3 Questions: Lesnar's WWE Return, UFC Primetime Debut with Jones vs. Evans

The end is in sight.

After more than a month with no big Zuffa-produced events, we'll finally see the return of the UFC in just under two weeks when the promotion hits Sweden. After that, we're off to the races with UFC 145, UFC 146 and many other events coming down the pipeline in rapid fashion.

We still have plenty to talk about this week, though, so let's get to my three burning questions of the week.

1. Will Brock Lesnar Make His Return to WWE?

As I noted this morning, the former UFC heavyweight champion has signed a one-year contract to return to the scripted land of professional wrestling. He was rumored to make a surprise appearance last night during the main event of WrestleMania 28—an event so big that it even captured the attention of Dana White—but Lesnar was nowhere to be found.

I fully expect Lesnar to make his return to WWE tonight during Monday Night Raw. I have no idea how many appearances Lesnar will make for the company, but I do expect them to begin setting up a big match for Lesnar at next year's WrestleMania. 

His appearance on WWE television will signal the official end of his mixed martial arts career. As a fighter, we'll never know exactly what Lesnar could have been. That's an unfortunate thing. But at least we'll still get to be entertained by the hulking former champ.

2. Will UFC Primetime: Jones vs. Evans Increase the Hype for UFC 145?

UFC 145 is truly a one-fight show. Sure, there are some other interesting bouts, such as the bantamweight fight between Miguel Torres and Michael McDonald. But in reality, the pay-per-view fortunes of UFC 145 will live and die with Jon Jones, Rashad Evans and their respective performances on the upcoming UFC Primetime show that debuts Friday night.

Primetime is an effective vehicle for marketing big fights. We've seen that with Georges St-Pierre vs. Dan Hardy and Rampage Jackson vs. Rashad Evans. If Jones and Evans put on their best faces and really promote the grudge and rivalry between each other, UFC 145 has the potential to go from a big show to a gigantic event.

The producers of Primetime are very smart and capable people. If they can successfully tell the story of these two fighters—guys who were once training partners and friends that had a wedge driven between them by the championship belt they're about to fight over—this fight will have the potential to be one of the bigger shows in UFC history.

3. Is Douglas Lima for Real?

Douglas Lima is one of the best fighters not currently under the UFC banner. His 21-4 record hasn't come against the absolute best talent in the world, but he's still what I would call a pretty good fighter.

Lima wrecked shop in the Bellator season five welterweight tournament, and as a result, he's getting a title shot against Ben Askren on Friday night's Bellator 64 card. Askren is one of the best wrestlers in the world, but he struggled against Jay Hieron in his last title defense.

Many believe Lima could be the man to dethrone Askren, and I'm not going to argue. Lima is a legitimate threat to Askren's reign as champion.