News

Retired WWE Star Returning To Action After 11 Years? Massive Sign Dropped

By Monika Thapa • Published Sep 20, 2025 07:18 EDT
WWE logo over blurred Corey Graves Michael Cole Pat McAfee

Tonight on SmackDown, the fans at Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, witnessed something astounding.

The show kicked off with Brock Lesnar marching down the ring while Michael Cole was heading backstage. Lesnar stopped Cole and carried him back to the ring like a rag doll to toy with him. Corey tried to save Cole from Brock Lesnar’s wrath and, unfortunately, got hurt instead. He provoked a hungry Beast and got feasted with two brutal F5s.

Yes, it was the same Corey Graves who, unfortunately, retired from in-ring competition in 2014 due to multiple concussions he suffered over a short period. WWE doctors and specialists had recommended his retirement to protect his long-term well-being. Since then, Graves had transitioned to a successful commentary career.

Corey Graves Set to Return to In-Ring Action After Brock Lesnar’s Attack on WWE SmackDown?

But did you know he was medically cleared for a wrestling return in January 2022, after being sidelined for about seven years? In an interview with TMZ in 2022, Graves revealed the doctors had finally given him the green light after undergoing injury rehab. Despite being cleared, Graves has focused on his commentary duties, especially as the lead announcer on SmackDown, and has not yet made an in-ring comeback.

“I went and spent some time with doctors middle of last year. I kinda got the itch. This is one of the first times I’m saying this publicly. I have been medically cleared to compete. It’s not an immediate goal of mine… but never say never. You can never take the wrestler out of my heart.”

His recent encounter with Brock Lesnar on Friday Night SmackDown suggests that he’s ready to take hard bumps inside the ring. What happened on SmackDown could just be a one-off thing, but it could also mean that WWE is preparing Corey Graves to get back in the ring.

Graves was seen getting checked by officials after he barely survived Brock Lesnar’s wrath. Meanwhile, The Conqueror met his former advocate, Paul Heyman, backstage on the show, who asked to have a chat with him later.

H/T to Ringside News for the quotes.