Brock Lesnar hints retirement after WrestleMania loss against Oba Femi

LAS VEGAS: The former WWE and UFC champion Brock Lesnar has left fans guessing as he sparked retirement speculation on Sunday night following a surprising loss at WrestleMania 42 against Oba Femi.

In what was billed as a clash between eras, Lesnar faced rising powerhouse Oba Femi on night two of the marquee event. However, the contest turned into a stunning upset, with Femi overcoming Lesnar in under five minutes.

The turning point came when Lesnar delivered his trademark F5, only for Femi to quickly recover, an uncommon sight against the dominant veteran.

Moments later, Femi responded with a powerful slam followed by a decisive powerbomb to secure the pinfall victory, handing Lesnar a rare and emphatic defeat.

What followed inside the ring added further weight to retirement rumours. Lesnar remained in the ring after the match, soaking in the atmosphere before removing his gloves and boots, gestures traditionally associated with a wrestler signalling the end of their career.

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Longtime advocate Paul Heyman joined him in the ring, sharing an emotional embrace as the crowd erupted in “Thank You Brock” chants.

Lesnar acknowledged the fans, saluted the arena, and even took time to personally thank those at ringside before exiting.

In a final symbolic act, he kissed the ring canvas, an image that many interpreted as a farewell moment for one of the industry’s most dominant figures.

Lesnar’s legacy spans over two decades, during which he established himself as a once-in-a-generation athlete. A multiple-time world champion in WWE, he also enjoyed success in mixed martial arts, becoming a UFC heavyweight champion.

His accolades include seven WWE Championship reigns, three Universal titles, a King of the Ring (2002) triumph, a Money in the Bank (2019) win, and two Royal Rumble victories in 2003 and 2022.

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WWE legend John Cena announces retirement from in-ring competition

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) legend John Cena on Friday announced his retirement from in-ring competition in 2025.

The wrestling superstar surprised everyone with the announcement during his appearance at the WWE Money in the Bank event, held in Toronto, Canada.

“Why am I here? Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” Cena addressed the crowd.

“This farewell, it does not end tonight,” he added. “It is filled with opportunity. Everybody, Raw makes history next year when it moves to Netflix. I’ve never been a part of Raw on Netflix, that is history. That is a first, and I will be there.”

“And along with that history-making first, we are going to build so many unforgettable lasts. The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last. The 2025 Elimination Chamber will be my last. And I’m here tonight to announce that in Las Vegas, WrestleMania 2025 will be the last WrestleMania I compete in,” continued Cena.

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“What an incredible gesture of kindness,” he said as fans chanted “thank you Cena”.

Donning a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “The Last Time is Now” John Cena thanked WWE fans for “letting me play in the house that you built for so many years”.

The wrestler-turned-actor is considered one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time. He made his WWE debut in 2001 and went on to win a record 16 World Championships.

He shares the record with the legendary wrestler ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair.

Cena is also a four-time tag-team champion and won the United States (US) championship on five occasions.

The decorated wrestler made his acting debut in The Marine back in 2006. He went on to work in hit films like Bumblebee, Fast 9, The Suicide Squad, Fast X, Barbie, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

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