Brock Lesnar made a forceful comeback at WWE Wrestlepalooza, decisively defeating John Cena in one of the latter’s final matches. Despite this dominant showing after a two-year absence, Lesnar’s WWE return seems to have entered an unanticipated break, raising questions about when fans will see him next.
Details of Lesnar’s Return and Impactful Matches
Lesnar reemerged on SummerSlam Night 2, launching a surprise attack on John Cena shortly after Cena, a 17-time world champion, lost his title to Cody Rhodes. Lesnar continued his aggressive approach on the September 12 edition of SmackDown, seeking out Cena but instead confronting R-Truth, known as Cena’s most devoted fan. This encounter led to another vicious assault by Lesnar.
The long-anticipated clash between Lesnar and Cena finally occurred at Wrestlepalooza, a new WWE event broadcast on ESPN. Mirroring their brutal encounter from SummerSlam 2014, Lesnar overwhelmed Cena and secured a victory in under nine minutes, asserting his dominance once again.
Despite this commanding performance, expectations for Lesnar’s consistent TV appearances were soon dampened by reports indicating a pause in his television schedule.
Reasons Behind Lesnar’s Absence and Future Prospects
Prior to his return, Lesnar’s last match occurred at SummerSlam 2023, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. Although he was reportedly set to participate in the 2024 Royal Rumble, Lesnar was withdrawn from the event following a lawsuit involving Janel Grant. The case implicated WWE executives Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis and referred to an unnamed former UFC fighter, later identified as Lesnar, leading to his removal from WWE appearances at that time.
Plans for Lesnar to face Gunther at WrestleMania XL were also delayed due to the ongoing lawsuit. By January 2025, grant’s amended statements explicitly named Lesnar and included serious allegations involving Vince McMahon. This legal turmoil contributed to Lesnar’s extended absence.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio, journalist Dave Meltzer noted that WWE’s legal team cleared Lesnar about a month before his surprise return at Wrestlepalooza. However, recent updates from Fightful reveal that despite Lesnar’s reappearance, he will remain off television for a while longer. WrestleVotes has confirmed that Lesnar is still scheduled to compete at the upcoming Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 42 events.
This suggests that although fans may not see Lesnar regularly on WWE programming, the company likely plans to build anticipation for his next storyline through major pay-per-view events.
What This Means for WWE and Lesnar’s Status
Brock Lesnar’s return signals a potential resurgence for one of WWE’s most dominant figures, but the unexpected break in his television presence creates uncertainty about his immediate role. His planned appearances at Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 42 indicate that WWE is preparing major moments around him, possibly using the hiatus to heighten drama and engagement ahead of those matches.
Given the legal complications surrounding his absence, and the strong reaction to his return, the pause in Lesnar’s WWE activities adds a layer of tension for fans and insiders alike, who await his next move in the wrestling world.
“Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio, around the time of Lesnar’s return, that WWE legal cleared him about a month before the event.” – Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Journalist
“R-Truth tried to stand up for his childhood hero, which led to another nasty assault by Brock Lesnar.” – Fightful, Wrestling News Source
MESSAGE. SENT.
Brock Lesnar just DESTROYED John Cena at #Wrestlepalooza!
Stream Wrestlepalooza RIGHT NOW on the @espn App: https://t.co/jKAIj8nxxt pic.twitter.com/cLhUMQ3JDA
— WWE (@WWE) September 20, 2025
