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WWE Superstar Makes Shocking Return From Hiatus

WWE Superstar Makes Shocking Return From Hiatus

Newsweek3 days ago
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A WWE star has made his return to programming after being away from television for over a month. Brooks Jensen, who was violently kicked out of his faction in June, reemerged last night with a new brand and a new target.
Instead of returning to NXT, Jensen made his surprise debut on the new WWE Evolve brand, which airs every Wednesday night on Tubi. He made an immediate and violent impact in the show's main event.
A Shocking Debut On 'Evolve'
The main event of the July 16th episode of Evolve saw Jackson Drake retain the WWE Evolve Championship against the veteran Lince Dorado.
After the match, as Drake was celebrating, he was attacked from behind by a returning Brooks Jensen. The attack established Jensen as a new threat on the brand and made it clear he is coming for the Evolve Championship.
The move to Evolve gives Jensen a fresh start. He joins other former NXT TV regulars like Ridge Holland, Dante Chen, and Wendy Choo, who have also moved to the new brand to reinvent themselves.
WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
BROOKS JENSEN just attacked WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake
Jensen has been off NXT TV for weeks after being kicked out of The Cullingpic.twitter.com/jaBGeejQkP — WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) July 17, 2025
Kicked Out Of The Culling
Jensen's last appearance was on NXT in early June. At the time, he was a member of the dark, gothic faction known as The Culling.
In a shocking segment, the group's matriarch, Izzi Dame, ordered the other members to hold Jensen as she blasted him from behind with a steel chair. Dame declared that Jensen was being removed from the group because he was not fully committed to their cause.
This turn came after Jensen had previously abandoned his longtime tag team partner, Josh Briggs, to join the heel faction. Now, he finds himself on his own on a new brand.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Crowds cheer at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Crowds cheer at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City.
The Evolve brand has a rich history in professional wrestling. Before being purchased by WWE in 2020, Evolve Wrestling was one of the most respected independent promotions in the world, known for its athletic, hard-hitting style.
It served as a launching pad for dozens of future WWE stars, including Drew McIntyre, Johnny Gargano, and Matt Riddle.
WWE has revived the name for its new show on Tubi, creating a brand with a grittier, more "super-indie" feel than the main NXT product. It provides a platform for talent who may not be in a primary storyline on NXT to develop their characters and get consistent in-ring time.
For Brooks Jensen, the son of former WWE star Bull Buchanan, it's a new opportunity to make a name for himself.
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