Brock Lesnar stunned WWE fans with a sudden return during SummerSlam last week, attacking John Cena after Cena’s championship match against Cody Rhodes. This unexpected comeback instantly stirred controversy and intense reactions from wrestlers and fans alike, placing Lesnar back at the center of WWE’s spotlight.
Controversy and Reactions Surrounding Lesnar’s Return
Lesnar’s comeback immediately caused a stir within the wrestling community. On the Keepin‘ It 100 podcast, former WCW Cruiserweight Champion Glenn Gilbertti, also known as Disco Inferno, weighed in on why Lesnar was welcomed back despite ongoing issues. Gilbertti expressed skepticism about allegations linked to Lesnar, explaining that Lesnar hasn’t faced legal consequences or lawsuits from Janel Grant, which influenced WWE’s decision.
“This specific case, I can’t find anything that Brock Lesnar (…) and the court of public opinion maybe did some stuff and like, dude, you actually want to audit everybody’s text messages (…) If you took everybody that was complaining I wonder what your text messages say, and then try to punish people for that,” Gilbertti said.
—Glenn Gilbertti, Former WCW Cruiserweight Champion
In addition, Gilbertti highlighted WWE’s discontinuation of press conferences just before Lesnar’s return, suggesting the company sought to limit questions about sensitive topics. He likened Lesnar’s comeback to a defiance against cancel culture.
“Brock coming back was kind of like α cancel culture people, you know, like he’s back and like all the people they’re complaining, that’s why they cut out the press conferences, that’s why they don’t have the scrums afterwards, because they don’t want to answer the question.” [From 5:13 to 5:51]
—Glenn Gilbertti, Former WCW Cruiserweight Champion
Lesnar is confirmed to confront John Cena once more during Cena’s farewell tour, adding further tension to their storied rivalry.
Drew McIntyre’s Take on Lesnar’s Comeback
Fellow WWE star Drew McIntyre was among those reacting to Lesnar’s surprise reappearance. Speaking with The West Sport, McIntyre indicated that Lesnar’s return was not unexpected for him, describing it as a familiar and inevitable moment given Lesnar’s reputation.
“I just thought, ‘There’s Brock. There he is.’ I didn’t think anything crazy. I just saw him come out. I had finished my last appearance, I got in a plane. I believe I just arrived home in Nashville, where I saw it, and I went, ‘Oh, there he is.’ Brock is back. He’s The Beast, he causes a lot of headlines and most importantly, he’s also the guy I beat in the main event of WrestleMania for my first WWE Championship in five minutes,” McIntyre said.
—Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar
McIntyre is set to face Cody Rhodes at Clash in Paris for the WWE Championship after a recent SmackDown altercation where he targeted Rhodes, keeping the championship scene highly volatile.
The Broader Impact and What Lies Ahead
Brock Lesnar’s SummerSlam return reignited debates about WWE’s handling of controversies and the influence of public opinion in sports entertainment. Gilbertti’s comments reveal underlying concerns about how WWE manages its stars and sensitive situations, while Lesnar’s presence continues to generate headline-grabbing moments. The impending rematch between Lesnar and Cena, combined with McIntyre’s ongoing feud with Rhodes, sets the stage for an intense buildup toward future WWE events.
This surprising move underscores WWE’s willingness to take bold risks with their roster, despite external pressures, signaling that major storylines will remain unsettled as the company navigates between fan expectations and complex controversies.
