WWE Friday Night SmackDown at Rupp Arena on Friday, June 13, 2025 Shatters Records
LEXINGTON, KY. (June 18, 2025) – WWE Friday Night SmackDown delivered a historic evening on Friday, June 13, 2025, rewriting the venue’s record books with the highest-grossing and most-attended WWE event ever held at Rupp Arena. This monumental and action-packed night solidified the legendary status of both WWE, and the historic Lexington venue that is proudly managed by Oak View Group (OVG). Contributing to the excitement of the night was John Cena’s appearance as part of his final WWE tour, that brought decades of legacy and fanfare to a roaring crowd.
Event Highlights
- Highest Attended WWE Event: 11,922 fans filled Rupp Arena, marking it the highest attended WWE event at the venue.
- Highest Grossing: The show generated record-breaking revenue, making it the top-grossing WWE event in Rupp Arena’s history.
- John Cena’s Final Tour Stop: Fans witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime moment as John Cena appeared in Lexington as part of his final WWE tour. The emotional farewell appearance was one of the night’s most unforgettable highlights.
- Star-Studded Lineup: In addition to Cena, the event featured appearances by Cody Rhodes, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Randy Orton, LA Knight, Solo Sikoa, Nia Jax, Bianca Belair, and more.
Brian Sipe, General Manager of Rupp Arena and proud member of the WWE Universe, shared his excitement about the historic night:
“Rupp Arena laid the smackdown on all previous records this past Friday with a packed arena full of loud WWE fans that showcased our great city to the world. Thanks to everyone at TKO and WWE for making this historic event happen and we can’t wait to welcome them back next year.”
What’s Next for Rupp
Following the historic success of WWE SmackDown, Rupp Arena continues to raise the bar as one of the most in-demand live event venues in the country. With a lineup of major concerts and national tours set to take the stage in the coming months, Rupp is doubling down on its commitment to unforgettable fan experiences.
Upcoming shows include:
- Billy Strings: Spring ’25 Tour – June 20-21, 2025
- Creed: Summer of ’99 Tour – July 7, 2025
- Cole Swindell: Happy Hour Sad Tour – September 18, 2025
- Eric Church: Free The Machine Tour – October 3, 2025
- Kevin Gates: The Amilio Tour – October 12, 2025
- Jonas Brothers: JONAS20 Greetings From Your Hometown Tour – November 1, 2025
- A Day To Remember & Yellowcard: Maximum Fun Tour – November 6, 2025
- Andrea Bocelli: Live in Concert – December 6, 2025
Stay tuned as Rupp Arena continues to bring bigger names, louder crowds, and record-setting nights to Lexington. Find more information about and tickets for upcoming events at rupparena.com.
Venue Contact
Lauren Layman | Llayman@oakviewgroup.com
# # #
About Rupp Arena
Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the Lexington Center Corporation (LCC) is a not-for-profit 501c3 corporate agency of the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. It was established in 1974 to manage and maintain Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Central Bank Center (formerly Lexington Convention Center), Triangle Park, and the Lexington Opera House. One of the nation’s most storied entertainment destinations, Central Bank Center venues collectively welcome an average of 1.3 million patrons annually.
Since 1976, Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center has served as the home court of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, regularly leading the national attendance average. Rupp Arena has hosted legendary artists such as Justin Timberlake, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, and many more. Since 2018, Oak View Group and Live Nation Arenas have provided booking services to Rupp Arena. During the last 18 months, Rupp Arena has broken all previous audience attendance and revenue records in its storied 43-year history.
About Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class-owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.