Brock Lesnar’s appearance at SummerSlam this year took a large chunk of the WWE community by surprise, as ‘The Beast Incarnate’ closed the show with a vicious F5 to his old foe, John Cena. Lesnar also appeared during the September 5 episode of SmackDown to subject Cena to the same fate again, but this time he also unleashed his fury on Sami Zayn.
The announcement of Lesnar’s upcoming match with Cena at Wrestlepalooza might have made fans think he didn’t return to the WWE just for a few appearances. A ten-day-old report from ‘Wrestling Observer‘ authenticated those speculations by revealing that the 48-year-old had signed a new contract with Triple H and Co.
The WWE may have booked a seventh Cena vs. Lesnar clash at Wrestlepalooza to mark the latter’s comeback to the promotion. However, Lesnar’s return can impact Zayn much more than the difference it is making in Cena’s career. Here’s a look at all the factors that say so.
1. Sami Zayn Isn’t on the Verge of Retirement Like John Cena
Cena’s retirement tour has undoubtedly been one of the most significant talking points in the community in 2025. After years, fans witnessed the ‘Cenation’ star in action with his touted former rivals like Randy Orton and CM Punk. Subsequently, Lesnar’s addition to the SummerSlam chapter of Cena’s retirement tour increased its hype even more.
The upcoming Cena vs. Lesnar clash at Wrestlepalooza on September 20 can become epic, but given the former’s plan to declare his retirement at the end of the year, Triple H and Co. don’t have the option to extend this storyline much longer.
While the Cena vs. Lesnar feud has already established its legacy in the WWE community, Triple H and Co. must use Lesnar’s return to build other rivalries. In such a situation, ‘The Beast Incarnate’s’ comeback can be substantially bigger for Zayn than Cena.
Unlike Cena, Zayn doesn’t seem to have plans of retiring anytime soon. This would provide the WWE brass ample time to build an intense kayfabe rivalry between him and Lesnar, something they can’t do with Cena anymore after Wrestlepalooza.
2. A Feud With Brock Lesnar Can Catapult Sami Zayn to a Top-Tier WWE Star Like John Cena
Cena has already secured his legacy in the WWE with a combination of multiple factors. He is a 17-time world champion, has delivered a plethora of memorable in-ring encounters, and has taken the WWE to multiple prestigious world stages, including The Oscars.
The reignition of Cena’s feud with Lesnar this year may have put him on top of the wrestling world once more, but it isn’t doing much to help Cena achieve anything more significant, as the 48-year-old has already been the face of WWE for years.
On the other hand, Zayn has also showcased a lot of promise inside the ring, but Triple H and Co. have never really promoted him as a top-tier star despite his praiseworthy performances.
A kayfabe feud with Lesnar after the 48-year-old’s return to the promotion can become a massive stepping stone for Zayn toward becoming a top-tier WWE star like Cena. Given Lesnar’s scary on-screen persona and massive stature in the community, fans are bound to take notice if the WWE pushes Zayn with a win over Lesnar.
If Triple H and Co. decide to involve Zayn’s United States championship in his potential feud with Lesnar, the situation will become even bigger and better for the 41-year-old. While winning the title has already boosted Zayn’s reputation, defending it against ‘The Beast Incarnate’ can help him become an A-list WWE star even faster.
Cena, who has arguably already secured his place in the Mt. Rushmore of the WWE, doesn’t have much to earn from Lesnar’s return, while Zayn stands the chance to climb to the top of the WWE ladder after Lesnar’s return.
3. Sami Zayn Has a Better Reason Than John Cena To Begin a Feud With Brock Lesnar John Cena
The Cena vs. Lesnar feud has entertained WWE fans for over twenty years. The pair’s first singles match took place in 2002, and they are scheduled to have their seventh singles clash at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.
Even if Cena manages to defeat Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, the score of the rivalry will stand at 4-3 in favor of Lesnar. With the ‘Doctor of Thuganomics’ only having a handful of appearances before the final curtain call to his WWE career, it’s unlikely that another installment of the coveted Cena vs. Lesnar rivalry will occur.
The WWE might still proceed with the idea, but fans may not be interested in watching another clash between the pair after Wrestlepalooza. On the contrary, the plot for a feud between Zayn and Lesnar is already set, provided that Triple H and Co. decide to take it forward.
Lesnar engaged in a brief tussle with Zayn at the end of 2021 while ‘The Underdog from the Underground’ was feuding with Roman Reigns about ‘The Bloodline’s’ treatment of his on-screen friend, Kevin Owens.
Lesnar showed up while Zayn complained about how the WWE community had never given him his flowers during the December 3, 2021, episode of SmackDown. Subsequently, ‘The Conqueror’ dismantled Zayn with an F5 to end his rant.
Lesnar attacked Zayn once more during the December 10 episode of SmackDown despite initially pretending to be a “Canadian friend” of Zayn. However, Paul Heyman played a significant part in instigating Lesnar’s attack on Zayn this time.
Check out how Heyman provoked Lesnar to attack Zayn:
Adding these two kayfabe assaults from Lesnar to his recent attack on Zayn during the September 5 episode of SmackDown provides Triple H and Co. enough room to continue Zayn’s feud with Lesnar.
After Lesnar is done with the Cena chapter, the WWE can design a segment in which Zayn attacks Lesnar, desiring vengeance for ‘The Beast Incarnate’s’ previous attacks on him. The story can then gradually lead to a clash between Zayn and Lesnar for the Intercontinental title, which can account for a massive boost in Zayn’s star power.
Do you see any other reasons why Brock Lesnar’s return can be bigger for Zayn than Cena? Let us know in the comments below.
