Brock Lesnar Attacks Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens and More Stars in WWE Raw Return

The Beast Incarnate is prowling WWE once again. Brock Lesnar made his return on Monday night's edition of Raw.

Lesnar made his way to the ring and proceeded to viciously attack The New Day, as WWE shared: 

Kevin Owens, Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio were also victims of Lesnar before WWE world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns got hit with an F5 from The Beast Incarnate: 

Former WWE star Lance Storm was happy to see Lesnar back in the ring: 

Since he came back to professional wrestling after WrestleMania 28, Lesnar has largely maintained the same work schedule. He'll hop aboard the Road to WrestleMania, usually starting at the Royal Rumble. After WrestleMania, he may appear in one more pay-per-view before SummerSlam, and the cycle starts again.

Everybody expected Lesnar to show up at some point before Royal Rumble 2016, but WWE ruined any possible surprise on the Jan. 4 edition of Raw:

Still, Lesnar is one of the few WWE Superstars who can bring the crowd to a frenzy by his presence alone. As soon as his music hits, fans know something big is about to happen, and Lesnar is likely to leave a trail of destruction in his wake.

Given the timing of his return, Lesnar will play a big role at the Royal Rumble. He hasn't competed in the Royal Rumble match since winning the over-the-top Battle Royal in 2003:

Watching Lesnar lay waste to a handful of competitors in the Rumble match would be an awesome sight. Plus, his involvement could set up his feud for WrestleMania.

Either he wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship or is eliminated, arguably a more intriguing outcome since it immediately gives him a rival heading into the spring. Imagine the heat on Bray Wyatt, Kevin Owens, Sheamus or Rusev if one of them dumped Lesnar over the top rope.

One wonders whether the injury to John Cena has changed WWE's plans for Lesnar at all. Cena announced last Wednesday he was set to undergo shoulder surgery:

It would take an almost superhuman recovery in order for Cena to be available for WrestleMania 32 on April 3, leaving WWE without Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, Daniel Bryan and its top star for the biggest PPV of the year.

Cena vs. Lesnar didn't look like a possibility for WrestleMania even when Cena was healthy, but Cena's absence could cause a domino effect that includes Lesnar.

Generally, the main event of WrestleMania should elevate one of the company's younger stars who has yet to ascend to legendary status. This year, however, WWE might have no choice but to involve Lesnar in its main event storyline for the show.

Whatever the company has in store for the Conqueror before he inevitably goes into hibernation again, it's going to factor heavily in the Road to WrestleMania.