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Ex-WWE Star Fires Shot At Company Over Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania Challenge

By Monika Thapa • Published Feb 25, 2026 05:21 EST
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A WWE star has reacted to Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania challenge.

The Beast Incarnate returned on the February 23 episode of WWE Raw at State Farm Arena, marking his first appearance since Royal Rumble 2026. Lesnar was accompanied by Paul Heyman, who issued an open challenge on his behalf.

Heyman declared that anyone who dared to step up to The Beast would earn an opportunity to face him at WrestleMania. He added that no one was brave enough to do so and that anyone who tried would be conquered on the grandest stage of them all.

Heyman also confirmed that Brock Lesnar will appear on the next five episodes of Raw, leading up to WrestleMania (March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6, and April 13).

According to the rumor mill, Gunther, Oba Femi, and LA Knight are among the top names currently being discussed as potential WrestleMania opponents for The Conqueror.

AJ Francis Takes Aim at WWE After Brock Lesnar Issues WrestleMania Challenge

That said, former WWE star AJ Francis, also known as Top Dolla during his time with the Stamford-based promotion, took to Twitter to take a shot at WWE over Lesnar’s WrestleMania challenge.

Francis wrote that if he accepted the challenge and wrestled Brock Lesnar in a three-minute jobbing match at WrestleMania, it would be the longest singles match of his WWE career by 30 seconds. The tweet was Francis’ way of expressing his frustration with WWE over his underwhelming run.

In the past, Francis has spoken about feeling underutilized, undervalued, and not given proper opportunities to showcase his promo and in-ring skills in WWE. He was released from his WWE contract following his second stint in September 2023.

Francis later returned for a one-off appearance on the June 3, 2025, episode of NXT, where he and KC Navarro assisted Trick Williams in retaining the TNA World Championship against Mike Santana. Currently, Francis is signed to TNA.

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