Matt Morgan has revealed that his horrible stuttering gimmick was originally meant for The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar.
The wrestler-turned-politician recently had an interview with Jonathan Coachman on his YouTube channel. They talked about things such as Morgan’s journey to sobriety, his time in WWE and TNA, and more.
During the interview, the 48-year-old recalled the stuttering gimmick given to him back in 2005. He told the story of Vince McMahon pitching the gimmick and his initial reaction to it:
“He goes, ‘Could you imagine? You, six feet, whatever you are, six ten, six eleven, you’ve all these physical, body perfections, and you have that Achilles’ heel to you that nobody sees coming. And you start to stutter.’ And I’m like, ‘With respect sir, I graduated top of my class in college with a public speaking degree. Are you sure?'”
During the interview, Matt Morgan also discussed how Vince had been obsessed with the gimmick for some time. According to him, the boss originally wanted to give the character to Brock Lesnar:
“Vince trying to sell the stuttering character, he actually wanted to put this on Brock Lesnar as God as my witness. He wanted to find somebody that’s jacked and has all these great physical attributes. That looks like a warrior as he put it. But that when they opened their mouth there was this verbal imperfection. Coach we could have had ‘The next Big Stutterer.'”
Morgan debuted the stuttering gimmick in April 2005, defeating then-unknown Matt Cardona in his debut. He then aligned himself with Carlito as his backup in May. The gimmick did not last long and Morgan was released from his contract in July that year after Carlito was drafted to Raw.
The Undertaker feels Brock Lesnar did not need to break the Streak.
The ending of The Dead Man’s famous WrestleMania winning streak remains one of the most controversial decisions ever taken in wrestling. Many people still believe that Taker should have retired undefeated while others argue that the win should have been given to an up-and-coming name to take their careers to the next level.
The WWE Legend himself also feels that Brock Lesnar should not have been the one. During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, The Undertaker discussed how someone else could have benefited from the victory:
“I didn’t feel like Brock needed it, right? Brock was…and people you know, all the internet geniuses [were like] ‘Well, you know, he lost this, and he didn’t do this, and he didn’t do that. He needed a win.’ Brock was an attraction all to himself by this time. Would it have helped Bray? Obviously, would have helped Bray. Would it have skyrocketed Roman? Probably, if they’d have got that juice.”
I Didn’t Like The Way It Panned Out: The Undertaker
The Phenom also talked about how Vince McMahon went back and forth on the decision to end The Streak for weeks before WrestleMania XXX. To Undertaker the disturbing part of the whole thing was that the decision was made at the last minute:
“But again, it wasn’t my call. I questioned it. The thing that was the most disturbing for me was when I got to the building that day, I was going over. I didn’t like the way it panned out. So it’s early afternoon in the Superdome. I’m in a room completely by myself, and the old man walks in and you know, that just doesn’t happen. As soon as I saw him, I knew right away.”
Brock Lesnar remains off WWE TV after being implicated in Janel Grant’s sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon. You can check out details of the amended complaint filed by Grant earlier this month here.
Rivalries are the heart of professional wrestling, creating unforgettable moments that define careers. During a discussion with Chris Van Vliet for Insight, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle recently reflected on some of his most iconic opponents, shedding light on the matches and competitors who pushed him to his limits and cemented his legacy.
From his unparalleled chemistry with Chris Benoit to his physically grueling battles with Brock Lesnar, Angle’s reflections offer a deep dive into what made these rivalries legendary.
Chris Benoit: A Rivalry of Intensity and Skill
Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit shared a rivalry marked by unparalleled intensity and technical brilliance. Their match at Royal Rumble 2003 is often regarded as one of the greatest wrestling matches of all time. Angle, too, holds this encounter in high regard, calling it “the greatest wrestling match of all time.”
“Chris Benoit was like wrestling my twin,” Angle shared. “The intensity we brought out of each other was unmatched.”
Despite Benoit’s controversial legacy, Angle emphasizes the respect they shared in the ring. Their chemistry was rooted in their similar styles, with both being technical masters who elevated each other during every clash.
Brock Lesnar: Brutality and Respect
Photo: WWE
Another rivalry that defined Angle’s career was with Brock Lesnar, one of the most dominant athletes in WWE history. Known for their intense physical matches, including the main event of WrestleMania XIX, the two shared a relationship built on mutual respect and toughness. Angle recalled the toll their battles took on his body, revealing:
“Brock Lesnar broke my neck twice. But I called both those spots, so I don’t blame him.”
Despite the injuries, Angle has always admired Lesnar’s raw power and athleticism. Their matches weren’t just about brute strength; they combined storytelling and technical prowess, creating some of the most memorable moments in WWE history.
Other Iconic Matches and Dream Opponents
While Benoit and Lesnar were two of Angle’s defining rivals, other opponents also shaped his career. His emotional match against Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 20 remains a fan favorite, showcasing Guerrero’s charisma and Angle’s versatility. Angle also expressed admiration for wrestlers he never got to face, including Bret Hart, whom he regards as a dream opponent.
“Bret was the kind of wrestler who could adapt to anyone. I wish I had the chance to step in the ring with him,” Angle shared.
How Rivals Shaped His Legacy
Looking back, Kurt Angle credits his greatest rivals for pushing him to his peak as a performer. Whether it was the raw intensity of his matches with Chris Benoit, the physical toll of facing Brock Lesnar, or the storytelling brilliance of his clash with Eddie Guerrero, these rivalries helped define one of the greatest wrestling careers of all time.
Through it all, Angle’s ability to connect with his opponents—and with fans—solidifies his place as one of wrestling’s all-time greats.
While this year’s Survivor Series War Games match was, on its surface, a battle between two different versions of The Bloodline, the last minute addition of CM Punk to the team captained by Roman Reigns reframed the narrative. The story largely came down to Punk and Reigns as uneasy partners, bound by being two of the most successful Paul Heyman Guys.
The unlikely duo did wind up successfully coexisting, but it nonetheless returned a spotlight to the concept of Paul Heyman Guys and who among the celebrated cast of elite stars The Wise Man has helped along the way really is the best. We’ll never have a definitive answer, but it is interesting to compare the top contenders.
Bully Ray
Bully Ray is probably the most surprising act to appear on a list of the most successful Paul Heyman Guys, but when one stops to think about it, it’s both pretty remarkable what the former Bubba Ray Dudley has accomplished and how unlikely his story was had Heyman not put him in a position to succeed.
Though Bully Ray never had a main event singles run in ECW, he was nonetheless one of the promotion’s top stars, a heatseeking missile who drew nuclear reactions from the live crowds. Moreover, the opportunities afforded to him in ECW laid the foundation for his legendary run with D-Von Dudley as one of the greatest tag teams of all time, across ECW, WWE, TNA, and elsewhere.
It was in TNA where Bully Ray realized his full potential, booked as the leader of the Aces and Eights faction, world champion, and the definitive top heel in the promotion for the better part of the year. While he never broke out in WWE, this run proved what he had inside of him as a talker, worker, and wrestling mind, making good on everything Heyman had seen in him from back in their days in Philly together.
CM Punk
CM Punk was an indie darling but ran into a brick wall after signing with WWE. Upper management didn’t see a lot in him, but Paul Heyman did.
Heyman’s role running developmental at that point set him up to work closely with an eager Punk who sat under Heyman’s learning tree while further honing his craft. Against the odds, The Straight Edge Superstar did rise to prominence on the main roster in time. He did some of his best work as a long-reigning WWE Champion, with Heyman serving as his Advocate. Though Punk never needed a mouthpiece, Heyman certainly added to his presentation.
Punk’s resume since first collaborating with Heyman speaks for itself. He is, to date, a two-time WWE Champion, three-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, WWE ECW Champion, rare two-time WWE Money in the Bank winner, and two-time AEW Champion. It’s a record that places him among wrestling’s most accomplished stars of his generation.
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns was Vince McMahon’s final hand-picked face of WWE, but it wasn’t until Reigns dropped the white meat babyface persona The Chairman had saddled him with and turned heel alongside Paul Heyman that he broached God Mode.
His positioning as the top babyface placed Reigns as a regular rival to Brock Lesnar, which gave him his first opportunities to collaborate with Heyman. Things went to an entirely new level when Heyman and Reigns formalized their partnership though, with the duo collaborating closely behind the scenes just as Heyman played The Wise Man on screen for Reigns and his Bloodline faction.
Since partnering with Heyman, Reigns enjoyed a historic three and half year reign as WWE Champion that cemented his place as the face of the company and probably the tip-top star of his generation. That’s not to mention that Reigns just won his second Survivor Series War Games main event and the smart money has more world title glory, WrestleMania main events, and other elite accolades in front of him.
Brock Lesnar
(via WWE)
Brock Lesnar was an exceptional amateur wrestler and one of the few talents to succeed at the highest levels of pro wrestling and MMA alike. While The Beast’s real life combat credentials have little to do with Paul Heyman, his WWE journey was largely molded by his relationship with his advocate.
The generally accepted story is that most of the people advising Lesnar early in his career encouraged him to work like a standard big man who worked a slow pace, hit power moves, and never left his feet. Heyman saw bigger things in taking advantage of Lesnar’s natural speed and agility to lead to The Next Big Thing he’d become. Add in Heyman as a necessary mouthpiece and Lesnar became one of the biggest stars WWE has ever seen.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The year was 1995 and nobody believed in Steve Austin. Austin had been let go from WCW out of a combination of his attitude issues and injuries, combined with a new focus on established imports from WWE. As for WWE, while they would end up signing Austin, it was for the explicit purpose of being a mechanic who could put over stars they were actually invested in in good technical matches.
It was Heyman who put a live mic in Austin’s hands and, in so doing, paved the way the way for the Texas Rattlesnake fans would come to know and love as Stone Cold Steve Austin. Like he did for many others, Heyman gave Stone Cold an opportunity to experiment and spotlight his strengths. Yes, Heyman would also manage Austin in WCW for a spell, and back him up as part of The Alliance in 2001, but it was Austin’s ECW run that permanently branded him as a Paul Heyman guy, and he went on to some of the most explosively successful years in pro wrestling history.
AEW’s Bobby Lashley regrets that his feud with Brock Lesnar, a program he’d been aspiring to for years, hardly led up to his or fan expectations. On the Insight podcast, Lashley discussed working with the Beast and what could’ve gone differently.
“I wanted to do a lot more with it. I wish we could have really done the things that we could have.”
Lashley and Lesnar faced off one-on-one three times in WWE. Their first match at the Royal Rumble 2022 event saw interference by Roman Reigns. Their second match at that year’s Crown Jewel lasted just six minutes, while their final match at Elimination Chamber 2023 ended in what many considered a disappointing DQ finish
On the podcast, Lashley spoke of wanting training montages before his matches with Lesnar, believing the angle could’ve been like the movie Rocky. Lashley also revealed that he pitched a tag-title run with Lesnar, which would’ve later led to a feud.
“I don’t know if we could have put us two together as a tag team because it might have been too dominant, but I still see there were some people in there that we could have had great fights with.”
Lesnar hasn’t competed for WWE since SummerSlam 2023, with questions about his future due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Lashley has since joined AEW, where he has reunited with MVP and Shelton Benjamin as the Hurt Syndicate. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Lashley, as the All Mighty continues to make an impact, even after his feud with Lesnar didn’t reach his expectations.
Former WWE and UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar made a rare public appearance on Friday night, attending country music star Wade Davis’s concert in Tsuut’ina, Canada. The typically private superstar was spotted backstage at the November 8 show, where he posed for photographs with Davis.
Brock Lesnar spotted in the wild (November 8, 2024)
The appearance marks one of Lesnar’s first public sightings since his departure from WWE programming following his high-profile match at SummerSlam 2023, where he was defeated by Cody Rhodes in what would become his last WWE appearance to date.
Lesnar, known for his intensely private lifestyle and preference for spending time at his farm in Saskatchewan, has maintained a low profile in recent months. His pro wrestling career has been ‘on hold’ since last summer.
Lesnar’s absence from WWE coincides with him being indirectly referenced in the Janel Grant lawsuit filed against WWE. These developments have reportedly complicated any potential plans for his return to the wrestling ring. Despite his name being name occasionally referenced on WWE programming in recent weeks, there are no plans for him to return any time soon.
WWE star Omos has reckoned that the WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker needs to be built strongly like former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, before facing him in a match. Omos, the 7’3 powerhouse had battled Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39. Though he suffered a defeat, Omos posed a massive challenge for ‘The Beast Incarnate.’
During a recent Q&A episode on Undertaker’s Patreon, the gigantic wrestler said that he believes he could lock horns with Bron Breakker but he wants him to build more equity to make the clash exciting. Omos explained:
“My personal opinion, and maybe you can agree or disagree with me, I think [he might need] some more building him to that point, because I just remember wrestling Brock last year. I think people are going to expect that, but I think Brock had so much equity that he made sense and I think before you put him with me, you want to give him a lot more equity first.
So that way he’s people feel like he’s on top of the world like he’s gone through everybody, he’s become the unstoppable machine that he is, and they say, ‘What are you going to do with a giant?’ That makes for an even better story overall.”
Omos’ last appearance before hiatus took place at the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Meanwhile, Bron Breakker has been going strong on the main roster and became a two-time Intercontinental Champion and has defeated the likes of Sami Zayn and Jey Uso to remain a champion. Recently, WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker shared his thoughts on Omos.
Brock Lesnar’s status with WWE has not changed despite recent rumors of his return at least on the creative front.
The talk of the former Universal Champion potentially returning to TV picked up again when he was referenced by both Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
The possibility has been denied by the company on a high level according to a new report from Fightful Select however, and a source told them ‘There are no creative plans in place for Lesnar, and if conversations have occurred, we’ve not been briefed on that.’
Despite Triple H suggesting that it would be up Brock himself to make the decision, the report says that creative haven’t heard any updates regarding him in months. They’d be surprised if Lesnar is brought back in the middle of a federal investigation.
Regarding references to The Beast Incarnate being dropped on WWE programming, it was noted that people had been instructed to avoid mentioning the former champion in the last number of months. People close to Rhodes have not heard about any change.
Brock Lesnar was booked for Royal Rumble this year and he was supposed to be involved in a program with World Heavyweight Champion Gunther leading up to WrestleMania 40.
The plans were canceled when the former UFC star was referenced in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and Lesnar’s name was effectively banned from the company after that.
The officials even went to great lengths to minimize the inclusion of Lesnar from the already complete WWE 2K24 video game and removed him from covers and other promotional materials.
The wrestling world has been abuzz with speculation about Brock Lesnar’s potential return to WWE amid recent controversies and cryptic teases on RAW. This article delves into the latest developments surrounding the Beast Incarnate’s status with the company, the impact of the Vince McMahon lawsuit, and what fans can expect moving forward.
Recent RAW Teases
WWE has been dropping subtle hints about Lesnar’s possible comeback on recent episodes of Monday Night RAW. While the company has not explicitly mentioned Lesnar by name, several segments have featured references that longtime fans associate with the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins both alluded to Brock during the Monday, October 14th 2024 episode of RAW, and fans did not miss it:
They (WWE) mentioned Brock Lesnar’s nickname ‘THE BEAST’ not 1 but 2 times on Raw is not a coincidence.
The recent lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon has cast a shadow over Brock Lesnar’s WWE future. While Lesnar is not explicitly named in the legal documents, the allegations have implications for his status with the company.
Allegations and Implications
The lawsuit, filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, alleges that McMahon shared explicit content with a “former UFC Heavyweight Champion and WWE talent” in 2021. This description has led many to speculate about Lesnar’s potential involvement, and he was named during the Netflix series Mr McMahon.
Despite the initial reaction, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Triple H has recently provided insight into Lesnar’s status with the company.
“Not Gone from WWE”
Following Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, Triple H stated that Brock Lesnar is “not gone from WWE” and is simply “home being Brock”. This comment suggests that the door remains open for Lesnar’s return, contrary to earlier speculation.
Brock Lesnar last appeared on WWE programming at SummerSlam 2023 when he lost to Cody Rhodes in a hard-fought contest for both men. Lesnar has vanished from WWE due to his alleged involvement in the Janel Grant lawsuit, but WWE certainly had the Beast Incarnate on the brain during the October 14, episode of WWE Raw.
In a backstage segment, Seth Rollins tried to persuade General Manager Adam Pearce to give him a one-on-one match with Bronson Reed. During his promo, Rollins made reference to conquering a ‘beast’ in the past. This was a nod to Lesnar who Rollins dethroned as WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 35 in 2019.
In the ring, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes came face-to-face with World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER ahead of their showdown at WWE Crown Jewel. While Rhodes acknowledged GUNTHER being a ‘beast’ since arriving in WWE, he also touted his own accolades including having previously conquered a beast, i.e. Lesnar.
While Lesnar was not mentioned by name, these nods to the former WWE Universal Champion did not go unnoticed by fans. On Twitter/X, Lesnar’s name trended as thousands of posts were shared discussing these references and a potential return.
Brock Lesnar’s WWE Hiatus
Lesnar is alleged to have been one of the men Janel Grant was trafficked to during her tenure in WWE. It’s alleged that Vince McMahon trafficked Grant to Lesnar in order to secure a deal with the Beast. McMahon has denied all wrongdoing.
In July, WWE COO Paul Levesque said he’d be open to a conversation with Lesnar about a return if and when the Beast decided to initiate talks. Grant’s lawsuit is currently on hold as the Department of Justice launched a federal investigation on McMahon on May 30. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Brock Lesnar and his status as a WWE Superstar.
At WWE Bad Blood, Cody Rhodes will team with Roman Reigns to take on The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, in the OTC’s first match since WrestleMania. On The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes talked all things WWE including plans for WrestleMania 41, but did the Undisputed WWE Champion also accidentally reveal a huge return?
After the show wrapped up, Cody was saying his goodbyes to the crew when McAfee told the American Nightmare “I heard the big guy is coming back this week.” Taken aback, Rhodes asked “is he?” to which McAfee retorted, “You tell me.” Cody responded by saying “Which one?” before McAfee walked off, saying “You told me all I need to know.”
Pat McAfee tells Cody Rhodes that he hears “the big guy” is coming back this week. pic.twitter.com/69XelcbIL0
Given Rhodes’ upcoming match with The Bloodline and their recent history, many fans on social media have seen ‘The Big Guy’ as referencing The Rock. As a leading man in Hollywood, one of WWE’s top names in history, and a member of TKO’s Board of Directors, the ‘Final Boss’ certainly fits the moniker of a big guy. On the post-WrestleMania 40 WWE Raw, The Rock vowed to return and confront Cody Rhodes, with reported plans for a showdown at WrestleMania 41.
A less likely option is Brock Lesnar, another huge Superstar who is a verifiable ‘big guy’ in the world of WWE. Like Rock, Lesnar has his own history with Rhodes, as Cody’s victory over Brock at SummerSlam was the latter’s most recent WWE match. However, WWE has avoided using Lesnar due to him being tied to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, as the former employee alleges that she was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion by McMahon and John Laurinaitis.
Triple H tells Daily Mail that Brock Lesnar is enjoying life up in Canada with his family and the ball is in his court.
“…Brock does his own things, so he’s up in Canada, I’m sure, watching his kids play hockey and enjoying life. If and when he decides to do something we’d be open to the conversation, but we’ll see.”
– Paul Levesque on Brock Lesnar’s future with WWE
While he was not named in the lawsuit, Grant shared that McMahon made her send personalized sexual content to “a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and WWE talent” in March 2020. She claims that McMahon wanted her to get involved with Lesnar to negotiate for Lesnar to reach a new deal with WWE.
Grant also alleged that the former WWE Chairman wanted Lesnar to have a sexual encounter with her as a way to reach an agreement, but it didn’t end up happening. The implication of Lesnar’s involvement in the lawsuit quickly led to many believing that he was the WWE talent she was referencing, and he has been off TV since.
The lawsuit is currently on hold as the Department of Justice launched a federal investigation on McMahon on May 30.
During the WrestleMania 40 post-media conference on April 6, Levesque shared that Lesnar was still in the company but was at home. Since then, the former WWE Champion has been mentioned on TV but hasn’t shown signs of a comeback.
Triple H and Brock Lesnar’s History
Brock Lesnar and Triple H are both legendary WWE Superstars, but Lesnar has a dominant 3-1 record over Triple H in their head-to-head matches, which have mostly been high-stakes and extreme stipulation encounters.?
June 2022: Brock Lesnar successfully defended the WWE Heavyweight Title against Triple H in a non-televised match at the WWE RAW House Show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
August 2012: Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H in a No Disqualification match at WWE SummerSlam.
April 2013: Triple H defeated Brock Lesnar in a No Holds Barred match where his career was on the line at WrestleMania XXIX.
May 2013: Brock Lesnar beat Triple H in a Steel Cage match at Extreme Rules 2013.
Full Match: Watch the Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar No Holds Barred Match from WrestleMania XXIX from April 2013:
Brock Lesnar has not been seen for quite some time, and that is not going to change until his legal situation is resolved. SEScoops exclusively reported in March, “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue, and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.” In the latest Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer corroborates our scoop with this note:
“Regarding any rumors of Lesnar returning, he has to be cleared by WWE legal (remember WWE is still a defendant in the Janel Grant lawsuit), and that hasn’t happened yet.”
Janel Grant’s court battle against WWE and Vince McMahon will be delayed, but that’s not necessarily good news for the company. Grant has agreed to postpone the lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, an ominous sign for McMahon that indicates additional legal pitfalls ahead.
This decision means it will take longer than initially planned before the two sides face off in court, as the case remains under a non-public investigation. As a result, the timeline for Lesnar wrestling again has effectively been delayed indefinitely.
Brock Lesnar Impacted by Janel Grant Lawsuit
Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed her to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign. The lawsuit did not name the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned, the timeline suggests a limited number of possible wrestlers.
The lawsuit claims McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who responded positively. In December, McMahon allegedly gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the wrestler. The wrestler then requested a video of her urinating and used derogatory language toward her. A meetup was planned but did not happen due to travel issues.
Brock Lesnar was removed from the WWE intro package and has been absent from promotional materials and vignettes since the controversy. His WrestleMania 40 match against GUNTHER was also scrapped, along with his planned bout against Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber.
In WWE 2K24, Lesnar was removed as a playable character but still exists in the game’s code. He was replaced by John Cena on the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover. He remains under WWE contract.
Gunther isn’t sure if a Brock Lesnar match is in the cards for him anymore.
There were strong rumors before WrestleMania 40 that The Ring General was on his way to face The Beast Incarnate in a big showdown at the Grandest Stage of Them All. The company had planned to build this rivalry up starting at the 2024 Royal Rumble.
All plans for the former Universal Champion, however, were scrapped by the creative team when Lesnar was linked to the Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit.
The former IC Champion addressed the rumors about his planned match with Lesnar at WrestleMania in an interview with DailyMail. Gunther claimed that he also heard something about it:
The Ring General explained that he has always been presented as the final boss in different phases of his WWE career, whether it be his run as the UK Champion or the most recent IC title reign. Brock Lesnar similarly was the final boss of the whole WWE for a long time. To reach the position the former UFC champion was in, the Austrian star has to get in the ring with him.
I’m More Than Up For It: Gunther
(Photo: WWE)
Gunther also discussed the potential of a future showdown between the two. He noted that he is not informed about the current status of Brock with the company, but he is more than ready for something like that if it comes his way:
“We’ll see if there’s a chance for it to happen again. I’m more than up for it. How the situation is exactly right now, I’m really not that informed about it, to be honest. I think we had that one face off in the Royal Rumble, the reaction that was there and that was a confirmation for me.”
Considering the gravity of the accusations against Vince McMahon, it’s very much possible that we may never see Brock Lesnar on WWE TV again if he gets implicated in the proceedings of the case in any way.
Though the company is certainly keeping their options open by not completely cutting ties with Brock the same way they have done with the former chairman of the boards. So there is a distinct possibility that he could return to act as ‘The Final Boss’ for Gunther down the line.
Paul Heyman is now a WWE Hall of Famer, and fans won’t forget his induction speech any time soon. The same is true for those within the company who witnessed his speech.
Brock Lesnar has been all but erased from WWE history at this point. The company did not even show him in the highlight video package for Heyman before his time on the show. That did not stop Paul E from mentioning the 1 in 21-1 several times. WWE realized who they were inducting, and where the ceremony went down as well.
After a day has passed since Heyman’s speech, I have been told that many within WWE are considering what Paul E did as one of the greatest promos in WWE history.
Internal Reaction to Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Speech
I reached out to ask about Heyman name-dropping Brock Lesnar so much after WWE has made obvious efforts to not mention him. I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that Paul Heyman had a bit of “free rein.”
Prior to Heyman’s speech, several members of the creative team were told that, “We’re inducting Heyman in Philly, and we know what the audience is going to want, and we’re going to let Heyman give it to them.”
Some within the company consider Heyman’s speech to be the greatest Hall of Fame speech, if not the greatest promo, in WWE history. It was viewed as “insane” by many, in a very good way.
I was additionally told that what struck many people backstage was that Heyman wasn’t cursing just for the sake of it; he used profanity strategically to emphasize his points, which made it all the more effective.
Heyman’s control of the audience was also praised as “a master class in psychology,” where “the ebb and flow of his promo resembled the structure of a public speech or rally unlike anything seen before in WWE.”
I will have more in an exclusive on @sescoops soon, but concerning Paul Heyman's #WWEHallOfFame speech:
Members of the team were told: "We're inducting Heyman in Philly, and we know what the audience is going to want, and we're going to let Heyman give it to them." pic.twitter.com/U4XLE325C6
Paul Heyman’s induction was first on the night, so more people would see it. Those props that Heyman used were also legit, as they added even more legitimacy and nostalgia to his speech.
In the end, nobody had anything bad to say about any portion of Heyman’s speech, even his mention of Brock Lesnar. If anything, Heyman is seen as more of a GOAT than ever at this point.
Brock Lesnar may not have competed at WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, but that doesn’t mean his days with the promotion are a thing of the past.
Despite being one of WWE’s top Superstars, Lesnar did not appear at the Saturday event and is not expected in any capacity at the upcoming WrestleMania 40: Sunday show either. Speaking at the post-WrestleMania 40: Saturday press conference, Triple H was asked about Lesnar’s current WWE status.
“At one point, there was a conversation with Brock about Royal Rumble, quite a long time ago. Right now, Brock is at home being Brock. We’ll see where that leads to from here. His status is the same as it has been before. Brock is not gone from WWE. He’s just home being Brock.”
Brock Lesnar’s WWE Hiatus
Lesnar has been implicated, but not named in Janel Grant’s damning lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon. In the suit, Grant alleges that she was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, believed to be Lesnar. The former WWE Universal Champion has not publicly commented on the matter.
WWE has pulled in some big crossover stars over the years. Johnny Knoxville’s proclivity to participate in daring stunts made him perfect for a WrestleMania role, and he will never forget it.
Johnny Knoxville recalled a time when Brock Lesnar tried to put his fellow Jackass co-star Wee Man through a table at a crowded restaurant. He also shared a fantastic memory from WrestleMania 38, where he was featured in a marquee match.
Brock Lesnar & Wee Man
While speaking to SI, Johnny Knoxville took a walk down memory lane to the time when Brock Lesnar put Wee Man through a table in the middle of a Four Seasons restaurant.
Wee Man apparently had some liquid courage in him, and that only caused Lesnar to take action. What happened next made Knoxville so happy, as Wee Man took a trip into a table.
I can’t remember being so happy [laughs]. We were at a Four Seasons restaurant. Wee Man had a couple drinks. And when Wee Man has a couple drinks, he gets loud and rambunctious. And he started talking smack to Brock–and Brock just scooped Wee Man up, pointed to a table, and said, “That’s where you’re going.” Right in the middle of a Four Seasons restaurant, it was amazing.
Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania 38
Night two of WrestleMania 38 showcased an Anything Goes match pitting Sami Zayn against Johnny Knoxville. The Jackass star still remembers that 2022 match, and what happened afterward, years later.
Knoxville beat Zayn in just under 15 minutes in AT&T Stadium. Two years later, he still doesn’t have anything nice to say about the Underdog from the Underground.
He then explained that their match received a standing ovation in Gorilla Position afterward.
Aside from having to actually look at Sami’s big, dumb face, I was thrilled with the match. Afterward, it felt like we did something special. To walk in backstage into [the] Gorilla [position, right behind the curtain], I think they call it, they stood up and clapped–and those guys and girls have seen it all. For them to clap, I took it as a big compliment. And I hate to say anything good about Sami Zayn, but he did an amazing job in that match–an amazing job losing, I should point out.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Friday, March 15. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, including Mercedes Mone’s AEW debut at Big Business.
Days until WrestleMania 40: 22
First off, Scott Hall’s name trended on social media all day yesterday. He passed away two years ago on 3/14. He will never be forgotten, and you may check out a tribute post here.
WWE:
–Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE.He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. After a report of a “movement” within WWE to bring him back, I asked around and was told that there is no movement to bring Brock Lesnar back within WWE. I was told that “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.”
Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE than he was when they yanked him from the road to WrestleMania 40.
He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. No stories. No pitches. His name is not being brought up.
Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett vs. Top Flight and Action Andretti
Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta vs. Evil Uno & John Silver
Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. TBA
Bracket revealed for AEW World Tag Team Championship tournament
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE SummerSlam is taking over Cleveland’s Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3rd.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
Brock Lesnar was going to be at WrestleMania 40. He was also going to be in the 2024 Royal Rumble match and singles competition at Elimination Chamber. Those plans changed abruptly when he was pulled from WWE programming. A recent rumor about a wave of support within WWE needs to be addressed.
It was recently reported that there is a “movement” in WWE to bring Lesnar back to the fold. I can now report that this is not the case at all.
Brock Lesnar’s Current WWE Status (Exclusive)
Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE. He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. He was pulled from the company’s creative plan, where he was going to wrestle Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber and then GUNTHER at WrestleMania 40.
After a report of a “movement” within WWE to bring him back, I asked around and was told that there is no movement to bring Brock Lesnar back within WWE. In fact, this is a legal situation, so nobody’s touching it.
I was outright told that “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.”
Brock Lesnar is not any closer to making a return to WWE than he was when they yanked him from the road to WrestleMania 40.
He is not being thought of in any creative capacity. No stories. No pitches. His name is not being brought up.
Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed Janel Grant to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign. The lawsuit did not identify the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline of 2021, it’s relatively straightforward to narrow down those options, although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who expressed approval, stating, “he likes what he sees.”
In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit alleges that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, referring to her as ‘b*tch.’ A meetup was planned, but they never followed through with it due to travel issues.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for the headlines and stories that you need to be well-informed.
Brock Lesnar could be back on WWE programming, and soon, if movements happening within the promotion prove successful.
Lesnar is referenced in Janel Grant’s shocking lawsuit against WWE, in which she alleges to have been abused and trafficked by Vince McMahon. While not mentioned by name, Grant alleges that she was trafficked to a former UFC Champion who has been identified as Lesnar.
In the wake of Grant’s lawsuit, Lesnar was pulled from this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match and his name and stats were omitted from a Royal Rumble statistics video. Plans for a match with Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber were also shelved.
Bringing Back Brock?
Last weekend, Lesnar was re-added to WWE’s roster page, leading to speculation that he could make a comeback despite the scandal. During the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez said that there have been moves within WWE to make such a return happen.
“In the last few days, there have been moves regarding Brock Lesnar… There are movements to bring him back.”
Alvarez made clear that his comments should not be seen as confirmation that Brock will be brought back and believes it would be a bad idea on WWE’s part.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be back… I wouldn’t bring him back but I can tell you that there have been inquiries made… It seems like a bad idea to me. Put it that way.”
What’s Next?
If WWE intends to bring Lesnar back, they may do so in time for the Beast to have a match at WrestleMania. The former WWE Universal Champion has wrestled 12 times at WWE’s annual showcase and boasts an even 6-6 record.
Brock Lesnar is known as the Beast Incarnate for WWE fans, but his daughter is also tearing it up in her own field. Mya Lesnar recently pulled down a big win, which places her on top of the NCAA.
Mya Lesnar clinched the NCAA indoor shot put title in Boston with a throw exceeding 60 feet. As a junior at Colorado State, she previously finished 11th last year. This year, she enters the outdoor championship as the nation’s top seed.
Brock Lesnar’s Daughter, Mya Lesnar, Wins Big
9 News reports that Mya Lesnar won the NCAA indoor shot put championship on Saturday night in Boston. She did so with a throw of over 60 feet. She is currently a junior at Colorado State, and finished 11th last year. This year, she is walking into the outdoor championship as the #1 seed in the country.
Lesnar secured CSU’s first indoor national championship since 2018, a feat last achieved by Mostafa Hassan in the shot put category for two consecutive years. CSU’s track and field program saw another national champion in the women’s category outdoors, with Loree Smith claiming victory in the hammer throw at the 2005 outdoor NCAA championships. A junior athlete, Lesnar transferred from Arizona State and boasts a lineage connected to wrestler Brock Lesnar as his daughter.
This is a big accomplishment for Mya Lesnar, and we expect great things for her. Only time will tell if she follows her father into pro wrestling, but she certainly has a great way to get her foot in the door if that day comes.
Brock Lesnar’s Current Status
Brock Lesnar was pulled from the road to WrestleMania 40 after his name was connected with Janel Grant’s lawsuit. He was not directly named, but there were certainly enough clues to pinpoint that Lesnar was the Superstar in question.
In recent news, Lesnar was placed back on the WWE roster on their official website. At this point, the WWE creative team has still not heard anything regarding a change to his status.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more, so keep checking back for more updates.
Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Monday, March 11. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at, including RAW tonight. Let’s jump right into it.
Days until WrestleMania 40: 26
WWE:
– Brock Lesnar is back on WWE.com’s roster, and that was very interesting. I asked around to see if there is any word about his return, and was I was told that the creative team has not heard anything new about him since his stories were nixed after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public.
Brock Lesnar is back on the WWE website roster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be right back on TV.
After asking around I can confirm that the creative team has not been told that anything has changed with Lesnar.
He was supposed to be in the Rumble, face Dom at EC and…
AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
WWE is well on the road to WrestleMania, and we haven’t heard a peep from Brock Lesnar. His name was scrubbed from WWE programming after his controversial involvement in a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, but now it appears that Lesnar may be getting closer to a return.
WWE’s official website updated their roster today, and Brock Lesnar’s name is back on the list. He was removed from the list and placed on the alumni page before. Now, he is on the current roster once again.
The company removed Lesnar from all future creative plans. Nothing was being pitched for him, but you never know if this new development is a sign that his hiatus could be coming to an end.
The company took efforts to erase Brock Lesnar from history after his name was attached to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. He was also removed from WWE 2K24 as a playable character, although his model and data are still in the game files.
The decision to exclude Lesnar from creative plans comes in the wake of his association with Janel Grant’s legal action against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis.
The lawsuit accuses McMahon of involvement in various forms of misconduct, including sexual assault, abuse, degradation, and trafficking. Grant alleges that her involvement in sexual activities was discussed in negotiations involving Lesnar, facilitated by McMahon without her consent.
It’s claimed that Lesnar requested a video of her urinating before a planned encounter that never materialized. The lawsuit details McMahon providing Lesnar with Grant’s personal cellphone number and explicit content.
Brock Lesnar’s Scrapped Plans
At this time, Brock Lesnar is not booked for WrestleMania 40. He was previously booked to take on GUNTHER for the IC Title. That match was reportedly nixed after the controversy surrounding that lawsuit came up.
Brock Lesnar was removed from the 2024 Royal Rumble match as well. He was replaced by Bron Breakker during that match, and the former NXT Champion got Lesnar’s spots. Also, the Beast Incarnate was supposed to take on Dominik Mysterio at the Elimination Chamber premium live event, but that match didn’t happen.
We will have to see if this means Brock is closer to making a return to WWE. The fact that he appeared on their official roster once again is certainly a better sign for his return than we had a couple of days ago.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, in the pro wrestling world. Keep checking back for constant updates on the stories you need.
People love a good video game story, and this is certainly a controversial one. The allegations in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE and John Laurinaitis spilled into the video game world, as 2k was forced to make a change. Despite the appearance that Brock Lesnar was removed from the game, he is still in the files.
Brock Lesnar is Not Totally Removed
WWE 2K24’s roster dropped this week, and Brock Lesnar was missing. This was a very interesting omission from the game, but it was also too late in the process to remove him completely.
According to Mike Straw at Insider Gaming, Brock Lesnar is still in the files of the game. He just won’t be a playable character.
Despite being unplayable, his character and game files are still within WWE 2K24. That means that there will be ways for those with the ability to get him to become playable, it’ll just take some work to make it happen.
Since Brock Lesnar is still in the files of the game, odds are it won’t take long for someone to break into the game and insert him into their regular gameplay.
Reason For Brock Lesnar’s Removal
Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed Janel Grant to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign.
The lawsuit did not identify the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Given the timeline of 2021, it’s relatively straightforward to narrow down those options, although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who expressed approval, stating, “he likes what he sees.”
In December of the same year, McMahon allegedly provided Grant’s personal cellphone number to the unnamed WWE Superstar. The lawsuit alleges that the wrestler requested a video of her urinating, and after she complied, he used derogatory language, referring to her as ‘b*tch.’ A meetup was planned, but they never followed through with it due to travel issues.
What’s Next For Brock Lesnar in WWE
Brock Lesnar was supposed to have a match against Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber, and then he was going to face GUNTHER at WrestleMania. Neither of those matches are happening.
Lesnar was also pulled from the 2024 Royal Rumble match, and Bron Breakker took his spot as a last-minute replacement. That also marked Breakker’s official call-up, although he still has things to settle in NXT first.
Brock Lesnar is not in any WWE creative plans. I asked around about his status, and I was told that the only people speaking his name are high up in the food chain, and it is not in any regard to bringing him back. At this point, the belief within WWE is that the Beast Incarnate may be done in WWE.
It has been over four years since WWE made one of the most questionable booking decisions that angered fans. On the October 4, 2019, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, Kofi Kingston put the WWE Championship on the line against Brock Lesnar. Although it was expected that Lesnar would win, WWE made the decision to have ‘The Beast’ defeat Kingston in seven seconds.
To this day, fans are upset with how WWE handled Kingston’s match with Lesnar, and the longtime company ‘Babyface’ agrees.
In an interview with SEScoops’ MuscleManMacolm, Kingston spoke about his infamous title match with Lesnar and believes it should’ve gone longer than it did.
“…There’s two lines of thought on it. One, I don’t get paid by the hour, so that is probably the most amount of money that I’ve made in the least amount of time on the roster.
But obviously, when you have a WWE Championship match, especially with what it meant to win that title, I would’ve loved for it to have last longer and I would’ve loved to beat Brock Lesnar, but of course, I came up short,” said Kingston.
Although Kingston hasn’t gotten more opportunities to reclaim the WWE Championship, he’s looking to move forward with his career.
Kofi Kingston On Letting Go Of Brock Lesnar Title Match
In the interview, Kingston stayed true to believing in the “Power of Positivity” and isn’t focused on dwelling on what happened in the Fall of 2019.
“…It’s always forward in this industry and that’s the route of chosen to take,” said Kingston.
Kingston may not be in the hunt for the WWE Championship, but he has reunited with Xavier Woods in the tag division. The New Day(Kingston & Woods) is feuding against Imperium(Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). The company recently announced on Twitter that the two teams will settle their difference in a Street Fight Tag Team Match on the February 26 WWE Monday Night Raw episode.
A win for New Day could build momentum for them to challenge for the WWE Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship. At 42 years old, Kingston is still a featured talent on the WWE roster and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
