Brock Lesnar Attacks Commentators on SmackDown, Graves Sidelined

Brock Lesnar launched a sudden and violent confrontation on the September 19 episode of WWE SmackDown, attacking commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves in the ring and leaving Graves sidelined pending evaluation, broadcasters and WWE programming said. The incident unfolded near the start of the show and set the tone for a night that ended with Lesnar furthering a high-profile storyline with John Cena ahead of WrestlePalooza.

Lesnar’s appearance came after Cole and Graves announced a planned backstage interview. According to live coverage and subsequent recaps, Lesnar’s entrance interrupted the segment. He carried Cole into the ring, dropped him, and appeared to corner him before Graves entered to try to defuse the situation. Graves, who retired from in-ring competition in 2014 after a series of concussions, was instead hit with an F5, WWE’s finishing move. When medical personnel and officials came to the ring, Lesnar allegedly pushed them back and delivered a second F5 to Graves before leaving the arena, reports said. Cameras captured Lesnar confronting a ring-side cameraman and shouting that he was coming for John Cena at WrestlePalooza.

After a commercial break Lesnar was...