Reports of Backlash over Brock Lesnar’s WWE Return Come to Light

After returning to the WWE at SummerSlam in August, new reports have emerged regarding Brock Lesnar's backstage reception.

Reports of Backlash over Brock Lesnar’s WWE Return Come to Light

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman at Wrestlepalooza [via- WWE]

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It is safe to say that WWE has faced its share of scandals and controversies over the decades, ranging from the tragic death of Owen Hart in 1999 to the shocking Chris Benoit double murder-suicide in 2007. And once again, the wrestling world was rocked when Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar were named in a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant.

For those unaware, Grant accused McMahon of sexual assault and trafficking, with some of her evidence reportedly including text exchanges between McMahon and Lesnar. The fallout was massive, as McMahon resigned as Executive Chairman of TKO Group in 2024, and Lesnar’s name being linked to the case led WWE to freeze all his creative plans. 

This included a Royal Rumble return in January and a highly anticipated WrestleMania 40 clash with Gunther. On top of that, everyone believed that Lesnar would never be seen inside a WWE again. However, the former 10-time World Champion made his shocking return earlier this year at SummerSlam, attacking John Cena after his WWE title match against Cody Rhodes. 

According to Dave Meltzer, WWE’s legal team had cleared Lesnar before the event, and his comeback went ahead as planned. Lesnar then went on to dominate Cena at Wrestlepalooza, WWE’s first Premium Live Event broadcast on ESPN. 

But despite the huge reaction from fans, it seems not everyone in the company was happy about his return. According to a new report from The Wrestling Observer, several people backstage were strongly opposed to WWE bringing Lesnar. 

Everyone in creative and much of the company was kept in the dark about Lesnar signing and his return. As one could imagine there were mixed feelings on the decision to bring him back. It was told to us that some were strongly against it and that some women on the staff were even more unhappy with one using the term privately disgusted.

Dave Meltzer via WON

Additionally, production staff reportedly felt that while Lesnar’s comeback created a big live reaction, it didn’t move the needle for the company beyond the first week. Before his match with Cena at Wrestlepalooza, Lesnar hadn’t competed in WWE since SummerSlam 2023, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. 

Since his return victory over Cena, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ has yet to appear again on WWE television, and no future appearances have been announced at this time. However, reports of him being linked to ‘The Vision’ and wrestling at Survivor Series have come out owing to his on-screen reunion with Paul Heyman.

Unlike Brock Lesnar, Vince McMahon gets major relief in a separate matter

Aside from the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit, Vince McMahon recently found himself in another legal situation. But this time, it ended with some rare good news for the former WWE Chairman. In July 2025, McMahon was involved in a three-car accident in Westport, Connecticut, while driving his Bentley Continental at an estimated speed of over 90 mph on Route 15. 

Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon (via WWE)

According to authorities, McMahon was heading northbound when he rear-ended a 2023 BMW sedan before crashing into the parkway median. Debris from the impact flew into the opposite lane, causing a 2020 Ford Fusion to crash as well. Despite the violent nature of the collision and the airbags deploying, no one was seriously injured, including McMahon himself.

The former WWE CEO appeared in court on Thursday for a hearing related to the incident, where he sought entry into a pretrial diversion program for his reckless driving charges. According to The Orlando Sentinel, the court granted his request but with certain conditions.

Under the ruling, McMahon must ensure he drives properly insured and licensed moving forward, and he is also required to make a $1,000 charitable donation. If he fulfills both conditions, he will be admitted into the program, and the charges will be dropped.

Per CT Post, if McMahon completes the program and avoids further incidents, his reckless driving and following too closely charges will be officially dismissed on 15 October 2026. However, he will be allowed to continue driving during that period. 

After the hearing, McMahon was spotted posing for a photo with a fan, and the picture quickly went viral. The 80-year-old sported a noticeably new look, featuring a streak of white in his hair that drew a wave of humorous comparisons online. 

Fans likened his style to Pepe Le Pew, Rogue from X-Men, and even Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians. While McMahon’s public image has taken numerous hits over the past few years, this case marks a rare moment of relief for the embattled former WWE boss.

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