For over two decades Brock Lesnar has been one of the biggest draws and dominant athletes in both pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. But at 49 years of age and coming off an epic clash at SummerSlam, Lesnar is hanging up the gloves.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Lesnar briefly announced that his match against Oba Femi on Saturday was his last and that he's retired.
"I'm here today to let the world know that I am retired and I wanted to say a big thank you to everybody..." Lesnar said. "That was it for me on Saturday and I'm very grateful for everything."
Fans quickly took to X to thank Lesnar for his years of contributions to pro wrestling and expressed hope that it isn't truly the last they've seen of him in the ring.
"Thank you Legend for everything, you're really make us happy by watching you on stage WWE have a wonderful retirement," one user wrote on X.
"Imagine casually ending one of the most dominant combat sports runs in history with a two sentence statement and logging off forever," another remarked.
"You need him every once in a while to come break some tables. Whaat. Have a beer whaat. Sing a country tune. Whaat. Thanks Brock. Been my dude for 24 years," wrote a third.
"Thank you Brock, Hall of Famer & one of the greatest to step into the sport."
The Beast Incarnate
Lesnar is one of the most accomplished crossover athletes in combat sports history, achieving championship success in amateur wrestling, professional wrestling, and mixed martial arts. After winning the 2000 NCAA Division I heavyweight wrestling championship at the University of Minnesota, Lesnar signed with WWE and quickly became the youngest WWE Champion at the time by defeating The Rock in 2002.
Over multiple runs with the company, he captured numerous world championships, headlined several WrestleMania events, ended The Undertaker's legendary WrestleMania undefeated streak, and built a reputation as "The Beast Incarnate." His combination of size, athleticism, and legitimate wrestling credentials made him one of WWE's biggest attractions and highest-profile performers.
Lesnar successfully transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2007, joining the UFC despite limited professional experience. He won the UFC Heavyweight Championship in just his fourth professional fight by defeating Randy Couture in 2008 and defended the title twice before health issues, including diverticulitis, derailed his career.
Lesnar retired from MMA in 2011 but briefly returned for UFC 200 in 2016, where his victory over Mark Hunt was later overturned to a no contest after he tested positive for a banned substance. Across WWE and the UFC, Lesnar became one of the few athletes to headline major pay-per-view events in both sports, cementing his legacy as one of the most dominant and commercially successful combat sports stars of the 21st century.
