Sami Zayn Addresses Full-Circle Moment with John Cena on SmackDown

Sami Zayn took a moment to look back on a major milestone in his WWE career—sharing the ring once again with John Cena, nearly a decade after their first encounter. The emotional moment took place on the September 5 episode of SmackDown in Chicago, IL, the same city where Cena made his WWE television debut.

During what turned out to be John Cena’s final appearance on SmackDown, the 16-time World Champion gave a heartfelt farewell speech to the fans, thanking them for 23 years of memories. That’s when Zayn, the newly crowned United States Champion, interrupted—not to disrespect, but to honor Cena’s legacy. Zayn asked for permission to revive the iconic United States Championship Open Challenge, a concept Cena made famous during his 2015 title reign.

“Ten years. Full circle.”

That’s what Zayn wrote on social media, posting side-by-side photos of his handshake with Cena—one from their first meeting in 2015 on Raw, and the other from their SmackDown moment in 2025. The caption summed up the sentiment perfectly.

What was meant to be a respectful challenge quickly turned chaotic, however. As Zayn and Cena squared off in an impromptu match, Brock Lesnar made a return, attacking both men and laying them out with F-5s before issuing a challenge of his own.

Lesnar called out Cena for a match at WWE Wrestlepalooza on September 20—marking their first one-on-one bout in over a decade. Zayn may not have gotten the clean win he hoped for, but the handshake, the history, and the symbolism weren’t lost on him—or the fans.