Sources doubt Brock Lesnar's retirement is actually final ahead of WrestleMania 43

[Zach]

Brock Lesnar publicly announced his retirement from wrestling and everything during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this week, right after putting Oba Femi over in a Hell in a Cell match to close out night one of WWEs bumper SummerSlam weekend in Minneapolis, but genuinely nobody in the wrestling world seems convinced this is actually the end

According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, sources backstage still believe Lesnar will be involved with WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia in some capacity, if he decides against actually wrestling a match on that card, those same sources reckon theres a solid chance hed instead get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at the same event, which would still come with a genuinely significant payday even without stepping into the ring

One source put it bluntly, saying they cant envision Lesnar walking away before one final payday in Saudi Arabia, and its easy to see the logic, Saudi Arabia shows have consistently paid out enormous appearance fees to major stars over the past several years, so even a ceremonial Hall of Fame induction alone would likely be a smaller payday than an actual match, but this is Brock Lesnar, and few believe hed fly all the way out there for nothing more than a plaque and a handshake

This is far from the first time Lesnar has announced retirement only for it to not fully stick, fans are already pointing out that people thought he had retired after WrestleMania 42 too, that pattern of dramatic on screen or media retirement announcements followed by an eventual return has become something of a running joke among longtime WWE followers whenever Lesnars name comes up in this context

Whats genuinely different this time is the specific setting, thanking everyone for their support on a widely watched platform like Pat McAfees show right after a symbolic passing of the torch moment with Oba Femi in Hell in a Cell does read as more deliberate and final than some of his past retirement teases, but the WrestleMania 43 Saudi Arabia timeline gives WWE a genuinely long runway, nearly eight months, to build toward either a proper full circle final match or a Hall of Fame send off depending on how negotiations and Lesnars own wishes play out between now and then

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