Brock Lesnar Surprises Fans at SummerSlam Amid Misconduct Claims

WWE fans were stunned when Brock Lesnar returned to the ring on August 3.

Lesnar, 48, stepped back into the sport for the first time in two years when he surprised the crowd at SummerSlam 2025 in New Jersey on Sunday. Lesnar was last seen at the same WWE event in 2023.

Since then, he has been named in a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, who alleged that former WWE executive Vince McMahon told her to make “personalized sexual content” for Lesnar, in addition to other claims.

McMahon has denied Grant’s claims, and Lesnar has not publicly commented on the case. (Us Weekly reached out to representatives for Lesnar at the time.)

“As expected, the proposed amended complaint is nothing more than the latest publicity stunt in an ongoing smear campaign,” an attorney for McMahon said in a statement published by ESPN in January 2024.

Keep scrolling to find out more about the allegations against Lesnar and the latest info on the WWE controversy.

What Are the Allegations Against Brock Lesnar?

Lesnar was named in a federal lawsuit filed by Grant against the company and former exec McMahon in January 2024.

Grant claimed, in part, that McMahon offered Lesnar to her as a sex partner. McMahon dismissed the filing as a “publicity stunt” at the time.

“As expected, the proposed amended complaint is nothing more than the latest publicity stunt in an ongoing smear campaign,” said McMahon’s lawyer Jessica Rosenberg in a statement published by ESPN. “It is filled with desperate falsehoods from a team that continues to disregard the law and the truth.”

Grant further alleged McMahon told her to make “personalized sexual content” for Lesnar, and that he flew Lesnar to Connecticut for a sexual encounter that didn’t transpire.

Lesnar was never named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and has not publicly commented on the allegations or the case.

The filing also claims McMahon shared photos of Grant with Lesnar and then told her the wrestler “likes what he sees,” the Athletic reported.

Who is Janel Grant?

Grant worked at WWE from 2019 to 2022. In her lawsuit, Grant explained that she met McMahon in March 2019 while she was job-hunting after taking care of her parents full-time. She further alleged that McMahon eventually offered her a job if she engaged in a physical relationship with him in exchange.

Grant also alleged she lost her job after McMahon’s wife found out about their relationship and “to avoid divorce, negative publicity, and other repercussions” ended their physical relationship. She claimed she signed an NDA and believed she would receive $3 million, while in the suit she claimed McMahon only gave her $1 million.

Was Brock Lesnar Banned from WWE?

Lesnar was not officially banned from participating in WWE matches after being named in the suit, but was sidelined beginning in late 2023 when he last appeared in SummerSlam.

In July 2025, former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier told “The Mighty Cast” host Demetrious Johnson, “Brock is on the banned list right now. Brock got into so much trouble. You know what Brock did. I ain’t telling you on air what Brock did. Brock is in so much trouble.”

When Did Brock Lesnar Return to WWE?

Lesnar made his return to WWE on August 3 when he appeared at the SummerSlam at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Sports Illustrated reported the event was winding down when Lesnar approached the ring and launched an attack on John Cena, who had just lost the match to winner Cody Rhodes.

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What Did Janel Grant Say About Brock Lesnar Returning to the WWE?

A spokesperson for Grant told USA Today that allowing Lesnar to return Sunday night was an “attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug.”

“For far too long, abuse was allowed to thrive under WWE’s leadership. Instead of righting this wrong, WWE has done nothing to ensure those responsible are held accountable. This attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug will backfire,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.