WWE WrestlePalooza Results, Highlights and Key Moments for September 20, 2025

WWE WrestlePalooza 2025 is finally here, and it officially launches WWE’s new ESPN era with one of the most stacked cards of the year. With crossover legends, dream matches, and title bouts on the line, this show is expected to deliver a mix of spectacle and storytelling from top to bottom.

The event takes place live from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The pre-show kicks off at 5:00 PM ET, and the main show begins at 7:00 PM ET. Fans in the U.S. can stream the event exclusively on the ESPN app, while international audiences can tune in via Netflix. Ringside News will provide live, match-by-match updates and highlights throughout the night. Keep this page refreshed for the latest results and jump into the comments to discuss the action as it happens!

WWE WrestlePalooza Results (9/20/25): Live Match Updates and Highlights

The show opened with a long video about the connection between sports and entertainment. The Countdown Show was hosted by Michael Cole, Wade Barrett (who returned), and Big E. Cole thanked the fans for helping WWE reach this level, now being featured on ESPN. Tyrese Haliburton was introduced as the fourth panel member.

They talked about the upcoming Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena match and Lesnar’s attack on Corey Graves.

Peter Rosenberg was shown in the crowd, interacting with fans who were holding oversized tickets. He mentioned that Indianapolis has always been Cena territory and the fans were clearly behind him.

They announced that Triple H, Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, and AJ Lee would be part of the Kickoff show. There were several ESPN promos throughout. A video aired for The Usos vs. The Vision, showing both teams getting into a backstage fight that had to be broken up by security. Adam Pearce looked frustrated during the segment.

The panel then discussed CM Punk and AJ Lee facing Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. Adam Pearce announced LA Knight would be the guest referee for The Usos vs. The Vision. Knight said he didn’t want the job and didn’t care about anyone in the match except maybe Jimmy. He said he’d let them fight until someone quits.

Another video package aired, this time about sports and pop culture stars in WWE. They praised athletes like Ron Simmons and showed Rob Gronkowski’s appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast.

A video aired hyping Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre, including a sit-down interview with Drew and Cathy Kelley.

The Miz joined the panel and said fans gave up on Drew when he lost his title. Wade Barrett agreed. Miz predicted Drew would win tonight.

Footage was shown of WWE, ESPN, and the Indiana Sports Corp visiting local hospital patients.

Triple H joined the panel and was asked what his younger self would think of WWE being on ESPN. He said he never thought it could happen, but now WWE is treated like other major sports. Someone in the crowd shouted “Suck it,” and Triple H laughed it off, saying no one does big events like WWE.

When asked about AJ Lee’s return, Triple H said they just had to slap Punk hard enough to bring her back. He praised her legacy and said she hasn’t missed a step judging by her training footage.

Triple H also talked about today’s WWE roster. He said many current stars could compete with the 2002–03 roster and named Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, and Ethan Page as future stars. He’s confident this roster will dominate for years.

Big E asked about how WWE is bringing back talent who never planned to return. Triple H said he and Nick Khan handle it differently now. The lighter schedule makes WWE more appealing. He said not a day goes by without someone reaching out wanting to join or return. The broadcast partnerships and WWE’s position at the top attract talent who want to prove they belong.

Cathy Kelley interviewed Stephanie Vaquer. She said she was nervous but excited to make history with WWE and ESPN, calling her match the most important of her career.

A short video aired showing CM Punk’s tattoos.

Corey Graves sat down with CM Punk and AJ Lee. AJ said returning felt surreal, especially in Chicago where she won her first title. Punk noted how much WWE has changed and said he wanted her to experience that. He called her a role model who inspired a generation. AJ said seeing the growth of the women’s division makes her feel proud. Punk said his rivalry with Seth Rollins may never end, but now he has his best friend at his side. Lee said she was nervous but ready to dive in.

Stephanie McMahon joined the panel along with Miz, Jackie Redmond, and Haliburton. They shared their excitement for the show.

They aired a well-produced video about Michael Cole’s journey to becoming the voice of WWE on ESPN.

Joe Tessitore introduced Michael Cole and welcomed him to ESPN. He said having Cole’s voice on ESPN was a big deal, and it helps bring WWE into the mainstream sports conversation. He noted that sports often borrow from WWE’s storytelling style.

They then showed the Tale of the Tape for Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena, followed by a hype video for the match. Several personalities walked fans through the path WWE Superstars take — from backstage, to Gorilla Position, to the entrance ramp, and finally into the ring.

The War & Treaty sang “God Bless America.”

Michael Cole opened the show. The Usos were seen walking through the arena lobby. Seth Rollins and The Vision were backstage. Becky Lynch was jokingly said to have mugged Big Bird. CM Punk and AJ Lee were shown backstage. Stephanie and IYO were seen walking the hallways. Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre were shown next.

The arena went dark, and they played a video about WWE joining ESPN.

Paul Levesque was revealed to be in the ring to open the show as a surprise segment. He asked the crowd in Indy if they could feel the energy, calling this the final form of sports and entertainment. He welcomed new viewers to WWE and ESPN, then officially kicked off WrestlePalooza. Pyro blasted around the arena. Surprisingly, he didn’t ask if we were ready—somewhere, someone probably wasn’t.

Michael Cole and the returning Wade Barrett then welcomed viewers. Cole said he was proud to be there and called it an important night as WWE had officially made it to ESPN.

Pat McAfee soon joined the commentary team—of course, he wasn’t going to miss a show in Indianapolis.

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar came out first. A loud “Cena” chant broke out before he came to the ring. John Cena made a big entrance with a group of kids dressed just like him walking out on stage. Alicia Taylor began her big ring introductions. Just as she was about to introduce Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman came out and took over the job himself.

Brock Lesnar jumped Cena at the bell and beat him down in the corner with shoulder blocks. Fans chanted for Cena, but it was all Brock early on as he threw Cena hard into the turnbuckles. Lesnar locked in a bearhug from behind. Cena fought out and tried for an Attitude Adjustment, but Brock slipped out and nailed a huge lariat. Brock followed up with a series of German suplexes.

Cena broke free and sent Lesnar crashing into the turnbuckles. He hit multiple shoulder blocks and followed up with three Attitude Adjustments in a row. Cena went for the cover, but Brock kicked out at the last second. Cena went for the Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Lesnar countered and hit back-to-back F5s. Lesnar hit a third F5 and set up for a fourth. He nailed it and pinned Cena.

Your winner: Brock Lesnar.

After the match, Lesnar gave the referee an F5, then hit Cena with another for good measure. They showed a young fan in the crowd crying as Lesnar made his exit.

Cena took his time getting up. As he slowly walked to the back, the crowd chanted, “Thank you, Cena.”

Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed vs. The Usos

Bronson and Jey opened the match. The Usos worked together to double-team him. Breakker argued with LA Knight while Bronson tried to grab a chair, but Knight stopped him. Jimmy Uso landed a superkick, then picked up the chair himself. With Knight’s back turned, Jimmy smashed Bronson with it. Bron rolled to the floor, and Jey followed with a dive onto Bronson and Breakker outside.

Bron and Bronson took control, cutting off Jimmy and wearing him down. Bron hit a suplex for a two count. The chair remained in the ring, clearly waiting to come back into play. Jimmy finally broke free and made the hot tag to Jey, who came in and cleaned house. The Indy crowd was loud, shouting “YEET” with every big move. Jey charged at Bron, got tossed over the top rope, but bounced back in and hit Bron for a close two count.

The Usos pulled a table into the ring and set it up in the corner as Bronson and Breakker brawled with them. Bron went for a charge through the table, but an Uso stopped him with a superkick. The Usos hit a double superkick and tried for the pin, but Bronson broke it up.

Momentum swung back when Bron speared Jimmy. Jey answered with a spear of his own and followed with a top-rope splash for a two count.

Jey then collided with LA Knight, sparking an argument. In the chaos, Paul Heyman slipped a chair to Bron. Jey grabbed it and went to swing, but Bron ducked, nearly causing Jey to hit Knight—who narrowly avoided it. Breakker, bleeding from his back, speared both Usos through the table. Reed followed with a Tsunami off the top onto Jimmy for the pin.

Your winners: The Vision.

They showed The War and Treaty, the ESPN President, and Tyrese Haliburton in the crowd. They also showed WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton sitting at ringside.

IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer

They locked up and started slowly, feeling each other out in the early going. There were several near falls before they squared off again. Vaquer went for the Devil’s Kiss, but IYO blocked it and landed a basement dropkick. They fought to the ropes where Vaquer caught her in a hanging armbar.

She then avoided a sunset flip and hit a legdrop for a two count. Solid action so far. They traded offense until IYO nailed a backbreaker across her knee, though she hurt herself on the landing. IYO hit a big dive to the floor as the referee started the count. They fought on the outside, where IYO tried a sunset flip, but Vaquer countered with stiff knees. Back inside, Vaquer took control and landed a springboard bodypress for a two count. SKY fired back with a German suplex and charged, but Vaquer caught her with a German suplex of her own.

They kept battling with IYO locking in a crossface. Vaquer fought to escape and landed a knee strike. She followed with a Dragon Screw Legwhip while IYO was stuck in the corner. Vaquer went for the SVP, but IYO slipped out and scored a takedown for a two count, then caught Vaquer with a kick to the head. IYO went for a moonsault but Vaquer blocked with her knees.

Vaquer hit the Devil’s Kiss and followed with the SVB across her knee, but IYO kicked out at the last second. Vaquer went to the top, but IYO caught her and they fought on the ropes. IYO landed a Spanish Fly, hurting her bad knee in the process, and Vaquer managed a two count. IYO fired back with a comeback, hitting double knees in the corner and then a running knee to the face.

She went for the moonsault but missed, crashing on her bad knee. Vaquer climbed to the top and nailed a spinning Torneo dive for the pin.

Your winner: Stephanie Vaquer!

IYO gave Stephanie Vaquer the title belt after the match.

AJ Lee & CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins

Rollins and Lynch made their entrance in matching purple gear, lowered from a platform with fire shooting around them. CM Punk came out first, with the crowd chanting for him. He waited for AJ Lee, who entered to her own music and got a nice reaction. Once everyone was in the ring, they all faced off.

Punk and Seth squared up to start. Becky quickly tagged in and began shoving Punk, even jabbing at him. The crowd chanted for a GTS, but instead Punk tagged in AJ. Becky smacked Punk and ran, tagging out before AJ could get to her. Becky and Seth hugged on the outside, but Punk dove onto Rollins and threw him into the fans before hitting a flying axehandle off the barricade.

Back in the ring, Rollins hit Punk with shoulder blocks in the corner. While the referee was distracted, Becky took a cheap shot on Punk. Moments later, AJ did the same to Rollins, which got a big reaction from the crowd. Punk and Rollins went at it, with Punk landing another axehandle off the top rope. Punk went for another axehandle, but Rollins caught him and countered. Rollins tried for the Pedigree, but Punk slipped out and went for the GTS. Rollins escaped and struck him down, then targeted Punk’s back before sending him to the floor.

On the outside, Rollins slammed Punk into the announcers’ table. Back in the ring, Rollins stayed on the attack and stomped Punk’s hand as he reached for a tag. Rollins kissed Becky, then smashed Punk across the back while he was caught in the ropes. Punk took a long beating before finally landing a suplex to shift momentum. Rollins cut him off again, pretending to allow a tag but instead dragging Punk back and keeping control.

Punk muscled Rollins toward his corner, but the referee missed the tag and stopped AJ from entering, letting Rollins and Lynch double-team Punk. Rollins then tried to press slam Becky onto Punk, but Punk moved and Becky crashed, rolling to the floor. Punk reached for the tag, but Becky yanked AJ off the apron. Classic heel tag tactics. ollins mocked AJ by skipping around, but Punk caught him with a GTS. Punk was too worn down to follow up right away. As he tried crawling to his corner, Becky grabbed his leg, but Punk still managed to make the hot tag.

AJ Lee rushed in, hitting a Thesz Press on Becky and unloading with punches. She hit another press and kept working over Lynch. Lynch took a splash in the corner as AJ unloaded with punches, then hit a spinkick. Lee followed with a flying bodypress for a two count as the crowd chanted “You still got it.” She slapped Becky around before Rollins stepped in to taunt her. AJ fired back with slaps, but Becky grabbed her for the Manhandle Slam. Lee escaped, and with Punk’s assist, hit a Sliced Bread #2 that landed her on top of Becky for a near fall.

Punk dropped Rollins, leaving the women in the ring. AJ went for the Black Widow, but Becky escaped and tried for the Disarmher. Lee reversed back into the Black Widow while Punk locked a Sharpshooter on Rollins. Becky raked Punk’s face, and Rollins superkicked him to break it up. Rollins and Becky then hit stereo Pedigrees on Punk and AJ, but only got a two count. They went for stereo GTS attempts, but Punk countered with a Cactus clothesline that sent both him and Rollins to the floor. AJ broke free and hit an exploder suplex, but when she set up for more, Rollins tripped her. Punk stomped Rollins, only for Becky to slap Punk repeatedly. Punk caught her arm, then her leg when she tried to kick, and shoved her down. Rollins jumped back in, and Becky stomped Punk before locking him in a Sharpshooter. Punk powered out as Becky begged off.

Punk then trapped her in a Sharpshooter, but Rollins attacked with a Pedigree and set up for the stomp. He covered Punk, but AJ broke it up with a stomp of her own. Becky hit the Manhandle Slam on Lee, but AJ kicked out at the last second. Seth and Punk traded shots in the ring until their wives stepped in, which led to all four brawling. Punk and Lee cleared the ring and followed outside, with Punk throwing Rollins over the announcers’ table.

AJ cleared one table while Punk cleared another. All four fought on top of the tables until Becky threw AJ into Punk and Seth, sending them crashing through. Becky dragged AJ back into the ring to finish her, but AJ surprised her with the Black Widow. Lynch tapped out.

Your winners: CM Punk and AJ Lee!

Punk and AJ Lee celebrated as Becky cried on the floor and Seth tried to recover. The crowd chanted for Lee after the match.

They announced WWE Crown Jewel on 10/11 will start at 8 AM Eastern.

The Undertaker’s music hit, and he rode out on his motorcycle. Stephanie McMahon was shown in the front row clapping for him. Undertaker joined her in the crowd, joked around, and then announced she would be the first inductee in the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame Class. Stephanie looked surprised and emotional, hugging Undertaker. They also showed WWE President Nick Khan congratulating her.

WWE Undisputed Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

They locked up, with Drew pushing Rhodes into the corner before breaking clean. Drew then caught him with an elbow and stayed in control early. Cody fought back and took control, grounding Drew on the mat. Drew broke free but got sent to the apron, where Cody hit a Disaster Kick. Drew fell to the floor, and Cody followed with a dive. Cody tried another, but Drew caught him and drove his back into the ring post before landing an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.

Drew and Cody traded shots until Drew charged and missed, smashing his shoulder into the ring post. Cody kicked at him from the apron but got knocked down hard. Drew followed up with an Alabama Slam onto the ring steps, then hammered Cody with punches as he covered up. McIntyre went to the top rope, but Cody caught him and hit a big superplex. They went back and forth until Cody hit a powerslam, then followed with a Disaster Kick.

Cody landed the Cody Cutter for a two count and set up for CrossRhodes, but Drew countered with a knee and the Glasgow Kiss. Drew then hit White Noise off the top for a close near fall. He set up for the Claymore, but Cody countered with a powerbomb. After more exchanges, Rhodes locked in the Figure Four Leglock. Drew was sent into an exposed turnbuckle, and Cody hit the CrossRhodes, but Drew kicked out. Drew then sent Cody over the top rope and went crashing down with him. Back in the ring, Drew landed a Claymore, but Cody kicked out at two.

Outside the ring, the referee tried stopping Drew from hitting a Claymore into the announce table. Drew went for it anyway, but the delay gave Cody time to move, and Drew crashed hard. The crowd chanted, “Ref you suck.”

Hurt, Drew rolled back into the ring. Cody went for the Disaster Kick, but Drew cut him off with a Glasgow Kiss. Drew set up for another Claymore, but his leg gave out. Cody hit the Cody Cutter followed by CrossRhodes and scored the pin.

Your winner: Cody Rhodes!

The referee’s involvement gives Drew something to complain about and leaves the door open for a rematch.