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For the first time since his stunning return to WWE in 2012, Brock Lesnar will reportedly not be a part of SummerSlam. It wouldn't have made sense for WWE to pay an astronomical amount for a larger-than-life figure like Lesnar to wrestle without a live audience, especially considering challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Beast Incarnate will probably not return to WWE at least until fans are able to attend live events again. There is no telling when that will be but for the sake of this article, as an estimate, the end of the year might be the earliest point where fans may be able to attend, albeit in a socially-distant manner.
Hopefully, fans are back in attendance at the latest latest by the Royal Rumble. WWE would also love to have their biggest star back, with several possibilities for him upon his return. Brock Lesnar is one of the best pro wrestlers in the business and when he feels it, hardly anybody comes close.
The Beast Incarnate will need to return to WWE with a bang. Here are five interesting ways the company could bring Brock Lesnar back on WWE TV.
#5 Brock Lesnar returns as a surprise entrant at the Royal Rumble
There is a good chance that the first show back with a live audience in some capacity is next year's Royal Rumble, the one pay-per-view that desperately needs fans in attendance. And if that is the case, it would be pretty likely that Brock Lesnar returns as part of the titular 30-man match.
The best part of the Royal Rumble is the excitement for potential surprises, and there wouldn't be many pop-inducing moments than an unannounced Lesnar appearance. The Beast Incarnate has been in several Rumble matches since his 2012 return, but not a single one of his showings was a surprise.
There would be no need to advertise the box office phenomenon, as the magic of the Rumble is enough to attract viewers. Brock Lesnar could enter the match, cause a lot of destruction, and eliminate a few sorry folks before coming face-to-face with a potential opponent or two. Lesnar's last WrestleMania feud was kickstarted at the Rumble, with Drew McIntyre eliminating him from the match.
A similar situation could ensue next year, with a couple of names popping up. One of them is Keith Lee, who would make for a fantastic opponent for Brock Lesnar. The two even had a brief exchange in this year's Royal Rumble Match.
#4 Brock Lesnar jumps ship to SmackDown on FOX
When SmackDown was first announced to be moving to FOX, it seemed like the show would get a complete facelift and become WWE's weekly flagship show. And it has, to an extent. The company has done well in making SmackDown on FOX a big deal, with it's Friday night premiere being headlined by Brock Lesnar's first TV match in over 15 years.
It may have lasted less than 10 seconds, but it seemed like the Beast Incarnate was here to stay on the Blue brand and was even a Round 1 draft pick.
However, a few weeks later, Lesnar quit SmackDown so he could move to RAW and go after Rey Mysterio. This was also convenient for Paul Heyman, who was the Executive Director of the Red brand at the time.
Brock Lesnar had a memorable run on RAW since then, engaging in top programs and entertaining segments with the likes of Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, and even R-Truth. However, in a way to freshen up himself and SmackDown, the Beast Incarnate could move back to FOX.
With Heyman back to only an on-screen role in the company, WWE might want to try and put some big-time buzz back into SmackDown by moving Brock Lesnar over. He could have some engaging programs against the likes of Daniel Bryan, Bray Wyatt, and most interestingly, Big E.
#3 Brock Lesnar appears at Crown Jewel
During WWE's annual shareholders meeting earlier this month, Vince McMahon mentioned that "there is a possibility" that WWE has a show in Saudi Arabia later this year, considering they are "doing a little bit better" compared to the United States as far as COVID-19 is concerned. A return to Saudi Arabia would likely see Brock Lesnar make his way back as well.
The Beast Incarnate has been a part of every WWE pay-per-view taking place in the Kingdom. So if the situation improves by the end of October, expect Brock Lesnar to be a part of the third annual Crown Jewel event.
He is a big-money fighter, not wrestling for the longest amount of time on these shows. Lesnar's four matches in Saudi Arabia have lasted a combined total of less than 20 minutes, with him winning all of them and leaving with the WWE or Universal Championship.
Brock Lesnar could have a short showcase match against a capable opponent like R-Truth or Dolph Ziggler just for the payday. Another possibility is The Beast Incarnate making a surprise appearance, possibly to start a new feud or rekindle an old one for his eventual in-ring return.
#2 Brock Lesnar challenges Drew McIntyre to a rematch
Speaking of continuing old feuds, Brock Lesnar's first match back could very well be a WWE Championship rematch against Drew McIntyre. The two main evented Night 2 of WrestleMania 36, but the match did not have the desired impact due to the lack of a live crowd.
Once fans are back, one of the first things WWE would want to do is ensure McIntyre has his moment. After getting robbed off that sweet victory pop at 'Mania, beating Lesnar in front of a live crowd would mean a lot to the current WWE Champion.
Alternatively, this could be a non-title match if WWE decided to put the WWE Championship on Randy Orton at SummerSlam. Brock Lesnar could cost McIntyre a title match down the line, resulting in an all-out war between the two behemoths.
Either way, Lesnar's first match back is likely to be the one that was intended to close out this year's WrestleMania and not the five-minute match we got instead. Brock Lesnar and Drew McIntyre could have an excellent match in front of a hot crowd and hopefully, it will happen by WrestleMania 37 at the latest.
#1 Bobby Lashley calls out Brock Lesnar
One of the biggest dream matches left for Brock Lesnar to have in WWE is against Bobby Lashley. The two of them have never crossed paths before, despite some heavy similarities between them. They are both big men who have impactful movesets. Both men have also spent some time in the world of MMA, as well.
And now, Lashley has his own mouthpiece, much like Brock Lesnar. MVP has been doing a stellar job in WWE since his return at the Royal Rumble, which happened opposite Lesnar, and is one of the standout performers on RAW. The All Mighty has looked pretty great since taking MVP on as his manager and has going on a destructive streak.
Lashley may have lost to Drew McIntyre, but it took an inadvertent distraction from Lana and he still looked dominant in defeat. The premise of protecting him for an eventual showdown with Lesnar is a strong possibility. The former IMPACT megastar has mentioned multiple times that he wants to face The Beast Incarnate inside a WWE ring.
And when it is time for Brock Lesnar to return to TV, it might be through Bobby Lashley and MVP calling him and Paul Heyman out. The promo battle between the two managers would be brilliant to see, while the physicality involved will surely be off the charts.
Having Brock Lesnar return to WWE straight into a program against a similarly dominant Beast would be very compelling. The match between hi and Lashley will be explosive for sure. WrestleMania 37 seems like the perfect place for this dream encounter.
Whatever Brock Lesnar comes back to do and whenever that may be, WWE will certainly benefit from it. Thanks to his stellar in-ring ability and incredible aura, the Beast Incarnate remains the top attraction on their books.
