Brock Lesnar: Why The Next Big Thing Is a Lock to Return to WWE

After being pummeled in a first-round TKO loss against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141, Brock Lesnar decided to retire from the company. That won't be the last we see of Lesnar, though, as I believe he will return to his roots in the WWE.

While Lesnar hasn't exactly been cozy toward the WWE since leaving to pursue other interests in 2004, that has changed quite a bit recently. While Lesnar was often critical of the WWE in interviews, he has since softened his stance and given credit to the company for making him a star.

Additionally, Lesnar appears as an unlockable legend in the WWE '12 video game. Initially, I thought his inclusion in the game was little more than a publicity stunt from Lesnar and UFC founder Dana White, but now it seems like it might have been a precursor to something bigger.

Lesnar's sudden retirement is leading some to speculate that he is the one behind the WWE's cryptic "It Begins" promos that are foreshadowing the return of a superstar on Jan. 2.

I wouldn't say that, though, because it would mean he was planning to retire whether he lost to Overeem or not.

I have a hard time believing that to be the case since a win over Overeem would have been huge, and likely would have revitalized his failing UFC career. Even if Lesnar returning to WWE isn't immediately forthcoming, I do think that it's only a matter of time before it happens.

Although Lesnar says that he doesn't like attention, I think it's very obvious that he does as evidenced by how he was promoted in UFC.

If Lesnar wants to remain in the spotlight, then the next obvious move is going back to where it all began in the WWE. His return would send serious shock waves through the wrestling world.

The most logical time for him to return, in my estimation, would be at the Royal Rumble. Lesnar could enter the match as a surprise entrant and clean house for a while, perhaps before The Undertaker's bell tolls.

This would result in Lesnar getting eliminated and it could possibly set up Lesnar vs. Undertaker for WrestleMania.

Vince McMahon surely realizes how big of a cash cow Lesnar's return would be, so I'm sure he has been doing everything in his power to convince Lesnar to come back to the WWE ever since he heard that Lesnar was retiring from UFC.

McMahon is too good of a businessman and Lesnar is too starved for attention in my estimation to let this fall by the wayside. This move would allow McMahon to garner plenty of mainstream media coverage, while it would keep Lesnar relevant.

Many WWE fans are clamoring for the return of WWE's "next big thing," and I think it will happen sooner rather than later. There are tons of interesting angles the WWE could take with Lesnar, so I'm very interested to see how things play out.