Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley is Beginning of a New Era For The Beast Incarnate

It sure feels like WWE faithful sit on the cusp of a brand-new, refreshing era for Brock Lesnar.

That might sound a little strange for a 45-year-old Superstar who largely resides in the part-timer category.

However, WWE has ripped things wide, wide open by tossing unified champion Roman Reigns into a feud with Logan Paul, which will culminate with a match in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel on November 5.

That left Lesnar twisting in the wind a bit. Or in a glass-half-full perspective, it left him wide open for something new and/or refreshing. Such an idea came to fruition on Monday's Raw when The Beast Incarnate viciously attacked Bobby Lashley.

It's a no-brainer of a direction to go with Lesnar. His first encounter with Lashley was a dream match and running it back a second time should leave nobody with a worthwhile complaint.

While the MMA-backed, real life-influenced showdown is a ton of fun, it's also likely just filler for something more important down the line.

That something potentially being a showdown with Daniel Cormier.

Cormier has his own niche in WWE right now and that doesn't figure to end anytime soon with his fandom of the sport well understood. Like Lashley, he's got that MMA storyline potential with Lesnar, too, as fans have long wanted to see that fight.

Fans might initially say "no thanks" to a wrestling match in which two former MMA fighters fake go at it, but that undersells what the two could really do. Remember how fun those early Lesnar-Goldberg matches were? They were quick-hitting, don't-miss-the-opening-moments affairs that were blatantly aiming for a UFC feel.

There's no reason Lesnar and Cormier can't pull off the same thing, with the added bonus that WWE would benefit greatly from the non-wrestling eyeballs the long-awaited feud would generate.

As a sidebar, Lashley more than deserves this shot at a major, prolonged feud with the likes of The Beast. He's been holding it down in the main event scene for a long time now and exceeding expectations. His recent run with the United States Championship brought major credibility to a midcard belt while Reigns held both men's top titles in his grasp.

Speaking of Goldberg, this is perhaps the most ideal role for Lesnar possible by comparison. He's not shoe-horned into the main event scene. Instead, he's free to work dream matches and likely prop up the next generation of the pro wrestling scene.

It might sound wild to some, but some of the very best Lesnar matches of the last decade were one-offs with the likes of Daniel Bryan, Finn Balor and AJ Styles.

Which brings things to how The Beast might be able to help the next top guy. Maybe that's Austin Theory in a few years. Maybe it's helping to instantly solidify a guy in the main event scene such as a prospect like Gable Steveson. It could be very similar to how his downfall permanently elevated Drew McIntyre.

Keep in mind that, in the pro wrestling world, 45 isn't that old. It might feel like Lesnar is old because he's been around so long. But some of the top guys aren't that far off. Reigns is already 37. So is McIntyre. Randy Orton is 42. Lashley is 46. AJ Styles is 45.

Seeing as this is Brock Lesnar we're talking about, does anyone really think he'll age poorly as an in-ring performer or lose some of that aura? One could easily see him sticking around in a prominent spot for five-plus years without issue.

Plus, it sure doesn't hurt that he's gone through fun character cycles that keep refreshing his standing with fans. The Suplex City era got a bit stale, but this current babyface rendition that has him putting on a show with mic work sans Paul Heyman has been a fun ride. It's one that will have more legs than his past monstrous roles too because he's not simply rolling over the entire roster from the very top of the card.

On paper, Lesnar will return to the main event scene with ease. But his getting elbowed out of the way for the GOAT-making run for Reigns could be a major blessing in disguise. He gets to stretch his wings creatively, and fans get to see refreshingly new feuds and scenarios as one of the greatest of all time does his thing.

In a way, this is also sort of an underrated credit to the new Triple H era, too. Fans have long argued some things just don't need title belts attached to them. Lesnar sparring with Lashley, then Cormier, then whoever else, just doesn't.

A new era for Lesnar just as WWE itself transitions to a new era will only complement a surprisingly good product right now. And leave it to the arguable GOAT to make it work in unforgettable fashion.