Professional wrestling, especially WWE, has historically depended on surprising plot developments to keep audiences engaged. It is a combination of Dragon Ball Z, melodrama, and sheer spectacle. However, a recent development has not been favorably received by fans: the unforeseen comeback of Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar, dubbed the Beast Incarnate, has faced disapproval within the online wrestling community over the last year. In January 2024, right before the Royal Rumble, former WWE staff member Janel Grant launched a lawsuit against then-CEO Vince McMahon, claiming he pressured her into a sexual relationship and trafficked her to another executive and an “unnamed WWE wrestler,” later confirmed to be Lesnar. The lawsuit alleges that McMahon leveraged Grant’s sexual favors in contract talks with Lesnar.
In reaction, WWE excluded Lesnar from the Royal Rumble and scrapped his WrestleMania XL match. He was also removed from the cover of the special edition WWE 2K24 and edited out of television intros, effectively sidelining him. It’s crucial to emphasize that while Lesnar is referred to 44 times in the lawsuit, he is not a defendant and has not faced any criminal charges.
Currently, WWE appears poised to move past the controversy, even if fans are reluctant. At WWE’s SummerSlam night two event, during John Cena’s final SummerSlam match before hanging up his boots, Lesnar made a surprise reappearance to confront Cena. The live audience reacted enthusiastically, but online fans and wrestlers showed their discontent.
Lesnar’s return comes on the heels of a series of contentious WWE actions, including the sudden cancellation of press conferences with independent media. This move raised eyebrows as it followed WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s appearance alongside President Trump at the White House for the signing of a new executive order regarding the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
As reported by Wrestling Observer Radio, journalist Dave Meltzer indicates that WWE canceled the press conferences to evade inquiries concerning Lesnar.