Brock Lesnar Returns to WWE After 2 Years to Attack John Cena at SummerSlam

Brock Lesnar returned to WWE at SummerSlam on Sunday, marking his first appearance for the company since the summer of 2023.

Lesnar's return came after Cody Rhodes beat John Cena to win the undisputed WWE title.

The Beast Incarnate confronted Cena, ultimately attacking him in the ring:

Lesnar was last seen on WWE programming at SummerSlam in August 2023 when he lost to Rhodes. He shook Cody's hand after the match, thus giving him an endorsement of sorts.

The two men had been embroiled in a heated rivalry throughout the spring and summer that saw them face off in three matches with Rhodes winning two of them.

Lesnar defeated Omos at WrestleMania 39 and was essentially a babyface during the feud, but he attacked Rhodes on the following episode of Raw, which turned him heel once again.

While Lesnar played the heel role throughout that program, he went out like a babyface at the end, which left the door open for him to potentially come back as a protagonist.

It seemed likely Lesnar would be back at the 2024 Royal Rumble and would be part of the WrestleMania 40 card, but real-life issues seemed to delay his return.

In a lawsuit filed by former WWE staffer Janel Grant against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE in January 2024, a WWE talent and UFC fighter was mentioned, but not named specifically.

Khadeeja Safdar of the Wall Street Journal reported that the unidentified wrestler was Lesnar, and it was alleged by Grant that he had at least some involvement in the sexual misconduct she experienced while in WWE.

Grant alleged that McMahon sent Lesnar explicit videos of her while negotiating a new contract. She also alleged that McMahon told her having sex with Lesnar was part of his new contract.

Lesnar allegedly asked Grant to send him a video of her urinating, and he said he wanted to "set a play date" in December 2021, but a snowstorm canceled plans.

The 48-year-old is a 10-time world champion in WWE, plus a former UFC heavyweight champion, so he possesses the type of crossover appeal that few others do.

That may be why the company has decided to bring him back into the fold despite the negative press that has surrounded him since the lawsuit was filed.

It is unclear if most fans will be willing to embrace Lesnar, but WWE clearly still believes he brings value to the company as a performer.

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