Why WWE Is Betting Big on Brock Lesnar Again — Even With Controversy Still Lurking
After two years on the sidelines, The Beast Incarnate made his thunderous return at WWE SummerSlam — and now we know why.
According to multiple reports, Brock Lesnar’s comeback was made possible after WWE’s legal department officially cleared him, ending an internal freeze that had kept him away since the end of 2023.
With WWE SmackDown set to air tonight (Aug 8th), the big question is — will Brock Lesnar show up? We already know John Cena is scheduled to address the WWE Universe about SummerSlam and the closing chapters of his farewell tour. But could The Beast Incarnate crash the moment?
Anything is possible, especially with WWE keeping Brock’s status tightly under wraps. There have been no official announcements, no teases — just total radio silence. It’s the kind of secrecy that makes his appearance feel almost “unsanctioned,” a return the company could easily spin into a storyline and use to ignite the Cena–Lesnar rivalry one last time.
The Controversy That Kept Lesnar Out
Lesnar’s absence was tied to fallout from the Janel Grant civil lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. While Lesnar was named in the filings due to his past association with McMahon, he was never charged, never listed as a defendant, and never officially suspended by WWE.
Still, the optics were enough to keep him off television. Industry insiders widely believed that WWE wanted distance between Lesnar and the ongoing case — especially with McMahon forced out of his TKO Group position after the lawsuit surfaced.
⚖️ The Legal Shift
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE’s legal team changed its stance roughly a month before SummerSlam. The prevailing belief inside the company is that there is no criminal case against McMahon, and with certain elements of the investigation considered “tabled” earlier this year, Lesnar’s name no longer presented a major obstacle.
If the case settles or moves to arbitration, any connection to Lesnar becomes a non-factor. And WWE’s actions — bringing him back for one of the year’s biggest moments — strongly suggest they see minimal legal risk moving forward.
🫰Paid to Wait
Despite not wrestling since his loss to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2023, Lesnar remained under contract and among WWE’s highest-paid talents during his two-year absence. Sources confirm he was “fully paid” throughout and never faced a formal suspension.
That means the plan was never to cut ties — only to wait for the right moment. That moment arrived in Montreal, where Lesnar confronted John Cena, circled the ring, and planted the 16-time World Champion with an emphatic F-5 to close the show.
🔮 What’s Next?
All signs point to at least one more clash between Lesnar and Cena — a rivalry that began back in their Ohio Valley Wrestling days 25 years ago. With Cena’s farewell tour ticking down, this could be one of his final marquee programs before hanging up the boots.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Brock Lesnar’s return is more than just a storyline beat — it’s a statement from WWE and TKO. By clearing him now, they’re signaling confidence that the legal storm has passed, at least as far as Lesnar is concerned. But this decision isn’t without risk. The backlash from fans and media could intensify if public opinion shifts, especially given the nature of the allegations tied to McMahon. WWE is clearly betting that Lesnar’s box office appeal outweighs the PR headache — a gamble they’ve made before, and one they believe will pay off on the road to Cena’s swan song.
