“No,” Said Brock Lesnar — And That Set Off A Storm at the 2025 Royal Rumble
By [Fan brock lesner]
Date: August 16, 2025
In the Eye of the Storm
At the 2022 WWE Royal Rumble, a startling exchange unfolded behind the curtain. As wrestlers prepped for the marquee men’s match, Brock Lesnar, fresh from a high-profile return and a shot at the WWE Championship, reportedly turned down a request from Shane McMahon with a curt “No.” The revelation, brought forward by Matt Riddle in an interview with TMZ Sports and later transcribed by Sportskeeda Wrestling, has reignited debate over creative control and backstage tensions within WWE.
What Matt Riddle Heard
Matt Riddle, who was in the locker room at the time, recounted the moment in a candid reflection. He says Lesnar strode in saying, “I just did business for Bobby Lashley. You guys are all going to do business for me,” asserting his dominance in the lead-up to the match. When Shane McMahon attempted to orchestrate a lift or “spot” in the match, Lesnar’s terse “No” effectively shut down any request from the WWE executive––and the later-on-screen talent.
Creative Clash: Shane, Vince, and The Beast
Long before that curt refusal, WWE insiders had chronicled a growing creative rift. Shane McMahon, serving as a producer for the men’s Royal Rumble match, was accused of trying to position himself as the match’s focal point. Reports described Shane’s behavior as “unprofessional,” as he pushed to build the match around himself—drawing ire from both Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar.
According to outlets like Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer via Fightful, Shane’s ambition fueled friction:
Vince repeatedly vetoed Shane’s proposals, siding with Lesnar on key creative decisions.
Lesnar, wanting to preserve his dominant in-ring persona, clashed with Shane over the match’s closing stages.
Shane reportedly botched a key elimination spot with Lesnar — failing to climb over the top rope on the first attempt, forcing a redo, which only magnified backstage frustration.
Fallout: A Swift Exit
The backlash was swift and severe. Within days, Shane McMahon was quietly removed from WWE’s on-screen plans. Reportedly, all involvement in subsequent storylines—including at Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania—was scrapped. The manner of his removal was described as abrupt, with company leadership giving little explanation publicly.
Some close to the situation painted Shane’s conduct as crossing a line. One insider remarked, “He was unprofessional the likes of which left VKM [Vincent Kennedy McMahon] no options but to fire him.”
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