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Brock Lesnar cost Cody Rhodes his World Heavyweight Championship qualifying match on WWE RAW. After suffering a narrow loss to The American Nightmare, The Beast interrupted Rhodes' triple threat match against The Miz and Finn Balor. Lesnar was in terrifying form, looking more like his old Undertaker-conquering, John Cena-decimating self instead of the benevolent cowboy of late.
The former UFC champion drove the Grandson Of A Plumber into the announcers' desk before cutting an intense promo over the latter's fallen body. This eventually set up a Night Of Champions rematch between the two superstars, promising more brutality than their initial encounter. Amidst all this, fans wondered why Lesnar, a ten-time world champion, wasn't in the tournament itself.
Here are four reasons why Brock Lesnar may have been left out of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament
#4. Brock Lesnar doesn't need the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
The ultimate aim of a WWE Superstar is to be able to say they are a "walking main event." In terms of aura, drawing power, and accomplishments, only a select group of current stars can say that any match they are part of feels like a title bout. Brock Lesnar is definitely one of those stars that can be seen as an "attraction" and bring the "big fight feel."
The Beast Incarnate ended The Undertaker's streak, demolished John Cena, and defeated everyone from Roman Reigns to Goldberg. Would he be a prestigious name in the title's lineage? Definitely. Would another title reign elevate his legacy? Only slightly. Literally, any other man on the roster would benefit more from holding the championship than Lesnar.
#3. Brock Lesnar's exclusion makes sense for his storyline with Cody Rhodes
After Brock Lesnar's initial attack on Cody Rhodes, The Beast cited the fact that The American Nightmare main-evented WrestleMania 39 over him as the reason. The Conqueror seemed to imply that he wouldn't go quietly into the night as stars like Rhodes took the spot he called his own for over a decade. This angle would certainly explain why WWE kept Lesnar out of the tournament.
Going forward, it would make sense for The Beast to claim that he cost Rhodes his qualifying match because the latter was handed the opportunity instead of him. It's a very convenient reason for their rematch, allowing the company to exclude both men from the title match while prominently featuring both at Night Of Champions.
#2. He's a part-timer
As Triple H unveiled the new World Heavyweight Championship a few weeks ago on RAW, he made some promises. One of these vows was that the title would be held by a champion who would show up and defend it every week, all over the world. He basically promised the antithesis of Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns, who has frustrated some with his light schedule.
Brock Lesnar basically pioneered that schedule. The Beast has admittedly been more present in recent months than Reigns, but he will never be a full-time performer again. It would thus make zero sense to put him in the tournament, especially since he would be the favorite to win the whole thing. Having him lose a free match on RAW would also not fit with his history, aura, and accomplishments.
#1. Brock Lesnar might be leaving WWE
On the road to WrestleMania 39, a rumor made the rounds that Brock Lesnar was "finishing up" with WWE. The Show of Shows came and went, and The Beast is still around. There has been no word on whether he renewed his contract or when it is up, but there could be reason to believe he's leaving WWE.
For one, Lesnar has been drafted as a free agent, not committing to a specific brand. Besides that, he has repeatedly broken character to acknowledge fans in recent months, sparking fears that he's silently bidding them farewell. Finally, his feud with Cody Rhodes could be seen as an attempt to put over the company's next marquee star on his way out.
This would explain why Lesnar was left out of the tournament: to allow him to complete his story with Rhodes before wrapping it up. It only sounds crazy until it happens!
