WWE‘s recent moves suggest a significant shift in strategy, with former WWE champion Brock Lesnar finding himself noticeably absent from the limelight. With The Beast reportedly AWOL, his merch gathers dust online. But why the sudden disappearance?
On January 25, 2024, Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit against former CEO Vince McMahon, accusing him of sex trafficking and abuse. The lawsuit implicated an unnamed “WWE Superstar,” described as a “former UFC Heavyweight Champion” reportedly in talks with WWE. It further alleged that McMahon provided Grant’s phone number to a former WWE and UFC Champion, who then made inappropriate demands of her. Speculation within wrestling circles suggested Brock Lesnar’s alleged involvement.
In response to the legal storm, WWE reportedly replaced Lesnar with NXT star Bron Breakker at the Royal Rumble, putting plans involving Lesnar on indefinite hold. As it is now, this move underscores WWE’s efforts to distance itself from Lesnar amidst the ongoing controversy.
However, the repercussions extend beyond the ring, affecting WWE’s gaming collaborations. Lesnar has been removed from WWE 2K Supercard’s roster, and his merchandise has been discounted on WWE Shop. Additionally, the cover of the highly anticipated WWE 2K24 video game has been altered, replacing Lesnar with John Cena. It’s evident that WWE is taking decisive steps to minimize Lesnar’s presence in its licensed content until the legal dust settles.
Why is Brock Lesnar not on WWE?
Brock Lesnar’s most recent appearance occurred at WWE SummerSlam, where he faced off against Cody Rhodes and suffered a loss. Since then, Lesnar has been notably absent from WWE programming. There was significant speculation surrounding his potential return at the Royal Rumble. This was especially in the midst of the controversy involving Vince McMahon. This allegedly led to WWE replacing Lesnar with NXT star Bronn Breakker for the Royal Rumble match.
In the aftermath of McMahon’s controversy, WWE faced challenges with sponsors, including Slim Jim, who initially withdrew their support. However, they resumed their sponsorship after McMahon’s resignation from WWE and the TKO board. Lesnar, who was reportedly slated to make his return at the Royal Rumble, also seemingly won’t be making an appearance at WrestleMania 40. Additionally, plans for Lesnar to be scheduled to compete against Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber in Perth this month have also been scrapped.
This series of events leaves Lesnar’s future in WWE uncertain. The company has yet to comment officially on his absence.
