Long Live Lesnar
Dave Meltzer of MMAFighting.com has reported that Brock Lesnar has received a new WWE contract through to at least Wrestlemania in April 2019. Though the details of the contract are not clear at the moment, it is said that the deal allows Lesnar to take a UFC fight. Brock is going to continue to work a part-time schedule for WWE, making his appearances very valuable. Many WWE fans will loath the new contract, simply because Brock works a part-time schedule.
Some are saying that this WWE contract for Lesnar may lead to Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier III and that Cormier vs Lesnar is far less likely now. I don’t believe that to be true at all. In fact, I believe that this ensures the fight between Cormier and Lesnar and that Lesnar will bring his WWE title with him as Cormier exclaimed in his post-fight interview after his win over Derrick Lewis.
Brock Lesnar has the chance, probably the only one in history, to make professional wrestling legitimate in the eyes of the world. With the recent acquisition of Ronda Rousey, and WWE’s new FOX deal pro-wrestling will have a different set of eyes on it than before.
This isn’t the first time MMA and professional wrestling have crossed paths but it is perhaps the most important time. If Lesnar is allowed to enter the Octagon with the WWE Universal title, UFC fans may start to look at WWE differently. It can and should be argued that Lesnar has already done that by becoming a modern day Dan Severn; now all Brock has to do is beat Cormier and hold both titles simultaneously. Severn held both the NWA and UFC title and entered pro wrestling matches with his UFC Championship and entered the UFC with his NWA Championship. Severn even entered WWF matches with ALL of his titles, UFC, NWA, EVERYTHING!
This isn’t unprecedented but there is a difference between Dan Severn and Brock Lesnar and a giant difference between what pro wrestling and the UFC and MMA have become since then.
Daniel Cormier has stated that Stipe Miocic will get his well deserved rematch if the Brock Lesnar fight does not happen. I don’t see Jones wanting to fight Cormier again and for good reason; in Jones’ mind (and much of the world’s), he beat Cormier twice. Cormier doesn’t have many fights left and if Stipe is one of them then it may end up being his last.
The WWE Universal Championship is new and has a brief history (being a little 2 years old; est. July 25, 2016) with Lesnar really being the only holder of the title for any real length of time and significance. WWE superstar Roman Reigns relinquished the Universal Championship due to illness just a couple of weeks ago; leaving a gaping whole in the top spot of WWE talent. Finn Balor was the very first Universal Champion; he relinquished it due to injury less than 24 hours after winning it.. Whenever Vince gets scared he calls Brock Lesnar to save the company; this time was no different.
Look, Dana White and Vince McMahon don’t turn down money; that’s a fact. The question is, is there more money in Lesnar vs Cormier or Lesnar vs Jones? If Lesnar doesn’t fight Cormier, I see Jon Jones moving up to heavyweight to fight Lesnar. Jones would do it not just to spite DC’s legacy but to make some serious money. Brock is going to continue to work a part-time schedule for WWE, making his appearances very valuable. Brock could fight anyone and WWE would be a platform, an avenue of which they could promote their fight, maybe even crossover to pro-wrestling.
Some potential opponents for Brock Lesnar:
WWE-Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Dean Ambrose
UFC-Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Curtis Blaydes, Derrick Lewis
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All of those are great fights and matches, which is why Brock Lesnar as Universal Champion just makes sense. WWE and UFC don’t have anyone else that can draw like Lesnar, which is why WWE is keeping Lesnar until at least Wrestlemania. This also why the UFC wants him back against two of the greatest of all time.
No matter which way you slice it, Lesnar is a blue ribbon pie, regardless of who his opponent is or what organization he is with.
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