What if Brock Lesnar goes to AEW?

Brock Lesnar is one of the most dominant forces wrestling has ever seen. His size, strength, agility, and amateur pedigree set him on a course to become the biggest star in the business during his first WWE run.

Add on the legitimacy of his UFC success, and he came back an even bigger deal to prove that he may be the most formidable fighter in the world.

WWE brokered an unusual deal with the Beast Incarnate to make him a part-time special attraction talent and went even further to have him as a part-time world champion for (cumulatively) about two years now.

But what if Lesnar jumps ship to All Elite Wrestling?

A year ago, it would be difficult to imagine any other wrestling promotion competing with WWE for Lesnar’s services. Indeed, one of the few points of leverage WWE seemed to have in negotiations with him was that there wasn’t another pro wrestling promotion around he could take his talents to for remotely similar money.

With a billionaire’s backing, and already having signed Chris Jericho to what he claims is the most profitable contract of his career, we can’t rule out that AEW would outbid WWE for Lesnar.

Here’s what Lesnar going to AEW might mean.

5.Brock Lesnar vs. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho vs. Brock Lesnar would be a first-time dream match.

Chris Jericho has been a major contributor to the early rumours that Brock Lesnar might come to AEW.

Y2J posted on Twitter poking fun of Lesnar at the Royal Rumble and went on to comment in an interview that he’d love to face him in AEW.

Finally, Jericho’s purported big money deal and legitimacy make AEW feel like a more realistic destination for Lesnar than it otherwise might have.

Jericho vs. Lesnar would make sense for AEW to book on a number of levels. First of all, they’re two former world champions, objectively main event level stars who would have the credibility to face off.

Moreover, the pairing is a dream match waiting to happen. Jericho has claimed on his podcast that WWE originally intended for this match to go down over the Universal Championship in 2017 before plans changed around Goldberg.

So, AEW delivering on this showdown would feel like a big deal right out of the gate and help further establish them as a company that can rival WWE.

4. Lesnar remains part-time

Brock Lesnar is reportedly already making huge money for his every part-time schedule with WWE. If he were to make the jump to AEW, even if he gets a raise, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could pay him enough to make him go full time.

And to be fair, it may be for the best that the Beast Incarnate remain a part timer. Many pundits have suggested that his limited schedule is a part of his mystique and indeed makes fans more interested in him.

Moreover, the more realistic but plodding scale that Lesnar has cultivated in recent years that includes using the same moves over and over isn’t necessarily going to electrify crowds if they see it week in and week out, but as a special attraction, having the signature spots that are so over works for him.

Finally, it will take some time for AEW to cultivate talents who could credibly oppose Lesnar, so keeping his appearances limited would be for the best, particularly in the early going.

3. Lesnar stays out of the title scene

Hardcore fans don't necessarily want Brock Lesnar as a world champion.

WWE has made a choice in booking Brock Lesnar as a world champion for extended stretches, while he is working a part-time schedule.

While one could content that seeing the title defended sparingly makes it feel more special, the general consensus from at least hardcore fans is that they’d rather see the world title on someone who appears on TV regularly and works most, if not all PPVs.

All Elite Wrestling seems built on a foundation of catering to hardcore fans—the type who followed Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks from New Japan and Ring of Honor to All In and beyond.

As such, while they may see Lesnar as a score and want to push him as a part-time attraction, the odds are that they would keep him separate from the title scene, or else feature him as a one-off challenger who does not tie up the gold.

2. Paul Heyman to AEW

Paul Heyman has famously commented more than once that he’s not so much in the business of WWE as he is in the business of Brock Lesnar.

While Heyman is under contract to WWE, it stands to reason that he would entertain the idea of following the Beast Incarnate to AEW as not only an act he’s associated with but a real-life friend and business partner.

Heyman could be a major get for AEW. Yes, he’s one of the best talkers in wrestling. On top of that, he’s generally agreed to be one of wrestling’s great creative minds, who blends originality with a strong sense of the business’s tradition and psychology.

Rumours have suggested that Heyman was involved in crafting a number of major segments for Raw in the recent past, and even if he were simply a consultant, Heyman could nonetheless offer a great deal to a fledgeling promotion.

1. Brock Lesnar still winds up back with WWE

If history is an indicator, WWE would welcome back Lesnar.

Brock Lesnar has an unusual relationship with WWE. Sure, today he commands a per appearance fee like few others before or since, and WWE clearly believes in his drawing power to not only pay him but repeatedly cast him as the company’s top champion.

However, there have also been rumours of discontent from both sides, including WWE playing off of those rumours in worked shoot storytelling leading up to WrestleMania 34.

In addition to the aforementioned rumours, there’s the undeniable history of Lesnar’s first WWE departure. He opted out of WWE in favour of pursuing professional football. He wrestled in Japan until getting tied up in legal proceedings with WWE. Finally, he went to UFC and was a significant contributor to building their brand, arguably at the expense of WWE.

Still, WWE took Lesnar back.

Time and again, Vince McMahon has demonstrated a desire to do what’s best for business, including welcoming back into the fold talents ranging from Bruno Sammartino to Bret Hart to Steve Austin to The Ultimate Warrior to Alundra Blayze to Jeff Jarrett.

As long as Lesnar feels like a draw, he’ll probably always be able to come back to WWE—even if it is with a strained relationship and perhaps a bit less money on the table.