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Brock Lesnar lays down his gloves and boots after WrestleMania 42 loss to Oba Femi, signaling retirement
TL;DR
Brock Lesnar seemingly retired from wrestling after losing to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42. He left his gloves and boots in the ring, marking an emotional farewell to fans.
Key points
- Brock Lesnar lost to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42
- He left his gloves and boots in the ring
- Lesnar had an emotional farewell with fans and Paul Heyman
Mentioned in this story
Paul Heyman
Brock LesnarOba FemiWrestleMania 42
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Brock Lesnar appeared to retire from wrestling at Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 on Sunday. After losing to Oba Femi to kick off the event, an emotional Lesnar removed his gloves and boots, leaving them in the center of the ring.
Lesnar, nearly in tears, stood in the ring and raised his arms to the fans before sharing an embrace with longtime manager Paul Heyman. Lesnar took a few more minutes in the ring before walking out, uncharacteristically taking time to shake the hands of fans at ringside.
Brock Lesnar leaves his gear in the ring. What's next for The Beast?
The FIRST HOUR of #WrestleMania is LIVE RIGHT NOW on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/CkS4hoG231
— WWE (@WWE) April 19, 2026
Lesnar transitioned from a highly successful collegiate wrestling career to professional wrestling, starting in WWE developmental territory in 2000 before debuting in WWE in 2002. He became the youngest wrestler to hold a WWE world championship when he defeated The Rock at SummerSlam that August at 25 years old.
Lesnar left WWE after WrestleMania XX, competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling briefly before transitioning to a mixed martial arts career that saw him quickly enter the UFC where he won the heavyweight championship in 2008, defeating legendary mixed martial artist Randy Couture in what was just Lesnar's fourth professional fight.
Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012 where he remained a major player. He stayed with the promotion until retiring in 2020, but made a return as a part-time wrestler in 2021.
Lesnar held the WWE championship seven times, in addition to three reigns as world heavyweight champion. He also won two Royal Rumbles and is a former King of the Ring tournament and Money in the Bank ladder match winner.
Q&A
Why did Brock Lesnar retire after WrestleMania 42?
Brock Lesnar appeared to retire following his loss to Oba Femi, as he left his gloves and boots in the ring, signaling the end of his wrestling career.
What was Brock Lesnar's emotional moment at WrestleMania 42?
After his defeat, Lesnar was visibly emotional, raising his arms to the fans and embracing his manager, Paul Heyman, before leaving the ring.
What does Brock Lesnar's retirement mean for WWE?
Lesnar's retirement could signify a major shift in WWE, as he has been a prominent figure in the wrestling world for years, leaving fans to wonder about the future of the promotion.
