John Cena’s Dublin homecoming took an abrupt turn on SmackDown when Logan Paul blindsided the veteran star, reigniting talk of a clash with Brock Lesnar even as Cena pursues his retirement tour. After Summerslam’s shock return by Lesnar, Cena had been positioned for a potential showdown with the Beast, but Friday’s show shifted the focus to a feud with Paul. With Clash in Paris looming, Paul finds himself in the driver’s seat as their match approaches.
The night at 3Arena in Dublin featured a bevy of action, including a miniature tournament to determine challengers for The Wyatt Six’s tag team titles. Cena, who was greeted with a huge ovation for his final Dublin appearance, found his moment interrupted by Paul. The two traded barbs — Paul labeling Cena “an actor who can wrestle,” while Cena branded Paul a parasite leeching off WWE. Cena hinted that Paul would be better off delivering classics with Seth Rollins and AJ Styles rather than wasting his time with this rivalry. The confrontation reached its peak when Paul knocked Cena cold with a sucker punch, followed by Cena answering back with an Attitude Adjustment.
Backstage, Drew McIntyre urged Paul to reckon with the consequences of crossing Cena, telling him to fix things by any means necessary. McIntyre later interrupted SmackDown’s commentary team to taunt Cody Rhodes, only for Randy Orton to reappear and lay out McIntyre with an RKO. Cena was seen leaving the arena as SmackDown GM Nick Aldis delivered a message from Lesnar. But before Aldis could relay its contents, Paul solidified his advantage by again dropping Cena with a punch.
The sentiment around Cena vs. Paul isn’t that Cena will suddenly deliver countless singles classics on his farewell tour, but there’s still a sense of satisfaction in watching Cena mete out punishment to Paul. WWE’s decision to weave multiple storylines together — Cena, Paul, Lesnar, McIntyre, Rhodes and Orton — creates a network of angles that keeps the atmosphere lively and maximizes screen time.
What to watch next
– The dynamic between Cena and Paul will be the focal point ahead of Clash in Paris, with Lesnar’s looming return a constant backdrop.
– The backstage skirmishes hint at broader implications for McIntyre, Rhodes and Orton, potentially setting up future alignments or feuds.
– The Wyatt Six tag title tournament continues to develop, adding additional layers to SmackDown’s on-screen storytelling.
Summary
Cena’s Dublin farewell took a surprising turn as Logan Paul blindsided him, setting up a high-profile clash at Clash in Paris with the shadow of Brock Lesnar looming. The show tied together several storylines, blending suspense, turn-of-events, and backstage intrigue to keep SmackDown buzzing as Cena nears the end of his in-ring career.
A hopeful note
The cross-generational clash between Cena and Paul, framed by Lesnar’s return and contending storylines, has the potential to deliver memorable moments for fans while elevating the overall trajectory of SmackDown’s current run. If the writers lean into the drama and pace the payoff thoughtfully, the fallout could leave a lasting, positive impression on Cena’s farewell chapter and on the broader roster’s momentum heading into future pay-per-views.