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wwe star brock lesnar has decided to call it a day, hanging up his wrestling boots following his summerslam loss to oba femi over the weekend.
on tuesday, the 49-year-old former wwe and ufc heavyweight champion announced his retirement on the pat mcafee show.
“i’m here today to do this interview to let the world and everybody know that i am retired, and i wanted to say a big thank you to everybody,” lesnar told mcafee.
“saturday, for brock lesnar, that’s it for me,” lesnar added. “that’s it for me in the squared circle and everything else too.”
there were rumours that lesnar would retire after losing to the rookie femi at wrestlemania earlier this year. following the match, lesnar took off his fighting gloves and boots and left them in the ring.
however, lesnar returned in may for a second match with femi at wwe clash in italy, in which he emerged victorious.
saturday’s loss at summerslam signified the proverbial passing of the torch from lesnar to femi, with lesnar calling his opponent “the future” of professional wrestling.
“this is the past,” lesnar said, pointing to himself, before pointing to femi and raising his hand. “this is the future.”
what’s next for lesnar?
in his interview with mcafee, lesnar thanked fans, coaches and others who were instrumental in his career, which included stints in professional wrestling, football and mixed martial arts.
“i was just a farm kid from south dakota with a big dream and a big heart and a big-ass chip on my shoulder,” lesnar said.
when asked what he had planned next, lesnar said he’s going to support the athletic endeavours of his children, which include two sons, turk and duke, who are hockey players, and daughter mya, an accomplished shot putter who aspires to compete at the 2028 summer olympics.
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“just going to spend some more time with the kids and in the woods and reap what i’ve sown, man. you know, just enjoy life,” lesnar told mcafee.
originally from webster, south dakota, lesnar said he also plans on hunting in his current home near maryfield, sask., where he’s lived since the 2010s.
lesnar career accomplishments
lesnar attended the university of minnesota on a wrestling scholarship. in 2000, he won the ncaa national heavyweight championship in amateur wrestling as a member of the minnesota golden gophers.
soon after, lesnar moved on to professional wrestling, joining the wwe in 2000. between 2002 and 2004, lesnar was a force on wwe television, winning the wwe championship three times.
after wrestlemania xx in 2004, lesnar left the wwe to pursue a career in professional football. lesnar had a great showing at the nfl combine that year and signed with the minnesota vikings, playing in several preseason games as a defensive tackle. the vikings released lesnar later that same year.
lesnar briefly returned to professional wrestling with a stint in new japan pro wrestling from 2005-07. he then joined the ultimate fighting championship in 2008, winning the ufc heavyweight championship and accumulating a record of 5-3-1.
he returned to the wwe for a second stint in 2012 and made regular appearances for the company until his retirement.
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