Dave Meltzer Sheds Light on Legal Situation Surrounding Brock Lesnar’s Shocking SummerSlam 2025 Return

The veteran journalist clarified that WWE's legal team had cleared Brock Lesnar weeks ahead of SummerSlam which led to his shocking return.

Dave Meltzer Sheds Light on Legal Situation Surrounding Brock Lesnar’s Shocking SummerSlam 2025 Return

Brock Lesnar, John Cena and Dave Meltzer (via WWE and Netflix)

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At SummerSlam 2023, Brock Lesnar faced Cody Rhodes for the third time and seemingly passed the torch by putting over ‘The American Nightmare’ in a big way. Lesnar was reportedly set to return at the 2024 Royal Rumble, but his name surfacing in the Janel Grant lawsuit caused WWE to scrap those plans. With Vince McMahon’s involvement and his removal from TKO’s board, many believed Lesnar’s WWE career was over.

But that wasn’t the case. Two years later, after Rhodes defeated a newly baby-faced John Cena to regain the Undisputed WWE title at SummerSlam 2025, Lesnar made a shocking return. As Cena was acknowledging the crowd, with just four months left in his retirement tour, Lesnar marched to the ring and laid him out with a brutal F5.

The return raised eyebrows, especially with Lesnar still linked to the ongoing lawsuit. It is important to note that the former UFC Heavyweight title holder is not a defendant in the civil suit and hasn’t been charged with any criminal charges either. And fans may now have even more clarity on the situation. Veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has shed light on the backstage situation surrounding Lesnar’s controversial comeback.

Four weeks ago, WWE Legal cleared him (Brock Lesnar). As far as why, I don’t know. And that’s something to speculate on, because there’s a lot of stuff. Obviously, everything relates to the Janel Grant lawsuit, and WWE Legal is either confident that their thing goes to arbitration and Lesnar’s not a factor at that point. Or they’re close to a settlement, and at that point, Lesnar’s not a factor. Or somebody there just had a change of mind. And I don’t know which one of those it is.

Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio

Additionally, Meltzer reported that Lesnar’s return was the main reason WWE skipped a traditional post-show press conference after SummerSlam. Co-host Bryan Alvarez also speculated that Triple H’s involvement in the White House’s Presidential Fitness revival may have played a role in the decision.

I do know, everyone figured this out, but I can tell you also factually, that the reason they didn’t do the press conferences was because of this angle.

Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio

It is safe to say that the company went to great lengths to keep Lesnar’s return at SummerSlam a surprise. According to Fightful Select, Brock Lesnar was secretly flown into Minnesota on Saturday and taken to New Jersey via private jet. He stayed hidden all day and was only seen backstage around 9:15 PM, once the main event had started. 

Only a few WWE officials knew of his return, as many expected a possible return of The Rock. After what fans saw, it is anticipated that Brock Lesnar will be set for a big marquee feud with Cena, though it’s unclear how long he will remain with the company. 

Lesnar is often referred to as “Mr. SummerSlam,” and with next year’s event set to take place in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, it’s possible he could be gearing up for a retirement tour of his own.

Janel Grant’s team issues a scathing statement after Brock Lesnar’s return to SummerSlam 2025

Janel Grant’s amended lawsuit, filed in January 2025, directly accuses Vince McMahon of attempting to traffic her to Brock Lesnar as part of a broader pattern of alleged abuse. Originally referred to only as a “former UFC Heavyweight Champion” and “WWE Superstar,” Lesnar was later named in a February revision of the suit. According to Grant, McMahon allegedly tried to arrange a sexual encounter between her and Lesnar in 2021.

Brock Lesnar and John Cena
Brock Lesnar and John Cena (via WWE)

While Lesnar was identified in court documents and reportedly showed interest, Grant acknowledged that no illegal activity occurred. The alleged meeting never took place due to a snowstorm that disrupted Lesnar’s travel. And as mentioned before, he is not a defendant in the case.

Still, WWE’s decision to bring Brock Lesnar back at SummerSlam without addressing the serious allegations has sparked backlash. In response to the company’s silence, Grant’s representative issued a statement to Fight Game Media’s Samantha Schipman.

For far too long, abuse was allowed to thrive under WWE’s leadership. Instead of righting this wrong, WWE has done nothing to ensure those responsible are held accountable. This attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug will backfire. We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong, but, in the meantime, we refer you back to Janel Grant’s updated complaint, which outlines, in detail, the abuse she endured by McMahon and others while employed at WWE.

Janel Grant’s representative to Samantha Schipman

Vince McMahon has firmly denied all of Grant’s allegations, even after stepping down from his roles in WWE and TKO. Lesnar, who was named in Grant’s amended lawsuit but is not accused of any illegal conduct, has remained silent on the matter.

Currently, WWE and McMahon are awaiting a judge’s ruling on their motion to block Grant’s legal team from accessing new evidence. Once that decision is made, the court will determine whether the case proceeds to a public trial or is settled privately through arbitration. Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar closed out Night Two of SummerSlam with a thunderous F5 to Cena, hinting that the next chapter of his farewell tour is already in motion. 

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