What to Make of the Beast Incarnate's Return at SummerSlam
This past weekend, the WWE delivered two shocking surprises to close out both nights of SummerSlam. At the end of Night One, Seth Rollins pulled off a ruse and cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. In the process, he bested his rival CM Punk once again. At the end of Night Two, Cody Rhodes defeated John Cena in a Street Fight to reclaim the Undisputed WWE Championship. However, as Cena was leaving the ring, the crowd roared when they heard the music of the Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar. The Beast did what he did best: stalked his prey and took down the 17-time World Champion with a thunderous F-5. Brock Lesnar has not been seen since 2023. So, what does his return mean going forward?
It was inferred at the SummerSlam Post-Show that the reason Lesnar is back in the WWE is because John Cena requested it. WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, stated that Cena has a “wish list” of opponents that he would like to face before he retires at the end of this year. It is quite possible that Lesnar was on this “list” because of the shared history the two wrestlers have. Both started training together in Ohio Valley Wrestling, and both were called up to the main roster in 2002. The seven-time WWE Champion was immediately presented as a force to be reckoned with and won the WWE Championship four months after his debut. Cena, on the other hand, was trying to find the right character to connect with the audience. The two have had memorable clashes with each other over the years. From their Extreme Rules Match in 2012 to Lesnar’s dominance over Cena at SummerSlam 2014. Now, it seems that these two will face each other one more time, but what does this mean for Lesnar? Is this a one-off for him, or will he be back on a part-time basis again?
The reasoning for Lesnar’s absence was his alleged involvement in the Vince McMahon scandal that shook WWE. The three-time Universal Champion was named in the sex trafficking lawsuit, where it is alleged that Lesnar was offered sex by a former WWE employee under the direction of McMahon. The employee, Janel Grant, said that McMahon also asked her to create sexual content for Lesnar. It is important to note that while Lesnar is named in the lawsuit, he is not listed as a defendant. However, some people may see this as the WWE’s attempt to sweep this under the rug. A spokesperson for Janel Grant delivered the following statement.
"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," the spokesperson said. "We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong." According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the WWE Legal Team cleared Lesnar to return four weeks ago. This could have been done because they believe that the lawsuit will be settled, or it will go to arbitration, making Lesnar’s involvement less risky.
The Former NCAA Champion’s return is a total shock to the WWE Universe. Many thought that he would never set foot in the WWE again. However, it looks like his legal situation has died down a bit, and the WWE feels that it is safe to put him back on their television screens. Lesnar’s return may just be for John Cena’s Retirement Tour, but if he sticks around afterwards, there are potential opponents for him to face. A dream match with Gunther is one that fans are talking about the most. For now, Brock Lesnar is back in the WWE, but for how long remains to be seen.
