Backstage Update on Potential Brock Lesnar Retirement Plans

WWE reportedly is currently has working plans for retirement runs for several wrestlers in 2026, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Dave Meltzer reported that his sources stated that WWE officials have been working on retirement run plans for both Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles for 2026. Besides those two, WWE officials reportedly also have been working on potential retirement run plans for Chris Jericho if he returns to their company after his contract with AEW expires at the end of this year.

In regards to Lesnar, John Cena had stated in a recent interview with the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast that him losing to Lesnar at this past September’s Wrestlepalooza event was meant from his perspective to be him building up Lesnar for whoever beats him in the future. Cena also stated that Lesnar could be retiring soon and at a show in Minnesota.

This show for Lesnar’s retirement match could potentially be at next year’s SummerSlam 2026 event on August 1-2, 2026 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis due to Minnesota was Lesnar’s home state in the past and him being a famous amateur wrestler from the state.

Meltzer reported that he has yet to confirm SummerSlam 2026 being the date for Lesnar’s retirement match but his name has been talked about within for retirement runs plans for 2026. Meltzer also reported that retirement run plans are currently believed to only be locked in for Styles due to he had already announced his planned retirement for next year.