Jason Burgos
While some fans are annoyed that Brock Lesnar walked back his retirement a month later, WWE’s top star, Cody Rhodes, wants to see the company do more of exactly that.
On Sunday afternoon (in the United States), the WWE legend returns to the ring in a highly anticipated rematch with Oba Femi at Clash in Italy. It is a moment that many did not expect because fans were under the impression that Lesnar retired from the industry at WrestleMania 42 in April. And they had good reason to believe that.
After being dominated by Femi in their match at the event, Lesnar left his gloves and boots in the center of the ring to symbolically show he was retiring. Yet, soon after the show, backstage reports emerged that some inside WWE did not believe Lesnar was actually done. That rumor was officially confirmed two weeks ago when he made his surprise return on RAW to attack Femi.
Cody Rhodes wants WWE to end definitive retirements
Lesnar going back on his retirement is a big departure from recent trends in the industry. Bill Goldberg, John Cena, AJ Styles, and Sting in AEW all had grand final match send-offs over the last couple of years. Although Lesnar’s return has gotten mixed opinions, one person who is all for it is the current Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes.
“I want to get back to 90s-style retirements. Where we say we’re retired, and then we’re not,” Rhodes said on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike. “I think Brock has kind of started that out. Terry Funk was retired for 20 years, I think. [Ric] Flair retired a bunch. [Randy] Savage kept retiring. So I’m good with it if we’re not doing big, absolute, definitive retirements anymore. Just say, ‘I’m taking a break.'”
Heading into 2026, there were rumors that Lesnar would call it a career after signing a new short-term deal a few months ago. Recent rumblings suggest “The Beast” will win his rematch on Sunday at Clash in Italy. That could set up a definitive trilogy match with “The Ruler” at the event Lesnar was rumored to retire at, August’s Summerslam in Minnesota.
