Brock Lesnar, a former WWE and UFC champion, has remained absent from WWE programming since August 2023. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier recently fueled speculation about Lesnar’s status by stating on the MightyCast podcast that WWE keeps Lesnar on a “ban list” after Janel Grant named him in a sex-trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE.
Although rumours circulate about a potential return, journalist Dave Meltzer confirmed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE’s legal team has barred Lesnar from making appearances since Grant filed the lawsuit in January 2024.
Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed the lawsuit accusing Vince McMahon and others of sexual misconduct and trafficking, with Lesnar’s name appearing in the amended complaint. According to the filing, McMahon allegedly used Grant to entice Lesnar to sign a new contract.
Although Lesnar faces no charges, the allegations caused WWE to remove him from planned appearances, including the 2024 Royal Rumble, where Bron Breakker took his place and to scrap matches scheduled against Dominik Mysterio and Gunther at WrestleMania 40.
Daniel Cormier says Brock Lesnar is currently on a banned list:
“Brock is on the banned list right now. Brock got into so much trouble. I ain’t telling you on-air what Brock did. Brock is in so much trouble.”
(MightyCast w/ Demetrious Johnson) pic.twitter.com/szJspSrvi8
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) July 19, 2025Meltzer explained that WWE’s legal team made the decision to sideline Lesnar as soon as Grant filed the lawsuit. As of July 2025, Lesnar still has not returned.
Lesnar last appeared for WWE at SummerSlam 2023, losing to Cody Rhodes. His continued absence has sparked ongoing discussion among fans, particularly since WWE still features his past matches on YouTube and references him during broadcasts, suggesting the company has not fully erased him from its narrative. Nevertheless, the unresolved legal situation creates significant uncertainty around any potential return.
The controversy also impacted Lesnar’s presence outside live events, resulting in his removal from the WWE 2K24 video game roster. Despite this, WWE still sells his merchandise, highlighting the complexity of his current status with the company.
