The wrestling world erupted last night when Brock Lesnar’s music blasted through MetLife Stadium at SummerSlam 2025. In a move that shocked fans and critics alike, “The Beast Incarnate” stormed the ring, laid out John Cena with an F5, and marked his first WWE appearance in two years. But this wasn’t just another surprise return; it was a comeback loaded with controversy.
Lesnar’s name has been entangled in the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon, a legal battle filled with disturbing allegations of s*xual misconduct and trafficking. Despite this, WWE chose to bring him back, sparking immediate backlash and debate about accountability, corporate responsibility, and whether Lesnar’s in-ring dominance should overshadow the serious claims tied to his name.
The lawsuit, filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant in January 2024, accuses McMahon of s*xual assault, trafficking, and using her as a bargaining chip in contract negotiations. While Lesnar isn’t a defendant, Grant’s amended complaint in early 2025 explicitly named him as someone McMahon allegedly offered her to for s*x. The details are grim: Grant claims McMahon pressured her to create “personalized s*xual content” for Lesnar in 2021, including a video of her urinating, which Lesnar allegedly demanded.
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She also says McMahon arranged for Lesnar to fly to Connecticut for a s*xual encounter that never happened due to a snowstorm. McMahon denies all allegations, calling the lawsuit a “smear campaign,” but the damage to Lesnar’s reputation was already done. After the scandal broke, WWE scrubbed him from storylines, video games, and merchandise, and his planned 2024 Royal Rumble return was axed. Yet here we are in August 2025, and Lesnar is back like nothing happened.
Brock Lesnar and Janel Grant: The Lawsuit’s Lingering Shadow
BROCK. LESNAR. IS. BACK.
HERE COMES THE PAIN! 👊 pic.twitter.com/uR2z9RVoZu
— WWE (@WWE) August 4, 2025
The Janel Grant case isn’t just about Vince McMahon; it’s a sprawling scandal that has implicated multiple WWE figures. Former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis, initially a co-defendant, settled with Grant in May 2025 and agreed to testify against McMahon. The lawsuit paints a picture of a toxic power structure where Grant says she was passed around like a bargaining chip.
Lesnar’s involvement, while not criminal, raises ethical questions. Grant alleges McMahon told her in July 2021 that Lesnar would be her next “playmate” as part of his contract negotiations, texting her afterward: “Part of the deal was f**king U.” Lesnar hasn’t publicly responded to these claims, but his silence and WWE’s decision to reintegrate him suggest a calculated gamble that fans will move on.
WWE’s handling of the situation has been shaky. After the lawsuit surfaced, the company distanced itself from Lesnar, removing him from promotional material and even editing him out of the “WWE 2K24” video game. Insider reports claimed lawyers barred him from appearing on TV, with Dave Meltzer noting, “He’s not allowed, and the lawyers won’t let him do it.”
Yet at SummerSlam, those concerns seemed to vanish. Triple H, WWE’s chief content officer, dodged direct questions about the lawsuit in the post-show press conference, instead hyping Lesnar’s return as a “game-changer” for storylines. The lack of transparency has fans divided. Some argue Lesnar was never formally accused of wrongdoing, just named in the suit. Others see WWE’s move as tone-deaf, especially with the lawsuit still active.
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Fan Reactions and the Road Ahead
Triple H states that John Cena essentially wanted Brock Lesnar during his retirement tour:
“One of the first things I said to him [Cena] is who do you want, and how, and we’re working through that.” pic.twitter.com/ShlYPkGerW
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) August 4, 2025
Social media exploded after SummerSlam, with critics slamming WWE for “sweeping the lawsuit under the rug.” One fan joked, “Brock Lesnar no-sold the allegations like it was a weak finisher,” while others called the return “disgusting” given the gravity of Grant’s claims. Even AI tool Grok weighed in, suggesting WWE canceled post-show press conferences to avoid tough questions. But not everyone was outraged. Some fans defended Lesnar, pointing out that he’s not a defendant and that Grant hasn’t directly accused him of assault. Still, the optics are undeniably messy.
What happens next? Lesnar is reportedly set to feud with John Cena during Cena’s retirement run, a marquee matchup that’ll draw huge numbers. But the lawsuit looms large. If new details emerge or the case gains traction, WWE could face renewed scrutiny. For now, the company is betting on the short memory of the wrestling world, hoping that the roar of the crowd will drown out the uncomfortable questions. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen. One thing’s clear: Brock Lesnar’s return isn’t just a storyline, it’s a test of how much controversy WWE thinks it can ignore.
