Warning: This piece incorporates express particulars of sexual abuse.
Brock Lesnar made his return to WWE on Sunday evening, confronting John Cena to shut out Summerslam in one of the disgusting choices the wrestling big has made lately. It underscores that in terms of Triple H, the apple doesn’t fall removed from Vince McMahon’s tree.
The 48-year-old former WWE and UFC champion hadn’t appeared on programming since 2023, which started as a deliberate hiatus and transitioned to one thing fully completely different. Lesnar was named as a key determine in ongoing lawsuit towards WWE by shaped worker Janel Grant in January of 2024, however that didn’t cease followers from blowing the roof off MetLife Stadium when Lesnar returned.
This was the gross crescendo in a shameful 10 days by WWE. Main as much as Summerslam the corporate compelled expertise to have a good time the lifetime of Hulk Hogan on stay programming, no matter their private needs. The realty present WWE Unreal launched, which veteran wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer saying the present is an orchestrated transfer to de-emphasize the performers inside WWE, and increase Triple H right into a Dana White-esque determine as the main focus of the corporate. Lastly WWE ceased all post-event press conferences for unbiased media, as a substitute saying they’d deal with their very own post-event content material — essentially pivoting away from the free press into organized propaganda.
After Lesnar appeared at Summerslam the transfer to cancel press conferences made good sense.
Lesnar isn’t simply talked about in Grant v. World Wrestling Leisure, Inc — he’s a key determine. The preliminary grievance referred to him merely as a “WWE wrestler and former UFC fighter,” however was revised in January of 2025 to call Lesnar straight. This swimsuit alleges that Grant, a WWE worker on the time, was a sufferer of bodily abuse, sexual abuse, and sexually trafficked inside the corporate.
Grant alleges that she was used as a bargaining chip to try to entice Lesnar to signal a brand new contract with WWE, together with her being objectified as a perk of a brand new contract. Moreover, that McMahon organized quite a few events the place Grant was coerced into having a sexual relationship with Lesnar, and trafficked to numerous states to fulfill him throughout their negotiations.
The swimsuit goes on to say that Lesnar explicitly understood that McMahon was utilizing Grant as a bargaining chip, and that Grant was at Lesnar’s beck and name to produce him with sexually express images and movies as he demanded them, along with being trafficked to have intercourse with him. The swimsuit notes on one event Grant made Lesnar mad by not supplying him with video of her urinating on demand. Lesnar allegedly mentioned he’d “misplaced curiosity together with her,” and referred to Grant as a “bitch,” when she didn’t comply together with his request.
Lesnar is talked about a complete of 44 occasions within the lawsuit. That is the person Triple H and WWE introduced again on Sunday evening. That is the person the corporate is championing. That is the person who figures into the way forward for their principal occasion scene.
Within the wake of the lawsuit Lesnar was faraway from numerous WWE plans. In January of 2024 the corporate pivoted away from Lesnar returning on the Royal Rumble. He was faraway from the WWE Supercard and WWE 2K24 video video games. Lastly Lesnar’s picture was faraway from the intro to WWE programming. It was clear the corporate wished to distance itself from Lesnar, and this was earlier than he was straight named within the lawsuit and solely simply referred to.
Quick ahead a yr and WWE is making an attempt to make everybody overlook. They need an inexpensive pop and one other boring Lesnar vs. Cena storyline which has been run into the bottom. That is essentially the most Vince McMahon transfer of Triple H’s tenure in having artistic management, however past the penchant for trotting out previous stars is the completely reprehensible nature of pretending the lawsuit doesn’t exist. The swimsuit alleges that Grant was a lady in a tough monetary scenario, wracked by grief after her mother and father handed away — and that McMahon preyed on that weak spot to show her right into a intercourse servant for himself, Lesnar, and different WWE staff.
It needs to be famous that Grant has provided dozens of textual content messages from McMahon and others as a part of her proof towards the WWE staff, and all seem to help her model of occasions.
Sure, the lawsuit continues to be ongoing and has but to be dominated on. There aren’t any felony costs being pursued towards Lesnar presently. Nevertheless, there’s a chasm of distinction between somebody not being discovered responsible in court docket, and championed as a cornerstone of a wrestling firm which focuses on advertising and marketing to kids and boasts a TV-PG score on Netflix — which suggests it’s appropriate for youngsters 10+, and even youthful with parental steering.
The choice to convey again Lesnar, paired with WWE ceasing unbiased journalism after main reveals is proof optimistic that the corporate knew this was a grotesque transfer, however doesn’t care, and as a substitute needs to regulate the message, slightly than hear any criticism. WWE is banking on its broadcast companions and wider viewers from not figuring out in regards to the Grant swimsuit, Lesnar’s function, and as a substitute settle for that followers cheering justify their choice.
WWE has at all times moved in eras. The Golden Period, The New Era, The Angle Period — now they’ll usher in a brand new one: The DGAF Period, the place folks will be accused of essentially the most horrific acts possible, and there’s no reprisal — so long as it caters to the whims of Triple H.
Any hopes of turning over a brand new leaf from Vince McMahon at the moment are gone. Triple H is minimize from the identical fabric, and might be a lot worse.
