Ex-WWE Manager Predicts Brock Lesnar Retirement in 2026

Dutch Mantell believes Lesnar's WrestleMania 42 match could be a sign of his impending retirement.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:40am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, breaking down a wrestling match between two figures into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of color, with no recognizable faces or identities.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes clash between veteran Brock Lesnar and rising star Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42, hinting at the potential end of Lesnar's storied career.Minneapolis Today

Former WWE manager Dutch Mantell believes Brock Lesnar could retire from wrestling by the end of 2026, with his match at WrestleMania 42 potentially being a key indicator. Mantell suggested that if Lesnar loses to Oba Femi at WrestleMania, it could signal the beginning of the end of Lesnar's in-ring career.

Why it matters

Brock Lesnar is one of the biggest stars in WWE history, and his potential retirement would be a major event for the company and its fans. Lesnar's future has been a topic of speculation for years, and Mantell's prediction adds further intrigue to the situation.

The details

Lesnar recently gave a rare out-of-character interview, leading many to believe the end of his career is near. WrestleMania 42 will mark Lesnar's return to WWE's biggest event after last competing there in 2023, as well as Oba Femi's first match at WrestleMania. Some have also suggested Lesnar could retire at WWE SummerSlam 2026, which will take place in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  • Lesnar last competed at WrestleMania in 2023.
  • WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for 2026.
  • WWE SummerSlam 2026 will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lesnar's hometown.

The players

Brock Lesnar

A former WWE Champion and one of the biggest stars in the company's history.

Dutch Mantell

A former WWE manager who has predicted Lesnar's potential retirement.

Oba Femi

A wrestler who is set to face Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.

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What they’re saying

“If (Oba Femi) beats him, yeah, I would say that that is a key that Brock is going to finish up before the year is out.”

— Dutch Mantell, Former WWE Manager

What’s next

Fans will have to wait until WrestleMania 42 in 2026 to see if Lesnar's match against Oba Femi provides any clues about his potential retirement.

The takeaway

Brock Lesnar's future in WWE remains a topic of intense speculation, and Dutch Mantell's prediction that the former champion could retire by the end of 2026 adds further intrigue to the situation. Lesnar's match at WrestleMania 42 and the possibility of a retirement at SummerSlam in his hometown of Minneapolis will be closely watched by WWE fans.