Brock Lesnar has announced his retirement from professional wrestling, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than two decades across WWE, the UFC, collegiate wrestling, and even a brief NFL pursuit.
The former UFC heavyweight champion and WWE megastar made the announcement during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, just days after losing a brutal Hell in a Cell match against Oba Femi at SummerSlam.
For many fans, the retirement of Brock Lesnar marks the end of an era. Few athletes have dominated multiple combat sports at the highest level quite like “The Beast Incarnate.”
Speaking candidly about his decision, Lesnar revealed that his SummerSlam loss to Oba Femi would be the final chapter of his storied career.
“I’m here today to do this interview to let the world and everybody know that I am retired and I wanted to say a big thank you to everybody,” Lesnar said.
“Saturday was a very emotional day for me. It’s kind of weird because when Oba Femi slammed me at WrestleMania, I was like, ‘I can’t do this again.’ I was like, ‘I think I’m done.’ But the business and I still had fuel in the tank. But Saturday, for Brock Lesnar, that’s it. That’s it for me in the squared circle and for everything else, too.
“I just want to give a shout-out to everybody in this universe that has followed me since I was a little kid all the way until Saturday. I was just a farm kid from South Dakota with a big dream, a big heart, and a big-ass chip on my shoulder. I’m just grateful. Grateful to be 49 years old and to have been able to do what I did in this lifetime. I thank God and everybody that supported me.”
Long before he became a global superstar, Brock Lesnar established himself as an elite wrestler.
After winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship at Bismarck State College in 1998, he transferred to the University of Minnesota. There, he quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top heavyweights.
Lesnar reached the NCAA Division I Heavyweight Championship final in 1999 before capturing the national title in 2000. His collegiate success immediately caught WWE’s attention.
He signed with WWE in 2002 and wasted little time making history. That same year, Lesnar became the youngest WWE Champion at the time after defeating Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at SummerSlam.
His early run included victories over some of wrestling’s biggest legends, including Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, and The Rock, cementing his status as WWE’s next dominant force.
In 2004, Lesnar shocked the wrestling world by leaving WWE to pursue a career in the NFL.
Despite never playing college football, he earned a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings and came remarkably close to making the roster before being cut during the final stages of preseason evaluations.
After a stint wrestling in Japan and winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Brock Lesnar sought another challenge—mixed martial arts.
He signed with the UFC in 2007 and quickly became one of the sport’s biggest attractions. Although he lost his UFC debut to Frank Mir, Lesnar rebounded with victories over Heath Herring and Randy Couture.
Just four professional fights into his MMA career, Lesnar knocked out Couture to capture the UFC heavyweight championship.
His UFC success silenced critics who doubted whether a professional wrestler could thrive in legitimate combat sports.
Lesnar later defended his title twice and became one of the biggest pay-per-view stars in UFC history before health issues and injuries eventually forced him away from the sport.
He returned for one final UFC appearance at UFC 200 in 2016, defeating Mark Hunt in a bout that was later overturned to a no-contest following a failed drug test.
While his UFC accomplishments were extraordinary, Brock Lesnar built much of his lasting legacy during his second WWE run.
After returning to WWE in 2012, Lesnar became one of the company’s biggest attractions. His achievements included ending The Undertaker’s legendary WrestleMania undefeated streak, holding the Universal Championship for more than 500 days, and headlining multiple WrestleManias and SummerSlams.
He also delivered unforgettable rivalries against stars such as John Cena, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and, most recently, Oba Femi.
By the time his career came to an end, Lesnar had established himself as one of the most dominant and influential performers in wrestling history.Now retired, Lesnar plans to step away from the spotlight and focus on family life.
“I’ve got some hunting lined up and I’ve got two boys in hockey. I’m going to support that, their dreams, as long as that’s feasible,” Lesnar said.
“My daughter, she’s got her eye on the 2028 Olympics. Just going to spend more time with the kids in the woods and just reap what I’ve sewn. Just enjoy life.”
For a man who conquered NCAA wrestling, WWE, and the UFC, retirement offers a well-earned opportunity to enjoy life away from the cameras.
