Imagining a Scenario Where Brock Lesnar Unified WWE and UFC Titles
With one line, Paul Heyman triggered an explosion of imagination in WWE fan's minds, suggesting that Brock Lesnar could pull double duty and thrive as both a pro wrestler and a UFC fighter simultaneously.
The idea that Lesnar could unify the WWE and UFC world titles is far-fetched, insane even. Still, now that the possibility is swimming around in our heads, it's hard to shake.
Boldness from WWE decision-makers, a clean bill of health from Lesnar's doctors and a handful of upsets would lead to a stunning, unthinkable image—Lesnar standing in the Octagon with both the UFC and WWE heavyweight titles tight in his paws.
Heyman implanted that implausible idea last Monday. As he ranted about how powerful his client was on Raw, he said, "If Brock Lesnar wants to spend his summer unifying the WWE and the UFC title, that's what he's going to do."
Of course, Heyman was just working the crowd, the puppet master pulling tight on his strings. He wisely used the rumors that Lesnar may return to MMA once his WWE contract expires as narrative fuel.
Is there a way for that scenario to be anything other than fiction? Could it actually happen?
It would first require WWE to do something it rarely does—follow TNA's lead.
Like Lashley
Bobby Lashley had one foot in the MMA world and the other planted in the pro wrestling landscape. While his cage exploits aren't as heavily discussed as Lesnar's, Lashley has done well to amass a 12-2 MMA record, per Sherdog.
He fought Josh Burns at Bellator 123, as noted on the MMA organization's website. Lashley was still TNA champ at the time.
The Colorado native continues to fight for Bellator while under contract with TNA. It doesn't take much imagination to picture a path that ends with holding both the TNA and Bellator heavyweight straps.
Could Lesnar take a similar approach? Bleacher Report's Lead MMA Writer Jeremy Botter, for one, believes that The Beast Incarnate should do both scripted and shoot fighting. He writes of Lesnar, "I think the real way to go is to do both wrestling and UFC at the same time."
The difference between Lesnar and Lashley's situations, though, is that Bellator and TNA have a working relationship. UFC and WWE would have to forge a partnership. That would require some ego-swallowing from both Dana White and Vince McMahon as they form an unlikely alliance.
White would be the one most resistant to the idea. The "fake" stigma that surrounds pro wrestling would make it hard for UFC to do business with WWE.
It would take some financial desperation from White's side and McMahon leaping out of his comfort zone. The one certainty is that there is money to be made here as seen with the impact Lesnar had on pay-per-view buys and how much buzz CM Punk heading to UFC has generated.
Gut the Issue
The end of Lesnar's UFC run is marked with a major what-if. What if his health hadn't failed him? How good could he have been?
If Heyman's imaged scenario where to come to life, diverticulitis would have to prove to be the biggest reason for him his last two UFC opponents stomping him out like a roach on the kitchen floor.
Should he return to UFC while still holding the WWE title and look as dominant as he did during his UFC peak, Heyman's proclamation begins to look less nutty.
Many speculate, however, that inflamed intestines weren't the primary issue for him losing the UFC title last time around and following that up with a beating at the hands of Alistair Overeem. There is a major question about how well Lesnar can respond to getting punched in the face.
If his second MMA stint sees him prove his critics wrong, the narrative shifts from Lesnar being a mere spectacle, to him being a contender.
A Swift Rise
Healthy or not, Lesnar will be an underdog in many of the potential bouts out there for him to take.
He's 37 and battling men who have been doing this violent sport far longer than him. And the latecomer hasn't been inside the cage in nearly four years.
It will take some monstrous performances for him to climb the UFC heavyweight ranks again. That could well begin with him defeating Frank Mir in the rubber match of their trilogy.
Mir is only a touch younger than him and not an impossible blockade to overcome.
It's certainly a fight that Mir wants. He told reporters at the press conference following UFC Fight Night 61 (h/t Yahoo! Sports), "A rubber match between the two of us would be a phenomenal fight." That's a bout UFC would be happy to have as well.
Should Lesnar take out Mir, he would need to add a few more impressive wins before his name was connected to a title bout.
Scanning UFC's heavyweight rankings, one sees a number of daunting foes who would be favorites over Lesnar. Overeem, who throttled Lesnar last time out, is No. 9. Josh Barnett sits three spots higher. He began his fighting career when Lesnar was still at college. Junior Dos Santos (currently ranked No. 2) is seven years younger than Lesnar and a devastating striker.
Lesnar beating one of those men, much less all three of them, would be a shocking turn of events.
That's not the least likely element of Heyman's scenario, though. UFC agreeing to unify the WWE title with its own belt is the part of this story that is pure fantasy.
However, Lesnar winning UFC's heavyweight crown while still reigning as WWE champ is not impossible. No sane person would bet on that happening, but Lesnar is not Manhattan College or the University of Hampton hoping for Lady Luck to shine down as one of them takes on the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats. He's still a freakish athlete with a UFC title on his resume.
It would certainly help if White shortens Lesnar's path to the gold, giving him a title shot after just a few fights following his return.
Regardless of how Lesnar's career plays out from here, thank Heyman for inspiring the discussion of this fanciful possibility and implanting daydreams in fans' heads, all while creating buzz for his client and WrestleMania as a whole.
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