Brock Lesnar made a dramatic comeback to WWE at SummerSlam 2025, instantly reigniting his presence by assaulting John Cena moments after Cena lost the World Title to Cody Rhodes. This surprise return set the tone for Lesnar’s renewed role in WWE’s flagship storylines, reaffirming why the focus on his character remains intense among fans and insiders. Lesnar’s return at the biggest party of the summer rekindled excitement around the star’s future engagements, drawing attention to how WWE will manage his storyline arcs moving forward.
Lesnar’s SmackDown Return and Unresolved Rivalries
Following SummerSlam, Lesnar went off the radar for several weeks but reappeared on SmackDown after some time, marking his first visit to the show in years. His return to SmackDown was marked by a violent attack on both Sami Zayn and John Cena, which disrupted their ongoing United States Championship match. Vince Russo voiced his dissatisfaction with how WWE has handled the aftermath of this incident, particularly criticizing the lack of a proper storyline focus on Sami Zayn’s reaction to Lesnar’s assault.
Vince Russo Criticizes WWE’s Handling of Sami Zayn’s Role Against Lesnar
During an appearance on Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Legion of RAW podcast, Vince Russo highlighted a missed opportunity for Sami Zayn to confront Brock Lesnar directly. He argued that Zayn should have been portrayed as preparing for retribution in a vivid and dramatic way, such as waiting with a bat to seek vengeance for Lesnar’s F5 finisher. Instead, Russo believes WWE downplayed Zayn’s response, leaving the storyline lacking emotional payoff and weakening the impact of Zayn’s character development.
“You want to give Sami Zayn a set? You open up that show with him sitting in that garage, looking for that with a freaking bat. Brock Lesnar goes out to the ring, lays out R-Truth, then they go to Sami in the back, no mention, nothing. And I’m like That’s how we’re going to protect the baby face?” Russo said.
Current Championship Status and Upcoming Matches
Despite the attack, there has been no immediate confrontation between Sami Zayn and Brock Lesnar. Fans may expect a resolution after Lesnar’s scheduled match with John Cena at the forthcoming Wrestlepalooza event. On the latest SmackDown episode, Sami Zayn issued another open challenge and defended his United States Championship against Rey Fenix. The match was energetic and well-received, with Zayn successfully retaining his title, extending his first reign in this category.
The Future of Lesnar and Zayn’s Storyline in WWE
The lack of direct engagement between Lesnar and Zayn so far leaves questions about how WWE intends to build this feud, considering the deep interest in epic clashes involving Lesnar returning to action. Vince Russo’s pointed criticism underscores a broader concern among fans and commentators about the creative decisions shaping key narrative arcs. The way WWE navigates Lesnar’s ongoing presence and Sami Zayn’s role will significantly impact audience reception and the credibility of their characters moving ahead.
