Drew Mcintyre Breaks Silence on Brock Lesnar’s Controversial Return at SummerSlam 2025

Brock Lesnar's WrestleMania 36 archnemesis Drew McIntyre recently reflected on the former 10-time champion's shocking return to the WWE.

Drew Mcintyre Breaks Silence on Brock Lesnar’s Controversial Return at SummerSlam 2025

Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar (via WWE)

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Drew McIntyre’s commitment to his craft is one of the sharpest in WWE today. ‘The Scottish Psychopath’ rarely breaks character, keeping his heelish edge alive even beyond the ring. Just scroll through his social media and you’ll find him taking playful jabs at the company’s top babyfaces, most recently going after Jelly Roll, his SummerSlam tag team opponent.

Now, the former WWE Champion has delivered another memorable reaction, this time addressing the highly controversial return of Brock Lesnar. Speaking to Craig O’Donoghue of The West Sport, the Ayr-born star gave a blunt and typically dry response when asked about Lesnar’s comeback after nearly two years away from WWE.

I just thought, ‘There’s Brock. There he is. I didn’t think anything crazy. I just saw him come out. What night was that? Night two? I had wrestled night one of SummerSlam on Saturday, the first two-day SummerSlam ever. Very successful. 113,000 people over two days.

Drew McIntyre via The West Sport

Clearly more interested in recalling his own big win on Night 1, Drew McIntyre still acknowledged Lesnar’s drawing power. But in true fashion, he couldn’t resist highlighting his own history with the former 10-time title holder.  

I had finished my last appearance, I got in a plane. I believe I just arrived home in Nashville, where I saw it, and I went, ‘Oh, there he is.’ Brock is back. He’s the beast, he causes a lot of headlines, and most importantly, he’s also the guy I beat in the main event of WrestleMania for my first WWE Championship in five minutes.

Drew McIntyre via The West Sport

For those unfamiliar, McIntyre dethroned Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 in 2020, capturing his first WWE Championship. Earlier that year, he famously eliminated Lesnar from the Royal Rumble to secure his shot at the gold. So, it’s safe to say that intimidation is not in McIntyre’s vocabulary when it comes to ‘The Beast.’

Brock Lesnar’s renumeration status during his absence between 2023-25 has some shocking details

At SummerSlam 2025, Lesnar’s surprise return sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. It was his first appearance since losing to Cody Rhodes at the very same event two years prior, and it seems McIntyre was more amused than awed by it.

For those unaware, Brock Lesnar’s name became entangled in the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit involving Vince McMahon. When the suit was first filed in January 2024, Lesnar’s involvement was purely speculative.

Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar (via WWE)

At the time, WWE quickly pulled him from all creative plans, scrapping his much-anticipated Royal Rumble return that year and a WrestleMania 40 clash with Gunther. Matters escalated in February 2025 when Grant officially named Lesnar in the lawsuit, casting serious doubt on his WWE future.

In the months that followed, the company began dropping subtle teases of a potential return. Yet behind the scenes, Lesnar’s absence hardly affected his earnings. Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer reports that WWE continued to pay him at the very top of the roster’s salary scale throughout the entire period. Moreover, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ was never suspended and remained under full contract, even while off TV.

Lesnar was still, even though not used, fully paid during that time period and was among the highest-paid wrestlers in the company. He was never suspended, and obviously kept under contract. If what he did was going to end their relationship with him, he’d have been let go. That’s the reality. He was always going to return when legal cleared him. Legal cleared him about one month prior to the show, which was kept secret, and allowed for the return.

Dave Meltzer via The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The report highlights WWE’s unwavering financial commitment to Brock Lesnar, signaling their confidence in his eventual comeback. Instead of cutting ties or freezing his deal, the company kept him on a lucrative contract while the legal situation played out.

If these figures hold true, Lesnar may have pocketed anywhere between $5–10 million during his hiatus, a staggering sum considering reports that he earned roughly $12 million annually during his run as an active competitor.

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