A recent report reveals that Brock Lesnar remained under contract with WWE and was fully paid during his two-year absence from the company. His contract was neither suspended nor terminated due to any connections to allegations against Vince McMahon; instead, WWE chose to pay him while he stayed off-screen until the situation was resolved.
According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Lesnar maintained a fully paid, uninterrupted WWE contract throughout his time away before returning at SummerSlam. This kind of contract arrangement is extremely rare. With rumors suggesting his salary is between $10-12 million per year, WWE felt uneasy about using him under uncertain circumstances but wanted to ensure he could return whenever cleared. Typically, inactive talent would either be released, suspended, or have their contract extended to account for missed time, but Lesnar’s situation was different.
WWE’s decision to pay Lesnar such a large sum stems from his status as a major attraction. They were awaiting legal clearance related to the 2024 fraudulent practice lawsuit involving Janelle Grant—lawsuit in which Lesnar was not a defendant. This clearance happened a month before his unannounced return at SummerSlam 2025. Essentially, WWE always planned for his eventual comeback and paid him to be available for any time they wanted to feature him.
This approach demonstrates WWE’s strategy of safeguarding and investing in marquee talents like Lesnar, who can generate significant revenue. Although he was paid millions to not appear on WWE programming, his return effectively turns him into a revenue-generating asset. When a company pays a star nearly $25 million to be on call despite legal controversies, it highlights just how invaluable he is to WWE.
Fan Take: This news matters to WWE fans because it underscores Brock Lesnar’s immense value to the company—not just as a wrestler, but as a top draw who can significantly influence WWE’s success. His high-profile return after a lengthy, fully paid absence shows WWE’s commitment to leveraging star power, which could lead to major storylines and heightened competition in the wrestling world.
