WWE Debate: Is Brock Lesnar Worth What He Is Getting Paid?

Brock Lesnar returned to WWE the day after WrestleMania 28 after having suddenly retired from UFC last year, and he has been riding a wave of media coverage ever since.

According the The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Via TheSportsCourier.com), Brock Lesnar has signed a deal with WWE to work somewhere in the area of 30-35 appearances for an estimated $5 million.

This is a huge payday considering he will not be working house shows and he will not be wrestling on a weekly basis.

He did not return to the ring in his second week back, but he did attack John Cena during his match after the two engaged in a brawl during the opening segment of Raw.

Whether or not bringing back Lesnar is a good idea at all is not what we are here to discuss. We are here to discuss whether or not he is worth the money he is being paid for the work he will be doing.

Since I have not formed an opinion on this matter yet, this will be an unbiased look at both sides of the argument.

The Pro Side

A lot of people will look at this as a smart business move by WWE, therefore making it a wise investment and indeed making him worth the wages.

By bringing in someone as polarizing as Brock Lesnar, WWE has ensured they will receive press coverage from just about every media outlet around the world.

His time in WWE is well documented, but it is his time in UFC for which he is most well known as of late. He made the Internet explode by winning the UFC title in his third match for the promotion, and he did it again when he recovered from diverticulitis to return to the octagon and now the WWE ring.

He is known in the wrestling world as having one of the fastest rises to stardom in the history of the business, winning the WWE Championship within his first year in the company. This is something only a handful of people can lay claim to.

His ability in the ring is above average based on his past run. He used his ridiculous strength and his experience as an NCAA Champion wrestler to be one of the most powerful forces in all of wrestling.

He defeated some of the biggest names in the history of the business, but he left the squared circle for an eight-sided cage to make a name for himself in a new sport. Well, he went to the NFL first, but he found his way to Dana White eventually.

His return to WWE has brought an increased amount of attention from everyone in the media, from talk show hosts making jokes in their monologues to major media outlets showing clips of his return.

This exposure can only serve to benefit WWE, as it is getting their product in front of more potential viewers who may find the idea of watching Lesnar appealing enough to make them tune in.

WWE hopes these people will become regular viewers eventually, and if they do, it would make the argument for Lesnar being worth the money all the more valid.

Even if he is not wrestling every week, just being there and doing something unexpected or controversial will create a buzz, which WWE can use to bring in viewers.

Saying Lesnar is not going to increase interest in the product is naive. He is a media magnet who actually chooses to live a private life out of the spotlight, and this is something which fascinates people.

When he is not fighting or doing an interview, you do not see the man. TMZ has featured Lesnar a handful of times and it is always right before a fight in a major airport or right as he has to do some kind of media event, and he is always a little standoffish from the reporters crowding him.

When he is in front of a microphone and he wants to speak, he is someone who can command attention because you never know which Brock you are going to get: the intense Brock or the fun-loving Brock.

Whether you love him or hate him, if you are reading this, then it means you are at least a little bit interested in him, and that means he is accomplishing his goal.

The Con Side

While there are people who think Lesnar's worth is undeniable, there are also those who think his paycheck is totally insane given the terms.

The number of appearances Lesnar will be doing does not even come close to what the rest of the roster is going to be doing between now and WrestleMania 29.

Everyone from Tyler Reks to John Cena will be working hundreds of days doing TV tapings, live events, charity events, autograph signings and interviews.

They will be putting their bodies and careers on the line on a near-daily basis to entertain the fans and pad WWEs pocket book. Most of them make enough to be considered lucky, but not everyone has enough to last the rest of their lives stashed away in case they suffer a broken neck.

Brock Lesnar gets to wrestle a couple dozen times over the course of a year and he is going to make as much as the highest-paid star in the company, John Cena. Is that fair?

The report referenced is a little out of date, but even if Cena had tripled his salary since then, he would be making right around what Lesnar is reportedly being paid.

Unless WWE ratings skyrocket, PPV buys go up and merchandise starts to move quicker, some people may look at this is a poor move by WWE.

Even though increased media coverage is a good thing, it does not guarantee an increase in profit.

The Rock may receive the bulk of the credit for WrestleMania 28's success, but there is no true way to judge why everyone purchased the PPV without polling every person who bought it.

The Rock was certainly a great reason to buy the PPV, but so was Jericho vs. Punk, Undertaker vs. Triple H and until we actually saw it, Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan.

The whole event is always a spectacle, the likes of which only WWE can put on, and it is usually worth the money. So to say any one person is the reason the PPV did so well is to insult the rest of the people who worked hard to make it happen.

Lesnar may be a way to create a buzz, but unless tangible proof of his effect on WWE's bank account can be measured, there is no way to know if WWE is making back their investment on him.

Thanks for reading. Now that you have heard both sides of the argument please voice your opinion by leaving a comment below.