At the SummerSlam main event, fans anticipated a shocking conclusion, perhaps a return from The Rock or a heel turn by Rhodes. Instead, the match ended cleanly with American Nightmare reclaiming his title. Just when the audience thought they had seen it all, Brock Lesnar made a surprise comeback after a two-year hiatus, confronting his longtime rival John Cena. While the crowd’s reaction was electrifying, a recent study from Action Network analyzing Reddit fans’ comments revealed a predominantly negative response to Lesnar’s return.
The research, based on 2,500 Reddit mentions, showed that 82.4% of non-neutral reactions were unfavorable, with only 17.6% positive. Fans expressed emotions such as disgust, sadness, and anger, with just 6.4% showing joy at seeing Lesnar back. The study detailed the breakdown of emotions: disgust and sorrow each accounted for roughly 15.82%, anger 12.49%, surprise 10.16%, joy 4.5%, and fear 2.37%.
WWE’s decision to bring back the divisive Lesnar is a risky move, especially amid ongoing legal controversies linked to the company. Lesnar’s last appearance was his defeat to Cody Rhodes at Summerslam 2023, after which he disappeared amid lawsuits and internal issues at WWE. Though the surprise entrance at SummerSlam received a big reaction, WWE’s handling of the situation, including canceling the SummerSlam press conference and dismissing fan chants for Cody Rhodes, has been criticized. The high-profile Cena vs. Lesnar clash brings excitement but also questions about fan support and WWE’s management of its star wrestlers.
Fan Take: This news is crucial for WWE fans because it highlights the tension between fan expectations and WWE’s storyline choices, signaling potential discontent with how the company manages its top talent. Lesnar’s controversial return might boost short-term ratings but could risk alienating loyal fans who crave fresh and meaningful narratives in the sport.
