WWE Extreme Rules 2012: Brock Lesnar's Presence Doesn't Carry Weight It Once Did

Brock Lesnar headlined a pay-per-view event, but it just doesn't excite me the way it once did. Lesnar vs. John Cena in a No Holds Barred match at Extreme Rules was a great match, and it was in my hometown of Chicago. I should be stoked.

But I'm not.

After a moment to ponder why I've lost it for Brock, I came up with these three things: 

Brock You Look Different

Gone is the imposing beast that could perform all types of otherworldly in-ring maneuvers. He has been replaced with a flabby, less imposing figure in MMA attire.

I love MMA, but he looks like a guy that is ashamed of his conditioning, and it has forced him to go from shorts to jogging pants.

Or in Brock's case, from wrestling trunks to MMA shorts.

Tell me you don't see a difference:

It's understandable that he has aged and been through a serious disease—maybe his gimmick should have changed with his body.

That Was Brock Getting Smacked Around By Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem Right?

Wrestling and MMA are two different things, I know. But the WWE is expecting fans of both wrestling and MMA to forget that we just saw Lesnar smoked in the Octagon.

I know Overeem has since had his issues with drug tests—but Velasquez didn't seem to be chemically enhanced.

Yet I'm still supposed to buy Lesnar as the baddest man, and this huge threat?

I'm not really feeling it.

Short-Timers Get No Love

I'm a huge fan of The Rock, but I'm not sure how many more of these cameos I can take from him. So I am not jumping for joy over Lesnar's light schedule.

Excuse me, I'm still in to championships and that sort of stupid thing. When the WWE floods fans with big names, but small commitments to the company, it's a tease.

The in-ring product is what generally suffers the most. I applaud Lesnar for participating in a match at Extreme Rules, but he'll be gone before the applause subsides.

Because of that, I can't get totally plugged in.

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