Brock Lesnar Will Return To WWE Raw Next Week, Regardless Of His Standing With MMA

Brock Lesnar hasn’t been seen on WWE television since WrestleMania 32 back in April. In the interim, he has made his successful return to the UFC following a five-year hiatus, failed a pair of drug tests that could have serious ramifications on his MMA career going forward, been given a marquee match against Randy Orton at SummerSlam and been selected No. 8 overall in last week’s WWE Draft.

Now that Lesnar is exclusive to Raw, it was only a matter of time before he popped up on his brand. It turns out he’ll be back on television sooner rather than later, as WWE announced during Monday night’s episode of Raw that the Beast Incarnate will return next week.

Yes, Lesnar is back, despite some possibly bad news hanging over his head as a result of his failed tests and any punishment the USADA sees fit to dole out. None of his record-breaking UFC 200 purse will be touched, but he could very well face sanctions or a suspension from competing in MMA.

Also still up in the air: whether Lesnar will be accompanied by his advocate, Paul Heyman. Heyman was not drafted to either brand, or attached to Lesnar like other managers and valets were attached to their clients in the rest of the WWE Draft. Heyman’s contract with WWE has expired, but the two sides are expected to work out a new deal shortly. Let’s hope it happens before next Monday, because a Brock Lesnar appearance just isn’t the same without Paul Heyman.