Brock Lesnar made a highly anticipated return to WWE after being away for two years, emerging on the second night of SummerSlam 2025 to confront his longtime rival John Cena. Lesnar’s last in-ring WWE appearance was at SummerSlam 2023 when he was defeated by Cody Rhodes. Following his comeback, Lesnar appeared on SmackDown last week, where he interrupted a match between John Cena and Sami Zayn, delivering his signature F5 finishing move to both competitors.
Vince Russo Criticizes WWE’s Handling of Sami Zayn Post-Interruption
Veteran wrestling writer Vince Russo shared his disappointment with how WWE has managed Sami Zayn’s character after the recent SmackDown incident. Speaking on BroDown on Sportskeeda WrestleBinge, Russo pointed out that Zayn did not mention Lesnar’s attack even once, which, in his opinion, weakens Zayn’s image as a resilient and proactive champion. Russo argued that downplaying the attack implies Zayn is afraid of Lesnar.
“Brock Lesnar laid out Sami and Cena. F5’d Sami Zayn. So, here’s Sami, the big baby face on tonight’s show. He don’t want revenge on that. He don’t want a receipt on that. And you know what that does? That kills Sami Zayn because you know what that makes you think? He’s afraid of Brock Lesnar. That’s what it makes you think. He got an F5 last week. I’m not going to mention Brock’s name. I’m not going to go anywhere near Brock Lesnar. That’s what it makes you freaking believe,” Russo said.
Sami Zayn’s Recent Title Reign and Future Matchups
Sami Zayn recently captured the United States Championship in France and promised to be an active and fighting champion. After winning the title, he began defending it through open challenges, with John Cena being his first opponent. Lesnar’s unexpected interference in Zayn’s match with Cena led to the announcement of a final showdown between Lesnar and Cena at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event, further intensifying the stakes for all involved.
The Impact of Lesnar’s WWE SmackDown Return on Storylines
Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE and his aggressive actions have shifted several storylines, especially those involving Sami Zayn and John Cena. Russo’s critique highlights tension surrounding character development and booking decisions, reflecting fan concerns over WWE’s direction. How this will affect Sami Zayn’s momentum as the United States Champion and the overall narrative on SmackDown remains to be seen, as the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event will be a key moment for these rivalries.
