Brock Lesnar is officially out of retirement. The Beast Incarnate returned during Monday's Raw in Greensboro, ambushed Oba Femi during his open challenge segment, and the night closed with WWE putting a rematch on paper for Clash in Italy.



Lesnar's WrestleMania 42 loss to Femi had been treated as a career-ending moment. After dropping the opener on Night Two at Allegiant Stadium, he removed his gloves and boots and left them in the ring, the universally recognized goodbye in pro wrestling. He had not been seen on WWE television in the month since.

That story changed in a hurry. As Femi entered the ring for his open challenge, Lesnar attacked him from behind and connected with four F5s before WWE cut backstage.



Adam Pearce told Paul Heyman that he had already filed Lesnar's retirement paperwork after WrestleMania 42. Heyman responded by sliding a fresh contract across the desk, calling it the "biggest rematch" in WWE history and locking in Lesnar vs. Femi for Clash in Italy on May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.

The reversal flips a story Heyman himself had publicly endorsed. He claimed last month that he had no idea Lesnar was going to retire at WrestleMania, and Lesnar's WWE.com profile was quietly moved to the alumni section after the show.

The booking also resolves a creative problem WWE had been working around. Last week's Raw saw Pearce cancel Femi's open challenge entirely after nobody in the locker room was willing to step up. Lesnar answering it himself gives Femi the only credible opponent the angle could realistically produce.



Lesnar vs. Femi joins Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the Undisputed WWE Championship on the Clash in Italy card. That title match was arranged through the long-teased favor Heyman owed the Ring General.

Clash in Italy is WWE's first ever Premium Live Event on Italian soil, taking place Sunday, May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. The show streams live on .