Brock Lesnar shockingly returned to WWE from a controversial two-year hiatus at SummerSlam last month. Prior to that, many had thought that Lesnar would never return to the Stamford-based promotion, with some talk of a potential jump to Tony Khan’s AEW. Sources are now revealing inside details on the Lesnar matter and clearing up his contract status.
The Beast Incarnate decimated John Cena to close the inaugural two-night SummerSlam on Sunday, August 3. Lesnar was able to return to the storylines after he was cleared by WWE attorneys over being named in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon. The UFC legend has still not wrestled since losing to Cody Rhodes two years ago at The Biggest Party of the Summer, but the final Lesnar vs. Cena match is expected for the first-ever WWE Wrestlepalooza PLE on September 20.
Sources recently revealed that Lesnar received full pay while on hiatus despite WWE Legal not allowing officials to book him for a substantial period, making Brock among the highest-paid talents in all of WWE during this period. A source pointed to the reality of the situation: if the Grant accusations had ended Brock’s relationship with the Stamford-based promotion, then WWE would have parted ways with him, but he was never even suspended, and was kept under contract during this time period, claimed the source.
Brock Lesnar actually returned at SummerSlam under a new WWE contract, not the previous deal. In an update to the aforementioned contract claim, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that the 48-year-old had recently inked a new deal that paved the way for his return.
Brock Lesnar Had Entered Free Agency During WWE Hiatus
Brock Lesnar was being paid by WWE for his previous contract long after the SummerSlam 2023 loss to Cody Rhodes, post which he was no longer being used. The Wrestling Observer added that the prior deal did eventually expire, and Brock actually spent a few months as a free agent until the current contract was finalized.
While Lesnar would have been a massive acquisition for Tony Khan and AEW, it’s believed WWE officials were very confident that Brock would wait things out and not entertain any offer from the Jacksonville-based promotion, and would not make a pitch to Khan once he was in free agency. Furthermore, there’s a belief that Khan would have passed on offering Lesnar a deal due to the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit.
WWE Legal made the decision not to use Brock Lesnar shortly after the lawsuit came to light, and it appears the company was not worried about offering Brock a new deal. The Observer also added that once company attorneys cleared Lesnar for a return, officials then offered a new contract that included limited dates.
Wrestlers in all companies usually have their contracts extended for various reasons, mainly to make up for injury time. WWE made the decision not to use Brock Lesnar in the immediate fallout of the Grant lawsuit, and because he was not on hiatus due to any injury, they could not extend or freeze Brock’s last contract for that reason, like they had with others.