• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
WWE fans think Brock Lesnar purposely busted John Cena's mouth open in legendary fight

Home> Film & TV

Published 21:17 13 Dec 2022 GMT

WWE fans think Brock Lesnar purposely busted John Cena's mouth open in legendary fight

WWE fans weren't sure whether Brock Lesnar and John Cena's in-ring beef spilled over into actual hatred for a second

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

WWE fans are prone to a madcap theory about whether the world of ‘Sports Entertainment’ sometimes becomes real, but few moments have generated as much speculation as a punch thrown by Brock Lesnar at John Cena in 2012.

See the moment for yourself here before making your mind up:

We can all agree as adults that – for the most part – professional wrestling isn’t real.

OK, as the disclaimer before the old TV shows used to tell us, the fighting isn’t real but the risks really are.

Advert

There’s no denying that they are committed athletes and perform incredible feats of skill, bravery, and agility, but in general there is no real animosity between fellow performers – in fact, sometimes they are genuine friends despite being in-ring adversaries.

However, back in 2012 there was a situation that many believed was a rare occasion where the mask of professionalism slipped, and Brock Lesnar punched John Cena for real, causing the then-champion to bleed from the mouth.

John Cena certainly seemed to feel it.
WWE/YouTube

Let’s set the scene.

Advert

It was the lead up to the pay-per-view Extreme Rules event in 2012, and Cena was supposed to be having a feud with The Rock.

But, a week earlier former UFC man Lesnar had invaded the ring to perform his signature move – the F5 – on Cena after offering his hand in friendship.

That shifted Cena’s focus to a feud with ‘The Beast’.

Next week, as a contract was set to be signed allowing the pair to settle their differences at Extreme Rules, a brawl broke out, causing the whole locker room to come running out with the intention of breaking it up.

Advert

The ring suddenly became very crowded.
WWE/YouTube

This isn’t an unusual thing in wrestling, and doesn’t at all signify that the kayfabe – wrestling’s term for the illusion of reality - was broken.

However, as the pair were separated, Lesnar delivered one last punch to Cena, leaving his mouth bloodied.

This time, Cena broke away and attacked Lesnar, before the two were separated for good.

Advert

Of course, it could have all been a part of the hype-train to drive PPV sales for extreme rules.

Cena could have agreed to let out a little crimson in the support of the cause, being the consummate company man that he is.

However, not everyone bought that.

Some fans couldn't quite believe it.
Twitter

Advert

In an article for Bleacher Report at the time, it was speculated: “In the moments following the first picture of Cena with a bloodied mouth, the wrestling fan base began to wonder if Lesnar's right hook that connected was done purposely or a fist that was a little too good for the moment.

“There were questions of if Lesnar had fully adapted back to staged combat or if he was still back in his mixed martial arts mindset.

“Most importantly, did Lesnar punch Cena purposely with the intention of claiming that it was an accident?”

In the end, that article conceded that it was probably part of the act, but not everyone was convinced.

Advert

In the moment, one person commented: “....did Brock Lesnar just legitimately punch John Cena in the face??!”

Was it real, or was it part of the show?
Twitter

Another said: “Brock Lesnar just flat out punched John Cena. No wrestling acting, this was a proper beat-down punch, blood everywhere.”

A third said: “Brock Lesnar really showed what he learnt from UFC today with one straight punch to John Cena leaving him bleeding!”

Advert

If it was an act, it was a pretty good one.

Featured Image Credit: WWE/YouTube

Topics: WWE, Wrestling, Sport, Entertainment, John Cena, Celebrity

Tom Wood
Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

X

@TPWagwim

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
6 hours ago
13 hours ago
17 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Netflix fans given weeks to watch 16 seasons of 'addictive' drama before it's removed for good

    Viewers are begging for the series to stay

    Film & TV
  • 6 hours ago

    Legendary actor Michael Madsen has died aged 67

    Madsen was best known for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill

    Film & TV
  • 13 hours ago

    Netflix viewers rave over forgotten series compared to Black Mirror

    There's been high praise for the Netflix series that first dropped on the streaming platform in 2019

    Film & TV
  • 17 hours ago

    Amazon Prime Video shines light on Idaho murders as friends who discovered bodies speak out

    A new docuseries is coming to Amazon Prime Video, focusing on the grisly murder of four students in their home

    Film & TV
  • John Cena announces shock WWE retirement in emotional speech
  • Strict rules and contract John Cena has in place for house guests revealed on WWE reality show
  • John Cena was sued by Ford after selling rare 2017 Ford GT supercar
  • Sad reason why John Cena is retiring from wrestling after 24 years