Brock Lesnar proved once again he is the baddest man on the planet. After a win in UFC 200 in a unanimous decision over Mark Hunt, the No. 8 contender in the heavyweight division, Lesnar may not be done with the octagon at 38 years old. The first win for the former World Heavyweight Champion, Lesnar now changes gears and will concentrate on his career in Vince McMahon’s WWE traveling circus.
But, as always, the door wasn’t closed on a return to the sport he came to and conquered only to leave and return again.
This was Lesnar’s first win in UFC since 2010.
According to Damon Martin of Fox Sports, Lesnar was given permission by his employers at WWE to return for UFC 200, but given the reception he received along with the performance he put on, it seems pretty possible he'll want to compete again.
Once the excitement of what fans and the media starts to subside, there is Randy Orton on the horizon in a match at WWE SummerSlam – a match announced last week. The most pressing issue the McMahons faced with allowing Lesnar to put the gloves on again was a loss – one that could have been disastrous for both Lesnar and McMahon and Dana White’s plan to make the Beast Incarnate the key figure in the MMA promotion’s biggest event.
Had he lost to Hunt, how could WWE book him as the biggest, baddest dude to get in a squared-circle? How could the match with Orton – who is returning from injury – mean anything? How would fans accept him as the unconquered?
Everything fell into place on Saturday night – including some syrupy-sweet love between WWE and UFC with the promotion of SummerSlam. Does this mean more business between the two promotions in the future? It’s quite possible. Now with August a month away Lesnar becomes even bigger news. Here is why he is the greatest wrestling character of this generation.
HE LIVES IN SUPLEX CITY
It’s been a cultural phenomenon. The biggest man on the planet tossing his opponents around like they are bags of trash in the ring. Seeing him abuse Dean Ambrose and punish The Undertaker made us all understand how dangerous he can be and how easy it is for Lesnar to wrap his arms around the waist of any opponent and throw them backward.
The mere fact WWE capitalized on the idea and created merchandise for the idea that catchphrase proves it is a road many opponents still have yet to travel and no opponent in the future will be able to solve it.
HE IS STILL THE BIGGEST GUY IN THE BUSINESS
Regardless of Big Show’s size, there is no one the size of Lesnar. The combination of size, speed and power is unmatched.
There are rumors WWE is in the planning stages of building Big Cass up for a run at the Lesnar, which would make sense based on his 7-foot size, but I also see this as a major mismatch.
There have been a few wrestlers who could give Lesnar a true test in the ring – mainly The Rock, Orton and Kurt Angle, but when you look at the main roster right now, John Cena, Orton, Kevin Owens and maybe Bray Wyatt are in that kind of category.
I’ll throw Roman Reigns in the conversation as well.
The one thing that remains true is Lesnar remains a genetic marvel.
THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS FUTURE
Like he has hinted, he is not closing the door for good on a return to UFC. That makes fans of both sports very happy.
It might make Vince McMahon a bit uneasy.
Lesnar’s bargaining chip in contract negotiations with WWE is that he can always return to the octagon. Like other sports stars, there are always lingering questions – do they stay or do they go. No matter how many times he wins at a pay-per-view and then walks off into hibernation, he is a constant topic of conversation. That makes the McMahons very happy.
I would assume as long as he is in shape and thinks he can still compete at both, he will wind up in an octagon again. But when all is said and done, Lesnar will be the bad boy of WWE the company can count on to poke at the hornet’s nest every time he comes out from the back to challenge a top contender.
THE HEYMAN RULES
His name is Paul Heyman and he is the greatest manager of all time in this business. He is also the perfect pairing with Lesnar, who isn’t as polished on the mic and with promos. The Heyman factor is just as important to Lesnar’s success outside the ring as it is inside the ring.
When a manager and a wrestler connect – like JJ Dillon and the Four Horsemen or Paul Ellering and The Road Warriors, there is a certain magic you cannot explain.
Heyman is every bit the phenomena as his client. And in most cases, fans pay good money to hear Heyman speak as much as see Lesnar get in the ring. While there have been others who have joined the fray at one point or the other, there has never been this kind of combination that works so well.
As long as Heyman is by his side – and yes I have hoped for Heyman to turn on him a time or two – there is WWE gold in every word.
HE IS ALWAYS A THREAT TO WIN THE TITLE
No matter what the situation is, Lesnar will never be a mid card wrestler. Size and resume dictate he remain in the main event picture. He still hasn’t beaten Seth Rollins. He still could have a date with Roman Reigns or John Cena.
Whoever has the company title, you can be sure it has been discussed that Lesnar could get another shot at the strap. Ultimately, the idea of a Cena-Lesnar confrontation has to come about. So does a thought of Owens and Lesnar – the old guard with the new bully on the block. It would appear the Bray Wyatt idea might be resting for now, but we all would love to see the two in the ring and a verbal assault by Wyatt and Heyman to ensue.
There are always plenty of possibilities if they are booked correctly. Lesnar will always lurk toward the top of the food chain, to the delight of fans and the company.
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