'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What’s the story?
Samoa Joe spoke with USA Today about Brock Lesnar’s reign at Universal Champion and said his reign was similar to Hulk Hogan’s title reigns in the 1980s.
In case you didn’t know...
Joe became the No. 1 contender for the Universal Championship back in June when he defeated four other superstars at the 2017 Extreme Rules pay-per-view. The Samoan Submission Machine faced Lesnar at Great Balls of Fire and was also a part of the Fatal- 4-way at SummerSlam, but failed to win the title in both encounters.
Lesnar’s feud with Joe marked his first pay-per-view appearance since winning the belt at WrestleMania 33 against Goldberg and his upcoming match against Braun Strowman is rumoured to be his last scheduled appearance for the year.
The heart of the matter
Joe discussed Lesnar’s absence from WWE programming and compared his reign to Hogan's and said that not seeing the champion on every show made the title special.
“You go to the Hulk Hogan era reigns, and I definitely didn’t see him on TV every week. There is a mystique to him not being on TV that much. When he does make appearances, it’s usually for purposeful reasons. That’s been the big theme for Brock.”
Joe also said that while Lesnar misses a lot of TV, he still comes back at the right time and that’s all that matters to him.
“You hear he’s not here, but if you look back at the shows, he’s here when it counts and when I need to get my hands on him. As long as that still happens, I’m good with that”
What’s next?
Joe is currently out of action following a knee injury but is expected to recover in within the next six weeks.
Lesnar’s next title defence will take place at the No Mercy pay-per-view on Sep. 24, 2017 where he battles Strowman.
Author’s take
Lesnar’s absences and returns definitely make for a more interesting championship reign than most, but making a few more appearance throughout the year wouldn’t hurt either.
There is a point to what Samoa Joe says, but in the current time of 3-hour episodes of RAW for 52 weeks a year, the main champion of the brand should be expected to make more appearances.
An alternative would be to elevate the Intercontinental Championship while Lesnar isn't around, but WWE doesn't seem to be willing to do that.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
