Brock Lesnar made headlines with his shocking return at SummerSlam 2025, appearing moments after Cody Rhodes dethroned John Cena to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion. “The Beast Incarnate” marched down to the ring and laid out Cena with a brutal F5, instantly igniting what appears to be the final chapter in their long-running rivalry. But behind the scenes, Lesnar’s comeback wasn’t just a creative decision—it was a legally calculated move that’s been in the works for weeks.
According toWrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, Lesnar was quietly cleared by WWE’s legal team roughly four weeks before his return. The delay in bringing him back reportedly stemmed from concerns surrounding the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit, in which Lesnar’s name was indirectly tied to allegations against Vince McMahon. While WWE had previously stayed silent on Lesnar’s future, it appears they were simply waiting for the legal green light.
“It wasn’t a moral decision to keep him off TV,” Meltzer explained. “It was purely legal. The moment the lawyers said yes, he was back in the fold.”
Interestingly, Meltzer also revealed that WWE chose not to hold its usual post-SummerSlam press conference this year specifically to avoid media questions about Lesnar’s return and the legal situation surrounding it. Despite the controversy, Lesnar was never suspended or released during his absence. He remained under contract the entire time—and continued receiving his regular pay.
“They never fired Brock. He was always under contract. He was always getting paid,” Meltzer added.
While Lesnar’s return has received a mixed reaction from fans and critics alike, there’s no denying the buzz it’s generated heading into the fall. With Cena now locked into a farewell feud with his longtime rival, WWE is betting big on nostalgia and star power to carry the story forward—controversy and all.
Night 2 of WWE SummerSlam 2025 delivered the fireworks fans hoped for—and then some. Triple H opened the show with a passionate speech, declaring this the biggest SummerSlam in history. With the crowd fired up, the action kicked off with a stacked Women’s World Title triple threat and never let up. Let’s run down the biggest moments from an absolutely wild night in Cleveland.
Naomi made special ring entrance with her father playing guitar.
Naomi Retains in High-Octane Triple Threat
WWE Women’s World Championship Naomi (c) def. Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY
The three-way bout between Naomi, Rhea Ripley, and IYO SKY was nonstop chaos from bell to bell. Naomi fought off both challengers with creativity and resilience, using everything from a split-legged moonsault to a crafty low enzuigiri to stay alive.
A mid-match Asai moonsault by SKY leveled both opponents on the floor, and a massive Avalanche Riptide from Ripley nearly sealed it—until Naomi snuck in with a schoolboy roll-up on Rhea, grabbing a handful of tights to keep her title in dramatic fashion.
TLC legends the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz were in the crowd.
Wyatt 6 Survives Absolute Mayhem to Retain the Tag Titles
TLC Match – WWE Tag Team Championship Wyatt 6 (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) (c) def. #DIY, Street Profits, Motor City Machine Guns, Andrade & Rey Fenix, Fraxiom
The 25th anniversary of TLC got the tribute it deserved—and then some. In a wild six-team brawl featuring ladders, chairs, and more broken tables than a Dudley Boyz reunion, chaos reigned supreme. From Candice LeRae, B-Fab and Nikki Cross got involved. Candice taking a horrific ladder bump off a ladder in the ring through a ladder on the outside, to Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy fending off high-flying challengers at every turn, this was a match filled with carnage. Erick Rowan also got involved.
After Uncle Howdy interfered to wipe out DIY, the path was cleared for Lumis and Gacy to reclaim their place atop the tag division, retrieving the titles to remain champions.
Becky Lynch Survives a War Against Lyra Valkyria
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship – No DQ Match Becky Lynch (c) def. Lyra Valkyria
This No Disqualification showdown got violent fast. Crowbars, toolboxes, steel chairs, and even fire extinguishers came into play as both women went to war. Valkyria showed incredible heart, fighting back even after being zip-tied, slammed into exposed steel, and blasted with a wrench.
Bayley made a shocking run-in late in the match, refusing to help Lynch but accidentally taking out Lyra instead. That allowed Becky to hit the Manhandle Slam and score the win, ending Valkyria’s hopes of another title shot while Lynch holds the gold.
Solo Sikoa Escapes Jacob Fatu in Brutal Cage Match
WWE United States Championship – Steel Cage Match Solo Sikoa (c) def. Jacob Fatu
Two of WWE’s most dangerous heavy-hitters collided inside the steel, and the result was every bit as brutal as fans expected. Jacob Fatu seemed poised for victory, surviving interference from The Bloodline and breaking free from handcuffs at one point. But when Talla Tonga smashed the door into both men, it gave Solo just enough of an edge to crawl out and retain his United States Title.
Post-match, Fatu got a measure of revenge by moonsaulting off the cage onto the pile of Bloodline members below.
Dominik Mysterio Steals One From AJ Styles
WWE Intercontinental Championship Dominik Mysterio (c) def. AJ Styles
AJ Styles came close to dethroning Dominik multiple times, but in true Mysterio fashion, Dom escaped with the title intact thanks to underhanded tactics. A loaded boot and a distracted ref helped him survive a grueling contest filled with classic reversals, near-falls, and a failed Eddie Guerrero chair trick.
Styles had the Calf Killer locked in multiple times, but Mysterio’s slipperiness (literally slipping out of his boot at one point) saved him once again. A frog splash sealed the deal after a ref bump, keeping the gold around Dirty Dom’s waist.
Stephanie McMahon in the ring to announce tonight’s attendance at 60,561 and the combined attendance of 113,722 for both nights of SummerSlam
Cody Rhodes Ends John Cena’s SummerSlam Legacy in a Street Fight Epic
WWE Undisputed Championship – Street Fight Cody Rhodes def. John Cena (c)
In what may have been John Cena’s final SummerSlam match, he and Cody Rhodes tore the house down in a violent, emotionally charged street fight. Cena brought out steel steps, slammed Cody through announce tables, and even delivered an Avalanche AA through a table. But Cody refused to stay down.
Late in the match, Rhodes used a detached turnbuckle rod to pummel Cena, then survived two more Attitude Adjustments before finally landing an Avalanche Cody Cutter through a table and a series of Cross Rhodes to capture the WWE Undisputed Championship.
Post-match, Cena handed Rhodes the title and raised his hand before taking in one last ovation—until Brock Lesnar suddenly hit the ring and delivered a shocking F-5 to Cena, sending a disturbing message on the final note of the show.
Other Notables:
Celebrities like Jelly Roll, Michelle McCool, Tyrese Haliburton, Mr. Iguana, Psycho Clown and other stars were shown in the audience.
After a sex trafficking lawsuit was filed against Vince McMahon and WWE, Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE TV at the 2024 Royal Rumble had to be canceled.
Lesnar, a former WWE/UFC Heavyweight Champion, was the only one who fit the bill regarding the lawsuit naming a former WWE/UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Instead, Bron Breakker stepped in and took Lesnar’s place in the match, which was eventually won by Cody Rhodes.
Dave Meltzer is reporting that Breakker was not initially scheduled for the men’s Royal Rumble match but executed all the spots that Lesnar was supposed to perform.
A bombshell was dropped on the wrestling world Thursday afternoon, after a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, alleging that Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis engaged in sex trafficking made headlines. Among the allegations in the suit were that McMahon sexually abused and exploited Grant, trafficked her to other WWE employees, including Laurinaitis, and attempted to do so with “a former UFC Heavyweight Champion the company was actively trying to re-sign” in 2020.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the former UFC Heavyweight Champion in question is none other than long-time WWE star Brock Lesnar. According to the suit, Grant was instructed by McMahon to create “personalized sexual content” for Lesnar, referred to only as a “UFC and WWE star” in the lawsuit, in an attempt to sway Lesnar towards re-signing with WWE. Grant alleges Lesnar told McMahon that he enjoyed the content and that McMahon later told Grant that Lesnar re-signed with WWE, in part, so he could have sexual relations with Grant.
The suit further claims that McMahon gave Lesnar Grant’s phone number in December, leading to Lesnar requesting that she send him more explicit content. Grant then alleges Lesnar told her he would like to set up a “play date” between the two of them, though the encounter would ultimately not take place due to a snowstorm “disrupting his [Lesnar’s] travel plans.” Grant alleges McMahon would attempt to traffic her to Lesnar one final time in March 2022, with McMahon once again telling her to send explicit photos to Lesnar. Ultimately, the suit alleges that a physical meeting between Lesnar and Grant never took place.
Lesnar has not commented on the matter at this time.
Brock Lesnar is expected to make his return to WWE television soon after being absent since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam. It has been anticipated for months that he would return this month to participate in the build-up to the Royal Rumble.
Lesnar will likely compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. Several stars, including Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, have already declared their participation in the match.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Lesnar’s return is imminent and is presumed to be for the Royal Rumble.
Brock Lesnar showed his respect to Cody Rhodes after losing to the “American Nightmare” at WWE SummerSlam, but the “Beast Incarnate” likely earned respect in his own right due to the fact he worked the bulk of the match injured.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Lesnar was injured early on in the encounter, much like Roman Reigns was during the main event later that night. It is unclear the exact spot where Lesnar got hurt or how serious the injury was, but he managed to get through the entire match and there didn’t appear to be any visual issues that impacted the quality of the encounter between the Superstars.
It is expected that Lesnar is now going to be taking time away from WWE, even though he was advertised for some events later this year at one point. Lesnar turned himself back to being babyface with his post-match handshake, which was not a planned spot according to Paul Levesque. However, the “Beast” isn’t expected to be back in WWE until the build toward the WWE Royal Rumble begins in January.
Lesnar is then expected to be involved in WWE television between the Rumble and WWE WrestleMania 40, working the part-time schedule that fans have become accustomed to with him. The former WWE Champion was spotted enjoying his time away from the ring on stage with country music artist Zach Bryan at a concert earlier this week, singing along with him as they entertained the fans, showcasing a different side of his personality.
This week on RAW Is XXX, Brock Lesnar made his return to WWE programming by attacking arch-rival Bobby Lashley in the main event of the show.
Austin Theory put the WWE United States Championship on the line against Lashley in the closing match of the special RAW episode. With victory almost an inch away, Lashley put Theory through a table. It was at this moment that Lesnar hit the ring and decimated Lashley with an F5. The Beast then F5’d Theory onto Lashley, allowing the victimized champion to score the pinfall victory over the fallen challenger.
Lesnar last appeared for WWE at the Crown Jewel pay-per-view event in November. The Beast defeated The All Mighty at the show despite Lashley dominating the majority of the match.
After bombshell news of Vince McMahon’s retirement hours before WWE “SmackDown” went on air, several questions were left unanswered. How would the hierarchy of the company change with his exit? How would it affect the WWE superstars, if at all? Reports indicated that one top WWE talent that has been with the company on and off for two decades was heavily impacted by Vince’s announcement: Brock Lesnar.
Due to the events, “Fightful Select” notes in a new report that a behind-the-scenes source reacted to the situation by calling it “overblown” but admitted they were unsure if he’d end up actually appearing on the blue brand. Creative even produced another script for the show that didn’t feature “The Beast Incarnate” whatsoever, which was reflected in the rundown released before they went live. They decided to leave the last segment of the night open in a way that Lesnar could make his return and be involved if that’s what he chose to do.
The night’s main event saw The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos and Theory team up to face The Street Profits and Madcap Moss. The Profits and Moss were awarded a disqualification victory after Theory used his Money in the Bank briefcase to strike Moss in the head. Theory then continued to attack Moss after the match, but Brock Lesnar would make the save, planting Theory with an F-5 to end the episode.
It appears that Lesnar challenging Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a Last Man Standing title match at SummerSlam on Saturday, July 30 is still scheduled to occur. The show will take place from the Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennesse.
A night of speculation over the whereabouts and future of Brock Lesnar in WWE ended in spectacular fashion when he made a shocking, surprise appearance to close out Friday night’s episode of “SmackDown”.
The main event of Friday’s “SmackDown” saw the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos and Theory team up to face The Street Profits and Madcap Moss. The Profits and Moss were awarded a disqualification victory after Theory used his Money in the Bank briefcase to strike Moss in the head.
Theory continued to attack Moss after the match. That’s when Brock Lesnar’s music played and “The Beast” made his way to the ring, where he planted Theory with an F-5.
Seeing Lesnar live on Friday’s “SmackDown” was a shock, considering the reports from backstage that surfaced starting earlier in the evening.
All appears to be back on track for Lesnar to challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a Last Man Standing title match at SummerSlam on Saturday, July 30.
McMahon is retiring from his roles as WWE Chairman, CEO, and Head of Creative amid an investigation into a series of hush money payments. McMahon allegedly paid former female employees to silence potential accusations of harassment, misconduct, and abuse against both McMahon and former Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis.
WWE is set to unify the WWE and Universal Championship at WrestleMania 38 when Roman Reigns battles Brock Lesnar.
However, on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that the deal will be similar to when WWE reunited the titles in the past. This is because the company still wants two champions, one for each brand.
Meltzer was told that it is not feasible in the modern wrestling environment for each show not to have a champion, given that they are on separate networks. But the match in April is still very much planned to be a unification bout after the contract signing took place on SmackDown last week.
Of course, there is still a chance that this particular bout may not happen at all. That is because Brock Lesnar is set to defend his WWE Championship at Madison Square Garden this weekend. Should the Beast get through that test, then he is on a collision course to face Roman.
Their match has been confirmed for night two of WrestleMania 38. On night one the Raw Women’s Championship match between Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair will take place. Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey’s contest for the SmackDown Women’s Title is also set for night one.
It has recently been reported that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon could also end up stepping into the ring to compete at ‘Mania this year. He is set to appear on The Pat McAfee Show this week, which could be done to set up a storyline, with the former NFL star being rumored to be Vince’s opponent.
WrestleMania 38 will take place on Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Below is the current announced card:
Night One: SmackDown Women’s Title Match
Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair (c)
Night Two: Winner Takes All Match
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
Night One: RAW Women’s Title Match
Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch (c)
Logan Paul and The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio
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