Clarification On Note About Brock Lesnar & Oba Femi Main Eventing WWE SummerSlam Night One

A new report has a clarification on the “belief” that Brock Lesnar pushed for his match with Oba Femi to main event night one of WWE SummerSlam. As noted, Mike Johnson said in a Q&A this morning at PWInsider that the belief was that Lesnar had pushed to main event the show. Lesnar often works the opening match for PLEs, but with the show being in Minneapolis, he did not have as far to travel to get home after the show.

Johnson posted an addendum on Sunday clarifying the matter, as the reports spread on social media and were apparently “twisted” elsewhere. He noted that sources with direct knowledge of the company’s creative on Sunday stated that the original plan was for Hell in the Cell to open the first night of SummerSlam. However, over the course of the week, the decision was made to have the match close the show because of the marquee value of Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell match in his home market of Minneapolis. Those sources also stated that, to the best of their information, Lesnar was not involved in any changes made to the match order or formatting of the PLE.

For 100% clarity, Johnson’s original comments read in verbatim, with the “he” meaning Lesnar, “He’s pretty much in his home market when he’s in Minneapolis, so not as far to travel. The belief among those we spoke to yesterday is Lesnar pushed to close the show.”

Femi defeated Lesnar in the match, and Lesnar gave his opponent a show of respect before leaving.