Brock Lesnar Discusses ‘Tough’ 2004-2006, Recalls Vince McMahon Suing Him & Dealing With The IRS

Lesnar credited those who kept him strong at the time.

A new interview with Brock Lesnar was rolled out by Spittin’ Chiclets, and among the subjects they touched on was Lesnar’s life after he left the WWE in 2004.

Lesnar stated that it was a rough stretch of his life. He spoke about the opportunity with the NFL Minnesota Vikings and being cut during the pre-season. He said he appreciates the organization for giving him the opportunity.

He stated that things got tough, and he was having to deal with the I.R.S., went through a custody battle, and was facing a lawsuit from former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon over a non-compete. Lesnar went to New Japan Pro-Wrestling the year after he left WWE.

“They gave me the opportunity because I was a hometown hero there already, and they did me a huge solid by at least giving me the opportunity and then, that kind of turned into a reality as I got into camp and I was doing alright and then they wanted to send me to Europe and I just — I’d already been on the road for four years at this point.

I got cut from the Vikings… The I.R.S. showed up at my doorstep. I was in a custody battle for the kid, for my daughter, and I was getting sued by Vince McMahon for a non-compete. It was a tough time in my life, from ‘04 to ‘06, and so, there was people and I won’t mention — that had helped me through those times, and I was able to get on my feet again, and I thank ‘em a lot and they know who they are but, they helped me out and got me stable and they believed in me.”

Vince McMahon is facing a sex trafficking lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant. Lesnar was named in that suit.

After being named in the suit, Lesnar was subsequently pulled from the WWE Supercard mobile game and the cover of WWE 2K24’s 40 Years of WrestleMania cover. The lawsuit noted that former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon instructed Janel Grant to create sexual content for Lesnar. When Lesnar agreed to a new WWE contract, McMahon allegedly told Grant that part of the agreement was that Lesnar got to have sex with her. The suit notes that Lesnar attempted to set up a meeting between him and Grant and also requested that she send a video of herself urinating.

Lesnar returned to WWE in August 2025 at the SummerSlam Premium Live Event.

If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Spittin’ Chiclets with an H/T to Fightful for the transcriptions.