Brock Lesnar fighting in the Octagon is a sight that many likely thought would never be witnessed again. After all, Lesnar had apparently moved past that part of his life and seemed more than happy being a WWE Superstar once again.
But as fans prepare for UFC 200, it’s obvious that Brock is perfectly happy being whatever he wants to be. He’s not in this for the glory, or the prestige. He’s in this because he is indeed a prizefighter, and no matter what happens on July 9, his star will not be negatively impacted in WWE.
How many guys can lay claim to this? How many guys can take a break from WWE, go to another very public medium, and then be accepted back as if they never left? With the exception of The Rock, Brock may be the only one that can boast of such popularity.
Whether he wants to admit it or not, he is insanely popular. He may not be in the game for the praise and adulation of the crowd, but that is exactly what he gets all the time. It’s also what he will get when he does eventually come back to Vince McMahon’s company.
WWE is his home, and that’s the way it is. Fans know this, and they respond in kind. The WWE faithful are loyal to those that are loyal to them. This is especially true in the case of Brock Lesnar, though he has attempted to sabotage his own WWE career many times in the past.
Truth be told, he shouldn’t be over as a babyface. He’s not always said nice things about WWE, or its fan base. But fans love winners, and Brock is definitely a winner. Fans also happen to have short term memories when it comes to who turned on them in the past.
All that really matters is the here and now. Fans know they can depend on Brock to get in the ring and completely annihilate anyone that stands in his way. It’s how he does business, and it works for him better than any other method he could possibly use. He’s an animal, and that’s what fans want from him. Anything less and they would be very disappointed.
The connection to big names is important, and it’s key to making WWE successful. Without that connection, the talent would never get over and the company would eventually go out of business. Much like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Triple H, Brock has that connection.
Fans know what they’re going to get, and they know Lesnar is the best at giving it to them. In an environment in which Roman Reigns can’t get over, and John Cena insists on applauding his haters, it’s comforting for fans to know they can depend on Lesnar to always deliver. He’s no nonsense, and all he wants is to destroy. It’s what he does best.
So why in the world would anyone actually believe that fighting in UFC once again would actually tarnish Brock’s reputation? This is a win for him, as trucks full of money are currently backing up into his front door. It’s also a win for WWE, as the company is receiving massive amounts of publicity right now.
Brock is their talent, and he’s on loan to UFC.
That fact alone should be enough to make everyone in the McMahon family smile a little bit more than usual. The Beast Incarnate is WWE’s guy, and he wears that mantle everywhere he goes. Fans watching UFC 200 on July 9 will know it. Fans watching SummerSlam on August 21 will know it as well.
Brock is the most valuable crossover star from WWE to UFC that fans have ever seen. Unless CM Punk makes a massive splash in the sport and wins every fight, no one will be able to change that. So whether he wins or loses at UFC 200, WWE can make it work either way.
Mark Hunt is no joke. He’s a powerful striker, and Lesnar has developed a notorious reputation of not liking to be hit on the face. Combined with the fact that he’s not fought in the Octagon since 2011, Brock may indeed be conquered on July 9.
If he does lose though, then he could return to WWE as the biggest heel that the company has ever seen. Paul Heyman could spin the loss to his advantage as only he can, and fans could see right through it all. Brock could be as nasty and as vile as he’s ever been, but he would still be as popular as he ever was before.
Of course if he wins, then he could return to WWE as the biggest babyface in recent memory. Just the fact that he walked into UFC after a five-year absence, won his first fight back, then walked right back to WWE, would instantly get him over like never before.
He would be the most dominant athlete in WWE history, and that’s a mantle many fans already believe he’s earned. Even if WWE did not have a solid plan for his character upon his return, it would make no difference; Brock will get over the moment he appears on WWE TV again.
He’s been called The Anomaly for a reason, because no matter what he does, he’s still over. He’s perceived to be a real fighter because he is. He’s believed to be in it for the money, and he is. He’s perhaps the most unlikely pro wrestler WWE has seen, but he’s one of the best entertainers the company has ever known.
In a nutshell, Brock Lesnar is over and nothing that happens at UFC 200 will change that.
Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Sportskeeda. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
