WWE Rumors: Brock Lesnar Ban Lifted amid Reference at King and Queen of the Ring 2024

The WWE's ban on Brock Lesnar has apparently been lifted, per Subjoheet Mukherjee of Ringside News.

Announcer Michael Cole notably name dropped him during King and Queen of The Ring Premium Live Event on Saturday, while Murkherjee reported the change came earlier:

"Ringside News reached out to member of the WWE writing staff for clarification on Lesnar's mention, and it was revealed that Paul Heyman had referenced Lesnar several times during his WWE Hall of Fame speech. Following this, WWE lifted the ban on his name."

To go back to the beginning, ex-WWE staffer Janel Grant alleged that she was sexually assaulted and trafficked during her time with the company and filed a lawsuit against WWE, ex-chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and ex-WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.

The lawsuit also said that McMahon sent explicit videos of her to a WWE and UFC star. While Lesnar wasn't mentioned by name, per Khadeeja Safdar of the Wall Street Journal, people familiar with the case stated the wrestler was Lesnar.

There were plans to have Lesnar, who last wrestled at SummerSlam in August 2023, to return to WWE television in 2024. But that didn't happen. Colin Tessler of WrestleZone provided more context.

"As previously reported, Brock Lesnar was set to return at WWE Royal Rumble. There were also plans for him to work Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 40. However, he was implicated in Janel Grant's sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE. The plans for Lesnar were then dropped.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, reported at the time there was "no movement at all right now" to bring Lesnar back as a performer.

Lesnar was removed from other media as well, including the WWE 2K24 'Forty Years of WrestleMania' cover and the WWE 'Then, Now, Forever' opening video."

Per Meltzer (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), NXT star Bron Breakker replaced Lesnar in the men's Royal Rumnble.

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp notably reported that WWE had internal talks regarding Lesnar and intercontinental champion Gunther facing off at WrestleMania in April. However, that did not happen. Gunther instead dropped the belt to Sami Zayn.

Cole's mention of Lesnar notably referenced him winning King of the Ring in 2022 and then getting a title opportunity at SummerSlam. We'll see if that name drop is foreshadowing to a return, but for now, Lesnar remains out of WWE action for nine months and running.