5 Times WWE Superstars surprisingly let their contracts expire

#1 The world found out Brock Lesnar's WWE contract had expired in 2020 when all of his merchandise was removed from the company's website

It doesn't get any more INTENSE than @JohnCena vs. @BrockLesnar! #WWENetwork #WWENOC #WWEClash pic.twitter.com/yC932l54rC

— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) December 15, 2017

Brock Lesnar is one of the most imposing superstars ever to step foot in a WWE ring. The Beast Incarnate is also an eight-time world champion within the company, having held the WWE Championship five times and the Universal Championship on three occasions during his career.

For all of his accomplishments inside the squared circle, though, Lesnar has never had a sentimental attachment to professional wrestling. Growing up on a farm in Webster, South Dakota, Lesnar openly admitted he was not a WWE fan as a kid.

In truth, the 43-year-old competes for financial gain, whether that be in a WWE ring or the UFC Octagon - where he was also a heavyweight champion.

“If there’s someone that interests him, if there’s a huge box office appeal for something that Brock can sink his teeth into, he is a beast that will always rise to the occasion.”@HeymanHustle tells @arielhelwani what it would take to motivate @BrockLesnar to return to MMA. pic.twitter.com/fXtEjfbwGo

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 15, 2020

Reportedly WWE's highest-paid superstar at the time of his last appearance for the company, Lesnar has always been compensated very well for a limited schedule of dates.

Lesnar's last WWE appearance took place in March 2020, during the taping of WrestleMania 36, where he dropped the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre. It was widely expected that he would take some time away from the company once the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, with Lesnar's large cost not making financial sense while WWE is producing shows without a live audience.

What nobody saw coming, though, was that Lesnar would leave WWE entirely.

In late August 2020, all of Lesnar's merchandise was suddenly removed from the WWE Shop website. Although The Beast Incarnate was not present on WWE television, he still sold a considerable amount of merchandise - making the decision to remove from sale a strange one.

Within 24 hours, it was revealed that Lesnar's WWE contract had expired - and that no new deal could be reached.

As surprising as this news was, the fact that Lesnar still remains a free agent some eight months later might be an even bigger shock. Time will tell if Lesnar will ever return to WWE.