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So, the majority of the WWE Universe believes that WWE Stomping Grounds was actually a pretty solid pay-per-view event. It was a show carried by the full-time members of the WWE roster and it is no wonder that it was a big success.
Why did Brock Lesnar not cash in his contract during the show? This is a question that I will try to attempt in this article, with the help of five distinct points, in response to multiple queries that many have raised on the internet.
Feel free to shoot your own theories and thoughts in the comments section. Why do you think The Beast Incarnate decided to stay at home with his family, instead of stomping someone's lights out at Stomping Grounds?
I believe that these 5 points should indicate why...
#5 Limited number of dates in his contract
Just because we've seen a lot of Brock Lesnar in recent months does not mean that he's suddenly going to become a regular feature on WWE television. Brock Lesnar's appeal comes from the fact that he does not show up on WWE television all the time, which makes him a very special attraction.
One of the reasons he may not have shown up at WWE Stomping Grounds is honestly because he may have only confirmed a limited number of appearances with Vince McMahon because we all know that he's one of the highest paid guys in the WWE roster. Even though Paul Heyman teased that Brock Lesnar was backstage, there's a big chance that he was not.
He may not even show up until SummerSlam when Brock Lesnar is all but forgotten. Maybe he will not show up until SmackDown moves to FOX in October of this year, becoming the new WWE Champion.
#4 Both Champions stood tall following their respective matches
The whole premise of the Money in the Bank contract is that a cash-in is most likely to happen when one of the Champions has been knocked out of commission. Seth Rollins battled the odds and stood tall thanks to the help of his girlfriend, RAW Women's Champion, Becky Lynch. Kofi Kingston jumped over Dolph Ziggler during their match to remain WWE Champion.
Yes, Brock Lesnar could have cashed in on an exhausted Seth Rollins but he seemed high on adrenaline and ready to take on all comers following his big match. Kofi Kingston was surrounded by The New Day following his win, so it wouldn't have made any sense for Brock Lesnar to risk it.
From a storyline perspective, Brock Lesnar needs to bide his time for the right moment. Stomping Grounds was not the right moment for a cash-in at all.
#3 The story arc with the briefcase needs to be much longer
Ever since the concept of two Money in the Bank contracts began, we have witnessed an interesting trend. One of the two contracts gets cashed in right away, like Alexa Bliss and Bayley did while the other has a more long-term storyline attached to it.
I have a feeling that Brock Lesnar will cash in his contract on Kofi Kingston after the SmackDown deal with FOX begins. I could be completely off the mark but they'd want a high-impact episode to kick things off to a great start, and hence, Vince McMahon may want to keep this ace up his sleeve until early October.
In any case, Braun Strowman wasted his Money in the Bank contract last year. It was a silly move that made no sense.
WWE needs to have Lesnar hang on to the contract for some more time, in my opinion.
#2 Too small a pay-per-view for a cash in
We've all heard various rumors about the attendance at WWE Stomping Grounds and the poor ticket sales too. But because none of them have come from verified sources, I won't lend any credence to their authenticity. At the same time, when there's smoke there's a fire, and there's a reason why WWE is allegedly having trouble selling tickets for WWE Stomping Grounds.
Let's have a look at the last three big shows that WWE put on, to give us an idea. WrestleMania is the ultimate fan experience and it sells out, year after year. Money in the Bank has actual stakes and two ladder matches whereas Super ShowDown happened in front of an audience that is starved for good quality WWE action.
Compared to these three pay-per-views, Stomping Grounds was a very, very small affair. Having Lesnar cash in here wouldn't have made sense.
#1 Nobody is ready for another Brock Lesnar part-time reign
When Seth Rollins tunes up the band kinda like his idol Shawn Michaels used to do, everybody in the audience chants 'burn it down' in unison. Kofi Kingston is yet another beloved member of the WWE Universe and 'Kofi' chants are commonplace every time he comes out to compete.
At a time when WWE has the goodwill of an audience that is generally not very well-disposed towards WWE booking, I think that the company will not want to ruin everything by putting the title around Brock Lesnar's waist. Sure, Brock Lesnar brings in a certain mainstream appeal that nobody else does, but I don't think the audience is ready for another part-time reign.
And this is why Brock Lesnar did not show up at Stomping Grounds, ladies and gentlemen of the WWE Universe. Are you convinced?
If not, voice your thoughts in the comments.
