Brock Lesnar Shocks at SummerSlam: Impactful Return and WWE Controversy

Brock Lesnar Shocks with Explosive Return at SummerSlam

In an unexpected turn that shook the wrestling world, Brock Lesnar made his WWE return at SummerSlam, just six months after being mentioned in a lawsuit against the company and former executive Vince McMahon. Lesnar’s return came after the main event of the second night of SummerSlam, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Cody Rhodes regained the Undisputed WWE Championship in a “street fight” against John Cena, who has stated that he will retire as an active wrestler after this year. Cena stood alone in the center of the ring while the fans chanted: “Thank you, Cena!”. He knelt, kissed his hand, and then placed it on the mat. It was then that Lesnar’s entrance music resonated, unleashing euphoria among the audience. Lesnar finally entered the ring and applied his finishing move, the “F-5”, to Cena to close the show. Lesnar, recognized for his successful career in amateur wrestling and the UFC, is mostly known for his multiple reigns in WWE, where he was crowned seven-time world champion, nicknamed “The Beast Incarnate”. Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, officially identified Lesnar in a filing on January 31 in the United States District Court, related to her lawsuit filed against WWE and McMahon in January 2024. The original complaint referred to a star wrestler in the accusation, but did not provide Lesnar’s name. Lesnar is not a defendant in the lawsuit.

In a statement issued at the time by McMahon’s attorney, the amended complaint was called a “publicity stunt.”

Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s attorney

Grant, who worked in the company’s legal and talent departments, alleged that McMahon forced her to have a sexual relationship to keep her job. She claims that McMahon demanded that she create “personalized sexual content” for Lesnar in July 2021, at a time when McMahon was trying to keep Lesnar under contract with WWE. In addition, she alleges that McMahon flew Lesnar to Connecticut in 2021 for a sexual encounter, which ultimately did not happen. McMahon resigned in January 2024 as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group, the parent company of WWE, after Grant’s lawsuit was filed. WWE has attempted to avoid commenting on the ongoing litigation. There were no press conferences after SummerSlam, as WWE opted for its wrestlers to speak exclusively on the post-event show instead of answering questions from reporters. WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul Levesque, was not questioned about the lawsuit on Sunday night’s show, but he did address Lesnar’s return.

If there had been a roof on this place, it wouldn’t be here anymore. The dynamic in the room changes when the Beast is here. Anything you thought was happening, somehow, goes out the window. The Brock factor changes everything incredibly and makes it unpredictable. Incredible to have him back.

Paul Levesque, WWE Chief Content Officer

Levesque discussed the accusations against McMahon on the UK-based podcast “The Sports Agents”, which launched on Friday.

All we can do is move forward, for us as a company and creatively. The accusations are accusations, right? It’s a complicated relationship for anyone in life. Nobody’s perfect. But accusations are made and that’s something totally legal that is totally separate and apart from what we do.

Paul Levesque, WWE’s Chief Content Officer

Levesque continued saying: “My job is to present the best creative product that WWE can make. Fortunately and happily, it has been successful. The business is in a good moment right now and continues to grow.”