Jim Ross doesn’t believe Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania 42 moment was the end. The WWE Hall of Famer made it clear that the company likely hasn’t seen the last of The Beast.
While speaking on Grilling JR, Ross was asked about Lesnar’s legacy and whether the boots-in-the-ring moment at WrestleMania 42 signaled a real retirement. The conversation quickly turned into a strong defense of Lesnar’s long-term value and the idea that major matches still remain on the table.
Ross first reflected on how confident he was in Lesnar from the moment he signed him. He explained that he immediately saw something different compared to other rookies.
I knew he was that special, Conrad. My God, I mean, just look at him. And he carried himself like a champion. He’s a big brute. He’s intimidating looking. I paid him more money than I ever paid any rookie. So he was that special,” Ross said.
Lesnar’s Future in WWE
Despite the emotional boots-in-the-ring moment at WrestleMania 42, Ross made it clear he does not believe Lesnar is fully finished with WWE appearances. Ross addressed the idea that Lesnar’s time might only be changing rather than ending completely.
Have we seen the last of Brock Lesnar? Hell no, no way. Have we seen the last of Brock Lesnar as a semi-reoccurring character on TV? I think so. But I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him,” Ross said.
Ross suggested Lesnar could return for WrestleMania or other major events. He even pitched a potential rematch with Oba Femi, noting that their previous encounter doesn’t rule out a future showdown.
For WrestleMania next year or major events, they’ve got somebody. I think if you project that Brock Lesnar returned to fight Oba Femi, let’s say. I know they fought already. That means nothing to me. If you’re good at what you do for a living, you should be able to do it more often than once and kick ass. And I’m sure those two guys could do that,” Ross said.
Dream Match With Gunther
The conversation then shifted toward one of the biggest dream matches WWE has yet to deliver: Brock Lesnar versus Gunther. The matchup has been rumored for years, and Ross made it clear he believes WWE should save it for the biggest possible stage.
That’s a match that has to be booked somewhere. I don’t see that before WrestleMania. That’s a WrestleMania match, not SummerSlam, not Royal Rumble. It’s a WrestleMania match,” Ross said.
Ross emphasized that the foundation for the match is already in place. He compared it to building a castle where only the finishing touches remain.
It’s already half-assed built. It’s like building a castle. You’re now just putting the finishing touches on it because the foundation is laid. That would be a great match. One of your tent poles for next year’s WrestleMania. And it would sell like a sumbitch, especially in Minneapolis, where Lesnar calls home,” Ross said.
Lesnar leaving his boots in the ring at WrestleMania 42 created plenty of speculation about whether his career had reached its end. Moments like that have historically signaled retirement in WWE, but Ross’ comments suggest the company could still be holding onto Lesnar for select major events rather than weekly appearances.
If Ross is right, fans may not have to wait forever to see Lesnar back in action, especially if WWE decides to finally deliver the long-discussed showdown with Gunther on the grandest stage.
