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Brock Lesnar made a shocking return to the WWE months after he was officially identified in a federal lawsuit by the wrestling promotion’s former employee, Janel Grant against former head Vince McMahon.
Lesnar returned Sunday at SummerSlam, the WWE’s second-biggest premium live event next to WrestleMania. The 48-year-old arrived following the main event between John Cena and Cody Rhodes. He would enter the ring and deliver the F5, his finishing move, on Cena to close the show.
His last WWE appearance was at SummerSlam in 2023.
Grant’s lawsuit, which was originally filed in January 2024, accused McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis of “physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking.”
An amended complaint filed in January cited Lesnar by name. The lawsuit alleged that in 2021, Grant was used as a “sexual pawn” to keep Lesnar signed with the WWE. Grant allegedly created “personalized sexual content” for Lesnar at the behest of McMahon.
The two were also allegedly set to have an in-person encounter in December 2021, though Grant was able to “back out” after Lesnar’s travel plans were altered by a snowstorm.
Lesnar is not a defendant in the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for Grant shared a statement to Front Office Sports following Lesnar’s return:
“For far too long, abuse was allowed to thrive under WWE’s leadership. Instead of righting this wrong, WWE has done nothing to ensure those responsible are held accountable. This attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug will backfire. We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong but, in the meantime, we refer you back to Janel Grant’s updated complaint, which outlines, in detail, the abuse she endured by McMahon and others while employed at WWE.”
The WWE did not respond to a request for comment.
According to Dave Meltzer of the “Wrestling Observer,” WWE’s legal team cleared Lesnar to return “four weeks ago.”
“Either they’re confident that things are going to arbitration and Lesnar’s not a factor at that point, or they’re close to a settlement and then, at that point, Lesnar’s not a factor, or somebody there just had a change of mind, and I don’t know which one of those it is,” Meltzer said.
John Cena’s Request?
While it’s not uncommon for WWE talent to take extended breaks, it was unclear whether Lesnar, a 10-time WWE world champion, would return to the promotion following the lawsuit.
WWE chief content officer Paul Levesque (also known by his in-ring name Triple H) suggested on the SummerSlam postgame show on Peacock that Lesnar’s return was a request from Cena.
“This is John Cena’s wish list. It’s him writing the last chapter of his book. … “One of the very first things I said to [Cena] is, ‘Who do you want? And how?’ and we’re working through that.” Levesque said.
Cena is in the middle of his WWE retirement tour, which started Jan. 6 and runs through 2025. Following SummerSlam, the 48-year-old has 12 more WWE appearances remaining.
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