Ahead of what is expected to be a newsworthy episode of Friday Night SmackDown, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has taken to social media to comment on the significance of performing in Chicago’s Allstate Arena. The show is set to feature what is to be the final SmackDown appearance of John Cena’s career, as well as a hometown appearance from CM Punk and the potential return of AJ Lee.
In a post on his official X account, Triple H shared his thoughts on the venue and the show. “The Allstate Arena holds a special place in the heart of every Superstar who gets the chance to perform here. This place is magic…let’s make some more tonight,“ he wrote.
Tonight’s show is a key stop on John Cena’s ongoing retirement tour. It will mark his final appearance in Chicago, and a recent report from WrestleVotes indicated that it is expected to be his final appearance on the SmackDown brand, the show where he made his debut in the very same building in 2002. The big question heading into the night is whether or not his rival, Brock Lesnar, will show up, as he is reportedly in town.
While he is a member of the Raw roster, Chicago’s own CM Punk has heavily hinted that he will also be at tonight’s SmackDown. He is coming off a controversial loss in the main event of the Clash in Paris premium live event, where Becky Lynch interfered to help her husband, Seth Rollins, retain the World Heavyweight Championship. On this past week’s Raw, Punk made it clear he would not physically retaliate against Lynch, which has led to widespread speculation that his wife, former Divas Champion AJ Lee, could be on the verge of a return to even the odds.
Also advertised to appear on tonight’s show are United States Champion Sami Zayn, Randy Orton and the reigning WWE Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton. Friday Night SmackDown airs live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago tonight at 8 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
40 years of @WWE history.
Epic matches, jaw-dropping returns, and game-changing debuts. The @AllstateArena holds a special place in the heart of every Superstar who gets the chance to perform here. This place is magic…let’s make some more tonight. #Smackdown in Chicago will be… pic.twitter.com/2XuNRk80AB— Triple H (@TripleH) September 5, 2025
