WWE Raw Fallout: Why Brock Lesnar's Return Is Exactly What Oba Femi Needed
The wrestling world is again buzzing. If you include AAA, WWE is set to produce four weekend special events before May is out. The May 18 edition of WWE Raw heated things up in a way that made it feel like WrestleMania season again.
Brock Lesnar is back. After seemingly retiring, Lesnar returned and took out the man who beat him: Oba Femi. In my estimation, this is the best move for Oba, Brock, and WWE's bottom line. Lesnar is still a draw-even if just through the summer. Oba was teetering on becoming stale, and the obstacle of The Beast gives fans a reason to cheer The Ruler.
Oba Femi Needed a Real Obstacle
The problem wasn't that Oba Femi wasn't winning-it's that he was winning too easily.
His open challenge had started to drift toward repetition. Dominance without resistance rarely sustains fan investment, especially for a rising star who hasn't yet been tested at the highest level. WWE even acknowledged that reality on the May 11 edition of Raw, when no one stepped up to challenge him. When Los Garzas eventually did-by force-it only reinforced the point. There simply wasn't a credible threat on the roster.
That's where things can turn quickly. Fans don't turn on winners-they turn on predictability. And Oba was getting dangerously close to that line.
Why Brock Lesnar Changes Everything
Brock Lesnar instantly solves that problem.
Real babyfaces-or breakout stars-need resistance. They need a moment where the audience isn't sure what's going to happen next. Lesnar provides that in a way no one else on the roster currently can, especially with Roman Reigns fully engaged in a high-level feud with Jacob Fatu.
That match is clearly being protected, likely for a stage like SummerSlam. It's a long-term play. Oba needed something immediate.
Lesnar gives him that-and more. His presence alone elevates the segment, the feud, and the perception of everyone involved.
What This Means for Clash in Italy
With WWE Clash in Italy approaching, an Oba Femi loss might be the better story.
If Brock Lesnar gets the upper hand in Turin-whether through a decisive victory or simply standing tall-it immediately sets up a rubber match later in the summer. That's where the real payoff could come, on another stage like Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia or Saturday Night's Main Event at Madison Square Garden.
For Oba Femi, that kind of arc matters more than a single win. It's the difference between being dominant and being tested.
He doesn't need to beat Lesnar again right away.
Ask Cody Rhodes-an underdog story goes a long way.
Related: WWE Saturday Night's Main Event (May 23): Full Card, Start Time & How to Watch Live
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 9:55 AM.