The rubber match between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi at SummerSlam 2026 was reportedly not WWE’s initial plan for the future Hall of Famer.
Lesnar and Femi will face off in a Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam 2026 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on the weekend of August 1–2. The two legends split their first two bouts, with Lesnar taking the series at the Clash in Italy after Fami lost at WrestleMania 42.
In the latest episode of “Self-created session” (h/t ringside news), Self Made Pro reported that WWE’s original plans for SummerSlam 2026 called for a match between Lesnar and Gunther.
The Self Made Pro also revealed that Gunther was scheduled to fight Roman Reigns earlier this year. It is unclear why WWE ended both feuds for Gunther, retiring Goldberg, John Cena and AJ Styles over a five-month period.
The Self Made Pro said, “Gunther was supposed to face Brock at SummerSlam, and Gunther was supposed to face Roman in the late spring/early summer.” “For whatever reason, there were changes to it, which changed a lot of creative things… Gunther was going to work with Roman and Brock. I don’t think it was a case of Brock saying, ‘Give me another Oba match.’ It did not happen.”
The Femi-Lesnar feud appeared to be put on hold when Femi-Lesnar won the 2026 King of the Ring tournament, guaranteeing them a World Match at SummerSlam. However, Femi said (in the story) that it would have cost Lesnar the title anyway.
Brock Lesnar may retire after SummerSlam
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Following his loss to Femi at WrestleMania 42, Lesnar signaled his retirement by taking off his shoes and gloves and leaving them in the ring. He also hugged Paul Heyman and broke character while welcoming the crowd.
Of course, Lesnar eventually returned to set up a rematch at Clash in Italy, where he was victorious. As a Minnesota native, SummerSlam 2026 would certainly be the ideal stage for Lesnar to retire.
We’ll have to wait and see if the showdown with Fayemi is actually Lesnar’s last match, but it’s hard to think of a better way for WWE to bookend the end of his career.
