Update: Clearly things between Lesnar and the company have been worked out as “The Beast” made a late appearance to close out WWE SmackDown. Lesnar would go on to deliver an F-5 to Austin Theory.
F-5 on the #MITB briefcase! #SmackDown @BrockLesnar @_Theory1 pic.twitter.com/EzSJ2unmKM
— WWE (@WWE) July 23, 2022
Are we looking at the next Undisputed WWE Universal Champion? #SmackDown #SummerSlam @BrockLesnar pic.twitter.com/8jPjgsSeoo
— WWE (@WWE) July 23, 2022
July 22 is continuing to be a historic day for World Wrestling Entertainment following disgraced WWE head Vince McMahon retiring as now Brock Lesnar has walked out of a WWE SmackDown taping tonight after finding out the news of McMahon’s retirement.
F4W Online’s Bryan Alvarez broke the news that Lesnar had walked out of SmackDown. Lesnar allegedly said that if McMahon is gone, then he’s also gone. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp also reported that Lesnar was “pissed off” and that the retirement of the former WWE chairman came as a shock to many wrestlers as they were told in a recent meeting that McMahon wasn’t going anywhere in terms of leading creative for the company. Lesnar had been promoted as being on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown, however, WWE has since pulled the advertisement.
There is a replacement for SummerSlam in place for Brock, but obviously they're trying to get him to come back.
— Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) July 22, 2022
RELATED: Vince McMahon Retires From WWE, Issues Statement on Exit
The departure of Lesnar may have major repercussions as Lesnar was set to main event WWE SummerSlam, the company’s second-biggest pay-per-view event of the year in a WrestleMania rematch against Roman Reigns. Per Alvarez, a backup plan is currently in place but WWE will attempt to smooth over the relationship with one of its biggest stars.
We’ll have more on this story as it develops.
