Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar appeared to bring an end to his in-ring career on Sunday night after leaving his boots and gloves in the ring following a defeat at WrestleMania 42, with tributes from across wrestling and MMA aired on Monday Night Raw.

The 48-year-old, who had remained a central figure in WWE for nearly a decade after his fighting career ended, was widely expected to retire later this year at SummerSlam in Minneapolis, rather than at the Las Vegas event.

A video package broadcast on Raw included comments from Dana White reflecting on Lesnar’s achievements in UFC, where he won the heavyweight title within four fights. “The guy comes over from the WWE,” White said in the clip. “And he actually becomes the heavyweight champion of the world. It’s impossible to do.”

Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque also paid tribute, highlighting Lesnar’s presence in the locker room. “Anything you thought was happening all goes out the window because the dynamic of the room changes when ‘The Beast’ is here,” he said.

Lesnar has not formally confirmed his retirement, but his actions at WrestleMania and absence from Raw suggest his in-ring career may be over, with any future appearances likely to be limited or non-competitive.

An NCAA wrestling champion before transitioning to professional wrestling, Lesnar became one of WWE’s most decorated performers, holding multiple world titles and winning marquee events including the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank and King of the Ring tournaments.