# @wrestlingnewsco on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DYhyZJAgPYZ
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/65738420-wrestlingnewsco-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/4121f38092.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-19T17:03:26.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Wrestling News - WWE, AEW (@wrestlingnewsco) — https://gondola.cc/wrestlingnewsco

## Caption

Bully Ray says Brock Lesnar's return to Raw was only a surprise if you ignored the fact that WWE never actually announced him as retired, pointing out the company's own post-WrestleMania language deliberately left the door open.

Speaking on the Busted Open podcast, Bully Ray noted that the retirement assumption was entirely fan-driven. 

"The WWE never touted Brock Lesnar is officially retired. As a matter of fact, they were saying 'what's next for Brock Lesnar,' and I find that a very interesting choice of words post WrestleMania."

Lesnar left his boots and MMA gloves in the ring after losing to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42 in what appeared to be a retirement gesture. WWE also quietly moved his profile to the alumni section of WWE.com, though PWInsider reported this week that he was still internally listed as an active performer and considered a free agent.

Bully Ray said both of those signals were consistent with a return always being on the table. "He never said I'm retiring. We just speculated it. You could always bait a person in. He got beat. What better way to sucker someone in than to make them believe you have retired?"

He also laid out what he believes Brock's return promo should say. "I never retired. I never said I was retired. All of you people said I was retired. You all speculated, but I never said it, and unless I say it, it doesn't mean anything. So now I'm officially saying it. And I will officially retire if you can defeat me, Oba Femi, at SummerSlam in Minneapolis."

Paul Heyman appeared backstage on Raw and presented Oba Femi with a contract for Clash in Italy already signed by Brock Lesnar. Oba's signature is the only one outstanding.

#BrockLesnar #WWE #ObaFemi #BullyRay #ProWrestling

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 10,305
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 283

## Tags

bullyray, prowrestling, obafemi, brocklesnar, wwe

---
Copyright (c) Gondola