Recent moves by WWE have ignited significant speculation regarding a potential return for Brock Lesnar, who has been absent from programming for nearly a year. The company’s decision to re-release Lesnar’s signature “Beast Flannel Shirt” on WWE Shop has been widely interpreted as a deliberate signal that his comeback could be approaching.
Adding to the rumors, Lesnar’s long-time advocate, Paul Heyman, made a public acknowledgment on social media, wishing Lesnar a happy birthday. These developments are the most direct hints from the company since Lesnar’s hiatus began after his match with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam in 2023.
Lesnar’s planned appearance at the 2024 Royal Rumble was canceled after his name was implicated in the civil lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant. Following the allegations, he was removed from creative plans and promotional materials. Reports from as recently as April 2025 indicated there were no active creative discussions about his return, with his status being handled by WWE’s legal department.
Despite the cautious official stance, WWE has recently featured Lesnar prominently in its “25 Greatest SummerSlam Matches Ever” list. The timing of the merchandise relaunch and the increased mentions has led to rumors that he could appear as soon as tonight’s Saturday Night’s Main Event special.
This renewed speculation runs contrary to some earlier reports. While one report from April suggested a potential “End of an Era 2” match against John Cena was considered for SummerSlam 2025, the company’s public silence on his official status has left his future uncertain, pending clarity on the ongoing legal situation.