WWE Rumors on Brock Lesnar, The Rock, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes After SummerSlam

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

How Lesnar's Return Was Kept a Secret Backstage

Some members of WWE's creative team "were kept in the dark" about Brock Lesnar's return at SummerSlam on Sunday, according to PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson.

Johnson reported the company "flew him into New Jersey last night under the cover of darkness and hid him well all day."

Lesnar showed up and attacked John Cena after Cena lost the undisputed title to Cody Rhodes in the main event.

The Beast Incarnate has been off WWE programming since August 2023. He was implicated in a 2024 lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant against Vince McMahon accusing the ex-chairman of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. Grant formally named Lesnar after amending her complaint in February.

WWE initially distanced itself from Lesnar. Plans to have him compete in the 2024 Royal Rumble match were reportedly shelved, and he was removed from the WWE 2K24 video game.

Former UFC star Daniel Cormier claimed in July that Lesnar "got into so much trouble" and was on a list of banned performers from WWE.

There's no doubt as to his status now.

Internal 'Chatter' Swirled Around The Rock

Lesnar's appearance was a prime example of the lengths WWE will go to preserve the surprise for the return of a notable figure. Based on that, it wasn't totally wrong to think The Rock might show up at MetLife Stadium despite all evidence to the contrary.

Fightful Select (via Cultaholic's Aidan Gibbons) reported there was "a lot of chatter internally" about whether The Final Boss would involve himself in the main event Sunday.

From a narrative standpoint, it has only become more difficult to square The Rock's ultimatum to Rhodes at Elimination Chamber and his role in Cena's heel turn.

WWE basically pivoted to make that part of the buildup to SummerSlam.

Cena alluded to The Rock in his promo on go-home edition of SmackDown. He said he "flushed" his legacy "down the toilet" by getting behind "a crazy idea to make shocking TV." He then said he was left on an island as the retired legend disappeared entirely.

That could've provided a great foundation for The Rock to come to SummerSlam and aid Rhodes, cementing a double turn to make The American Nightmare the biggest heel in WWE.

Instead, he remained conspicuous by his absence once again.

Latest on Rhodes, Reigns' Schedule amid 'Street Fighter' Commitment

Speaking of Rhodes, filming for the new Street Fighter movie will begin this fall. The new undisputed champ is one of three active wrestlers cast in the film along with colleague Roman Reigns and New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Hirooki Goto.

Fightful Select (via Anutosh Bajpai of SEScoops) reported WWE doesn't believe Street Fighter should force the creative team to change any planned storylines. Their movie commitments shouldn't remove Rhodes and Reigns from programming long enough for it to matter.

That's particularly important for the former given what transpired at SummerSlam. Rhodes could feasibly carry the gold into Survivor Series: WarGames in November and then through the Royal Rumble to set the stage for one of the WrestleMania 42 headliners.

Reigns likewise won't stray too far from the main event picture, and he's yet to get a rematch with Rhodes after dropping the championship at WrestleMania XL. That's surely going to happen at some point.

When it comes to whatever tentative road map the creative team has mapped out, it doesn't sound like Rhodes and Reigns' work on the silver screen is a factor.