Paul Heyman was caught off guard by Brock Lesnar’s retirement at WrestleMania 42, and he wants everyone to know it.
Lesnar lost to Femi in the opening match of WrestleMania 42 Night Two at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in what turned out to be a star-making moment for the rising wrestler. Femi has since been positioned to do open challenges on Monday Night Raw.
Speaking with TMZ, Heyman addressed the contradiction between his pre-WrestleMania comments, in which he told the same outlet that Lesnar intended to dominate for the next 15 years, and what actually unfolded when Lesnar lost to Oba Femi on Night Two and left his gloves and boots in the ring in what appeared to be a farewell gesture.
“If I knew he was gonna retire, would I have gone on record saying he was gonna dominate for the next 15 years? I was crying. Am I that good of an actor that I can cry on cue? Not I.”
WWE has since moved Lesnar to the alumni section of its website, the clearest official indication that his in-ring career with the company is over. Whether Lesnar’s retirement is permanent or follows the pattern of previous career breaks remains to be seen, but for now, the company is treating it as final.