WWE is making an aggressive play to draw viewers away from one of AEW’s “big four” pay-per-views of the year. This is the most direct instance of head-to-head competition between the two companies since the “Wednesday Night War” ended in 2021.
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