SummerSlam 2026 marked the end of Brock Lesnar’s in‑ring career. Night one of the event featured a symbolic passing‑of‑the‑torch moment as Lesnar fell to Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell.
While Lesnar didn’t formally announce his retirement that night, he did call himself the “past” and said Femi represents the future. With the show taking place in Minnesota — a state Lesnar once called home — the moment carried extra emotion.
Lesnar made things official on Tuesday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. The 49‑year‑old confirmed he is retired from competing in WWE and “everything else.” With this chapter of his life closed, Lesnar said he plans to spend more time hunting and supporting his children’s athletic pursuits. His sons play hockey, while his daughter — a standout shot‑put athlete — hopes to compete in the Olympics.
“I’m here today to do this interview to let the world and everybody know that I am retired. And I wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ to everybody,” Lesnar said.
“Saturday was a very emotional day for me. Kind of weird because I did — my heart, when Oba Femi slammed me at WrestleMania, I was like, ‘I can’t do this again.’ I was like, I think I’m done. But the business, and I still had some fuel in the tank. But Saturday, for Brock Lesnar, that’s it. That’s it for me in the squared circle and for everything else too.”
Brock Lesnar Expresses His Gratitude
Lesnar thanked everyone who has supported him throughout his career, saying he is “very honored and very grateful” for everything fans have given him. He also thanked WWE, TKO, Dana White, UFC, the University of Minnesota, and all of the coaches who helped shape his journey. Lesnar made sure to praise Oba Femi as well, calling him “great.”
“I just want to give a shoutout to everybody on this universe that has followed me from since I was a little kid all the way to Saturday. I was just a farm kid from South Dakota with a big dream, and a big heart, and a big‑ass chip on my shoulder,” Lesnar said.
“I’m just grateful. Grateful to be 49 years old and to be able to do what I did in this lifetime. I thank God and everybody that supported me.”
Why Lesnar Chose to Retire Now
Lesnar explained that he wants to enjoy life and remain physically capable as he gets older. While some skepticism is natural — especially after the retirement tease following WrestleMania 42 — Lesnar never actually said he was retired then. This time, he made the announcement directly and unequivocally.
Oba Femi defeated Lesnar at both WrestleMania and SummerSlam, winning their rivalry with a 2‑1 record. The SummerSlam match took place inside Hell in a Cell, closing out Lesnar’s legendary career with one final brutal battle.
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Brock Lesnar Officially Announces Retirement From WWE and All Competition
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