John Cena made his ultimate look on WWE SmackDown earlier than wrapping up his retirement tour, which now has solely seven dates remaining. The Final Actual Champion delivered an emotional promo and went on to face Sami Zayn for america Championship in what turned out to be a basic encounter.
The match lasted practically an hour and had followers believing Cena would possibly seize america Title as soon as once more. Nonetheless, simply as victory appeared potential, Brock Lesnar made a surprising return, attacking everybody within the ring—together with Cena—and costing him the possibility to win the championship.
.@SamiZayn and @JohnCena and are doing no matter it takes! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cPvuERM9vy
— WWE (@WWE) September 6, 2025
Listed here are three the reason why John Cena didn’t stroll away with america Championship on SmackDown:
#3. His conflict with Brock Lesnar doesn’t want a title
After ambushing Cena on SmackDown, Brock Lesnar issued a problem for a singles match at ESPN’s Wrestlepalooza 2025. Given their storied rivalry, a match between Cena and Lesnar already carries monumental hype by itself. Including a championship to the combination isn’t essential to make it a marquee showdown.
#2. A potential shot on the Intercontinental Championship on RAW
Cena has already loved a number of reigns as United States Champion all through his legendary profession, so one other run with the title wouldn’t have added a lot to his legacy. What makes extra sense is the prospect of Cena going after Dominik Mysterio’s Intercontinental Championship on RAW. The IC Title is the one main championship in WWE that Cena has by no means received, and capturing it might full his resume.
#1. Elevating Sami Zayn as champion
Sami Zayn shocked the WWE Universe when he defeated Solo Sikoa to win america Championship earlier than Conflict in Paris. Placing him in opposition to Cena was a deliberate transfer to solidify his standing as a reputable champion. By surviving a grueling match with one among WWE’s all-time greats, Zayn gained vital momentum, proving that he belongs within the highlight.