Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena: What's Next for Lesnar After Retaining World Title?

Brock Lesnar left his title match against John Cena at Night of Champions reddened, bruised and frustrated, but still world heavyweight champ.

Expect a third collision between those powerhouses, but not before Lesnar sends some animosity The Authority's way. Leading up to Hell in a Cell, a handful of men, perhaps Seth Rollins included, are set to suffer the fury of the enraged beast.

After denting Lesnar's sense of vulnerability, some slight repair is in order.

Up until Night of Champions, it felt as if Lesnar was unstoppable, a human sledgehammer battling drywall. He had bashed Big Show with chair shots, ended The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania and pummeled Cena at SummerSlam like no man has before.

Cena and Rollins both tore at that aura of indestructibility even though Lesnar left with the world title still in his possession. 

At Night of Champions, Cena tested The Beast Incarnate. He hammered him with hard clotheslines and locked him in the STF long enough to leave him hobbled afterward. Cena then hit his fourth Attitude Adjustment of the night and seemed poised to knock off the behemoth.

That's when Rollins rushed in and derailed the main event.

Credit: WWE.com

After attacking Cena, he smashed Lesnar's head to the mat with the Curb Stomp. His Money in the Bank cash-in attempt never got underway, though, and as a result, Lesnar left the arena still champion.

The unsatisfying ending to that match points to a battle inside a steel structure ahead.

Round III

It's clear that there will be a third installment in this Lesnar vs. Cena series. If WWE was going to end it at two pay-per-view bouts, it would have had Lesnar soundly defeat Cena. The narrative the company chose created uncertainty rather than a climax.

Cena will claim that he had Lesnar beaten. Lesnar will want to prove that he's a tougher, stronger man than Cena.

Only another go-around between these two accomplishes that.

Besides, this isn't a surplus of other options to face Lesnar at the moment. Daniel Bryan and Reigns are both injured. Big Show may be busy getting revenge on Rusev for trouncing his tag team partner. 

That leaves WWE likely to headline Hell in a Cell with Lesnar vs. Cena once again.

The gimmick match that gives the event its name offers a way to cap off this feud in dramatic fashion. The Hell in a Cell is designed to keep men like Rollins out of the action. Its inherent violence makes for a fitting third battle in what has been a physical run of matches.

WWE has five weeks until that pay-per-view, giving the company plenty of time to replace the image of Lesnar facedown in the ring with ones of him being more menacing.

Unstoppable Once More

Look for WWE to counteract the moments of weakness Lesnar showed at Night of Champions. A key selling point to his title run has been his dominance.

Portraying him as a destroyer on another tier from his opponents has made every appearance and fight a more significant event. He's not just a champion, but a spectacle of the unconquerable variety.

That's not as true coming out of Night of Champions.  

The first steps following the event are likely to be an attempt to reestablish him in that role. Just as Lesnar assaulted Mark Henry to set up his matchup with Undertaker, someone else is going to get flattened at the champ's hands.

The Authority may unwillingly supply the man for that job.

Lesnar has to be incensed that Rollins' interference now raises doubts about if he would have beaten Cena at Night of Champions. In addition, it's hard to imagine a monster like him not seeking retribution for Rollins stomping his head into the canvas.

Triple H was happy to have Lesnar be the company's top titleholder, as it meant that it kept Cena and Roman Reigns away from the belt. There is sure to now be some pushback from someone he won't be able to control.

Lesnar will be on the hunt for Rollins, launching a subplot that will eventually become the featured storyline.

Bringing Down the Beast

Rollins' actions at Night of Champions served as a catalyst for future tension between The Authority and the man it backed as champion.

Lesnar is not the lackey that Randy Orton is. He has been painted as a mercenary only interested in his own personal gain. That means he'll have no trouble taking out Rollins for attacking him.

Credit: WWE.com

Should Lensar go after Rollins and perhaps knock down Kane and Orton along the way, it is going to create chaos.

The divide between heels and babyfaces, The Authority's allies and enemies will be disturbed. Once Lesnar establishes himself as someone no one can trust and once he makes enough adversaries, the story is going to shift.

Eventually Triple H will want someone to stop him. A man set on destruction and who The Authority can't contain is not good for business.

That opens the door for a narrative where Triple H supports Reigns, despite their bad blood, in attempting to dethrone Lesnar. There is a "save WWE from the monster" story ready to be be told.

Some image repair and another clash with Cena is on tap first, though.