Brock Lesnar storms back into WWE like a freight train—unannounced, unstoppable, and utterly dominant. At Survivor Series: WarGames 2025, the Beast Incarnate made his shocking return after a two-year hiatus, laying waste to John Cena and setting the stage for Cena’s retirement tour finale. But behind the suplexes and F-5s, Lesnar’s real power isn’t captured in the ring. It’s wielded in hushed locker room corners and high-stakes executive meetings, where his word can rewrite storylines, shift schedules, and safeguard his legacy.
The 48-year-old Minnesota native isn’t just a seven-time WWE Champion or the man who snapped The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak in 2014. He’s a former NCAA wrestling champ, NFL draft pick, and UFC heavyweight titleholder who returned to WWE in 2012 with leverage most superstars can only dream of. That clout? It translates to off-camera maneuvers that keep him at the top of the card while working a cushy part-time schedule—often jetting in via private plane for just a handful of dates a year.
One of Lesnar’s earliest backstage flexes came during his first WWE run in the early 2000s. Fresh off developmental, Big Show was still proving himself when Lesnar handpicked him as a foe. Their clashes, including the infamous ring-breaking spot at WrestleMania XIX, didn’t just steal the show—they elevated Big Show’s stock in the eyes of creative. “Brock changed how people saw me,” Big Show later reflected on WWE’s “After the Bell” podcast. It’s a classic Lesnar move: Use your pull to build alliances that pay dividends down the line.
Fast-forward to 2016, and Lesnar’s influence crossed combat sports borders. Under WWE contract, he lobbied for—and got—a one-night UFC return at UFC 200 against Mark Hunt. WWE not only greenlit it but hyped the buildup with streamed weigh-ins and social media blasts. The fight ended in a unanimous decision win for Lesnar (later overturned due to a failed drug test), but the real victory was proving no one—not even Dana White—could box him in. Back in WWE, he headlined SummerSlam that year, dropping Randy Orton with vicious elbows that blurred the line between kayfabe and reality.
Lesnar’s veto power shines brightest when he digs in his heels. Take Matt Riddle: The former UFC vet and WWE midcarder pushed hard for a dream match, even tweeting retirement challenges. But at the 2020 Royal Rumble, Lesnar pulled Riddle aside backstage and shut it down cold: “That’ll never happen.” When plans surfaced for Riddle to win the 2022 Royal Rumble—until Lesnar crashed the party post a Bobby Lashley loss—Lesnar allegedly rerouted the entire angle. “He didn’t want to do business with everybody,” Riddle spilled at a 2024 virtual signing, noting producers didn’t push back. Riddle’s WWE exit in 2023 sealed the no-go.
He’s equally selective with marquee foes. In 2017, Lesnar balked at facing Jinder Mahal for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series, forcing a last-minute title swap to AJ Styles and ending Mahal’s reign prematurely. Kevin Owens felt the snub too; Road Dogg revealed Lesnar flat-out declined a proposed bout, despite Owens’ main-event heat. Yet when Lesnar wants in, doors fly open. He clamored for a Goldberg rematch at WrestleMania 33, hijacking the Universal Title spotlight from a Chris Jericho-Kevin Owens program. The result? A brutal ‘Mania clash that drew massive buys.
Lesnar’s sway extends to branding and logistics. His 2012 WWE return deal let him slap Jimmy John’s logos on his trunks—a rarity in the sponsor-shy era—and peddle “Suplex City” merch customized by city. At WrestleMania 35, he and Paul Heyman lobbied to kick off the show against Seth Rollins, snagging the freshest crowd before the epic women’s main event sapped energy. Rollins stole the belt in a shocker, but Lesnar’s opener call set the night’s electric tone.
He even handpicks mismatches for fun. Lesnar chased a Finn Bálor feud since 2018, loving the David-vs.-Goliath vibe. Vince McMahon nixed an early Royal Rumble plan, deeming Bálor not “over” enough, but it happened in 2019—Bálor tapping to the Kimura Lock in a blink. Similar requests for AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan (pre-AEW) highlight his taste for underdog upsets.
Don’t mistake pull for petulance, though. WWE President Nick Khan paints Lesnar as a pro’s pro off-camera. “When he walks into a room, he looks—and usually is—the toughest guy on the planet,” Khan said on Daniel Cormier TV post-Survivor Series. “But he’s easy to work with. As long as he knows things in advance, no problem. We’re honored to have him back.” Khan stressed Lesnar’s reliability: He elevates every segment and delivers when called, aura intact.
Recent rumblings underscore his enduring clout. At Survivor Series 2025, Lesnar and Cena got secluded dressing rooms, far from the roster bustle, to amp mystery and maintain heat. Whispers of a Wrestlepalooza main event clash fuel speculation he’s cherry-picking his farewell spots. Even a viral RAW slip in November—where he backrolled like a gymnast and laughed it off—drew props from Bronson Reed: “If it was anyone else, the match dies. But it’s Brock—he owns it.”
For WWE fans glued to the screen, these unseen plays explain why Lesnar stays untouchable. His influence ripples through booking, ensuring beasts like him roar on their terms. As Cena’s tour winds down, expect more Lesnar-led chaos—both in the spotlight and the shadows.
In the end, Brock Lesnar’s power isn’t just physical; it’s the quiet command that keeps the machine humming his way. With 2026 looming, will he chase one last crown or ride into the sunset? One thing’s certain: When The Beast calls the shots, everyone listens.