Following a two-year hiatus linked to his reported connection to the Vince McMahon lawsuit, Brock Lesnar made his return to WWE at SummerSlam, facing off with John Cena on Sunday night.
Lesnar’s previous appearance for WWE was at SummerSlam 2023, after which he was removed from television, despite his status as a prominent figure. This removal was reportedly due to associations with the McMahon legal issues.
While Lesnar is mentioned on various occasions in the legal documents, he is not a defendant in the lawsuit and has remained silent publicly regarding these mentions since being included back in February.
The Daily Mail has sought clarification from WWE on Lesnar’s current standing with the company, especially concerning his comeback amid the McMahon case, but has yet to receive a response.
At the end of the main event between Cena and Cody Rhodes, the ‘Peacemaker’ actor honored the New Jersey crowd after losing his title to ‘The American Nightmare’.
As Cena was beginning to step out of the ring, Lesnar’s familiar theme music hit and sent WWE’s fans in attendance into bedlam.
Brock Lesnar returned to WWE programming at SummerSlam to confront John Cena on Sunday
Lesnar last appeared for the company at SummerSlam in 2023 and was later written off TV
Former WWE employee Janel Grant amended the complaint in her ongoing lawsuit in February against McMahon, who she accuses of sex trafficking her.
The revised lawsuit contains alarming new claims against McMahon and others in the wrestling organization, citing an incident where McMahon allegedly used a wrestler as a ‘sexual pawn’ to influence Lesnar to remain under contract.
In 2021, McMahon was embroiled in continued discussions with Lesnar over a return to WWE when he offered her to the wrestler and told her to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar, the complaint alleges.
According to the suit, McMahon shared explicit photos with Lesnar and told Grant: ‘He likes what he sees’. Then, allegedly after Lesnar agreed his new WWE contract, McMahon is said to have sent Grant a message in August 2021, telling her ‘that part of the deal was f***ing U.’
The complaint had previously detailed the allegations but had not named Lesnar, instead citing an anonymous fighter. The Wall Street Journal had previously identified the wrestler in question as Lesnar.
An attorney for McMahon told DailyMail.com: ‘As expected, the proposed amended complaint is nothing more than the latest publicity stunt in an ongoing smear campaign. It is filled with desperate falsehoods from a team that continues to disregard the law and the truth.’
A few months later, McMahon is said to have given Grant’s cellphone number to the WWE star who asked her to send a video of herself urinating. The suit claims that after she did, he called her a ‘b****.’
McMahon is also said to have arranged a meeting between Grant and Lesnar, with a sexual encounter between the pair ultimately not taking place as the wrestler was escorted back to their plane intoxicated.
Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon has been accused of sex trafficking by a former employee
Janel Grant (pictured) is suing McMahon, the WWE and another company executive
Lesnar’s return doubles with WWE taking away live press conferences from members of the local media following premium live events.
The lawsuit was officially filed back in January 2024 right around the time Lesnar was supposed to return to television before his implication.
Last month, former UFC champion Daniel Cormier, who was in talks to fight Lesnar in The Octagon several years ago, said ‘The Beast’ was on WWE’s list of banned performers.
WWE fans were split on Lesnar’s return to the company, with the legal ramifications being weighed with one of the most accomplished combat-sports of all-time re-entering the squared circle.
‘If you’re complaining about Brock Lesnar’s return, stop watching. Stop watching. Stop posting. Stop buying merch. Stop going to shows. Otherwise, you’re a hypocrite. Complain. Complain. Complain. Stop watching or shut up,’ one WWE fan said.
‘We as a society have moved past the need for Brock Lesnar,’ a second wrestling fan stated.
‘(WWE executive Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque’) canceling the pressers to avoid questions about Brock is absolute coward s***. Soft as f***ing Charmin,’ a third added.
‘I am and will forever be Brock Lesnar Guy,’ a fourth continued.
As part of WWE’s updated post-game show, with contracted talent asking questions, Triple H talked about Lesnar’s return, with fans outside MetLife Stadium chanting, ‘We Want Brock!’
‘You want Brock? You’ve got him,’ the WWE executive said.
