Welcome to WrestleSeek. Today, we are going to look at WWE WrestlePalooza 2025 from start to finish. This show took place on September 20, 2025, live from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was a very big event because it was WWE’s first main roster show streaming live on ESPN.
WWE WrestlePalooza 2025 Card
Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena
WWE decided to open the main card with a massive dream match between Brock Lesnar and John Cena. Lesnar was returning to the ring after two years away, and he went straight after Cena with heavy aggression. Cena tried to fight back with three Attitude Adjustments, but Lesnar kicked out easily and hit six F5s to win.
Looking at the match length of under nine minutes, I think this was way too short for two legendary wrestlers. In my opinion, making it a complete squash match was a bad decision because fans expected a proper back-and-forth fight for Cena’s farewell run. It felt like a wasted opportunity on such a big stage.
Rating: 2.0 / 5 Stars
The Usos vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed)
Next up, Jimmy and Jey Uso reunited to take on Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, with LA Knight as the special referee. Paul Heyman was at ringside trying to interfere, which added a lot of heat to the match. Both teams traded heavy hits, but Breakker speared both Usos through a table on the outside before Reed hit a Tsunami on Jey for the win.
Looking onto the match length of 17 minutes, I felt the timing was absolute perfection for a tag team match. In my opinion, giving them this much time allowed Breakker and Reed to look like unstoppable monsters. The action moved fast, and the referee spots with LA Knight kept the crowd super engaged.
Rating: 3.75 / 5 Stars
WWE Women’s World Championship: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
This match was for the vacant Women’s World Championship between IYO SKY and Stephanie Vaquer. Both women gave an amazing technical performance with fast counters and high-flying moves. In the end, SKY missed her Over the Moonsault, allowing Vaquer to catch her with a clean Tornillo to win the title.
When you look at the match length of nearly 20 minutes, it gave both wrestlers the perfect canvas to show their skills. In my opinion, this was clearly the match of the night because the ring work was super smooth from start to finish. Giving them almost 20 minutes proved that Vaquer is ready to be a main event star in WWE.
Rating: 4.25 / 5 Stars
Mixed Tag Team Match: CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
This was a deeply personal feud featuring real-life couples CM Punk and AJ Lee taking on Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. The match went all over the place, with both announce tables getting destroyed on the outside. Inside the ring, AJ Lee reversed Becky’s Manhandle Slam into the Black Widow submission to force the tap out and win.
Looking onto the match length of nearly 29 minutes, I feel it was slightly too long and lost some momentum in the middle. However, in my opinion, AJ Lee’s return after 10 years made every single minute enjoyable for the fans. The ending was booked masterfully, and the crowd was screaming for AJ’s submission victory.
Rating: 3.75 / 5 Stars
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
In the main event, Cody Rhodes defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against a furious Drew McIntyre. Drew hit a massive Claymore Kick early on, but Cody somehow kicked out to stay alive. When Drew attempted another Claymore on the outside, Cody dodged it, sending Drew’s knee crashing into the announce table before hitting a Cross Rhodes for the win.
Looking at the match length of around 17 minutes, it was the exact right duration for a main event. In my opinion, they did not waste any time with slow chinlocks and kept the storytelling intense throughout. The knee injury angle made complete sense and protected Drew while giving Cody a solid victory.
Rating: 3.75 / 5 Stars
Special Segment: Stephanie McMahon Hall of Fame Announcement
Right after the mixed tag match, The Undertaker made a surprise entrance at ringside next to Stephanie McMahon. He shocked everyone by announcing Stephanie as the very first inductee into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame, leaving her visibly emotional as they shared a hug.
Looking onto the placement of this segment, I think putting it right before the main event was a smart move by WWE. In my opinion, this quick surprise reset the arena’s energy perfectly after a long 30-minute match. Stephanie’s genuine reaction made this a top non-wrestling moment of the night.
Rating: 4.0 / 5 Stars
Overall Show Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars
Final Thoughts on WWE WrestlePalooza 2025 PLE
WWE WrestlePalooza 2025 was a good show to start the ESPN era. While the opening match was disappointing due to its short length, the rest of the card delivered good wrestling and strong storytelling.
