Surprise Name Replaced Brock Lesnar In WWE Royal Rumble
NXT Superstar Bron Breakker has been revealed as the man who replaced Brock Lesnar in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
‘The Beast Incarnate’ has been absent from WWE screens since a losing effort against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam on 5th August 2023 and was expected to make his return at the show.
Lesnar was seemingly withdrawn from the event, however, after a lawsuit brought against Vince McMahon also referenced a ‘former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract’ at the time of the alleged offences. Lesnar was not directly named in the legal filing.
Former TKO Executive Chairman McMahon faces a serious legal battle following harrowing allegations in a lawsuit brought by ex-WWE employee Janel Grant that include sex trafficking and sexual assault. The lawsuit also implicates former WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis.
Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that Lesnar had been withdrawn from the event as late as Saturday morning:
“Brock Lesnar was scheduled to return at the Rumble and actually did not. This was a change that was made because of the lawsuit, so the change was made probably Friday most likely, perhaps Saturday morning.”
Brock Lesnar Replaced By Bron Breakker At Royal Rumble
Meltzer would go on to explain his belief that WWE Producers did not alter the plans originally laid out for Lesnar at the popular Premium Live Event, instead choosing simply to substitute Breakker into the role chosen for Lesnar on the night:
“Bron Breakker was, because of that and the match was pretty much scripted out already, Bron Breakker essentially fulfilled the Brock Lesnar role.
He came in when Brock Lesnar was going to come in, he threw out the guys Brock Lesnar was going to throw out, he got thrown out exactly how Brock Lesnar was going to get thrown out.
Brock was going to be impressive, so they needed someone to fill those shoes. There weren’t a lot of guys they would’ve given that spot to.”