Is Brock Lesnar Using UFC as a Pawn in His Angle with WWE?

So, Brock Lesnar.  UFC.  Let the head shaking begin.

According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via Wrestlezone.com, Brock has met with UFC head Dana White.  

Did anything come of it?  Supposedly not.  Did WWE, more specifically, Vince McMahon, know he was talking to his former boss?

Again, supposedly not.

While my first inclination upon hearing this bit of news, was to conclude that Brock is a man who is keeping his options open, and has the right to speak to whomever he wants, I have since decided that no, he’s just a selfish, self-serving athlete, who is just looking for his next payday.

Okay, I’m just messing with you.  But be honest, how many fans out there are feeling exactly that way about the Next Big Thing right now?

After all, Brock has never been accused of being a company guy, loving the business, and doing what was right for the industry.  His participation in WWE was not the culmination of a lifelong dream of being a Superstar, more like a business opportunity, a way to put his name and face out there, on the worldwide stage.

Perhaps in the hope that WWE would lead to bigger and better things?

Here’s the thing about Brock.  I am actually torn on this issue, mostly due to the fact that I recognize what he brought to the table when he debuted back in 2002.  

He was a beast, more machine than man, young and hungry, and out for blood.  He devastated everyone put in his path, and like the actual F-5 tornado, he left a mass of scattered wreckage and mangled houses in his wake.

Leveled a whole trailer park, too.

He was must-see television.  Just his physical presence alone was enough to make fans want to pay to see him.  His fundamentally sound wrestling background, combined with his imposing physique and merciless approach, was more than enough to make fans want to see him win.

And, he won. A lot.

Despite how many fans feel it was too much too soon, let’s be honest here.  If you have Brock Lesnar, and he’s physically ready, do you just hang onto him, keeping him hidden from the public eye, waiting for the right time?

Or, do you take him, put him on TV as soon as possible, get the fans’ attention, and start selling some tickets?

I think we all know where Vince fell on this one, and I for one, cannot say that I blame him.

So, here’s this kid, 25 years old, the newly crowned Undisputed WWE Champion, on a tear like no one has seen in a long time, perhaps ever, and it seems as though he’s here to stay.

Well, that’s what I thought anyway.  However, two short years later, Brock is doing the job to Goldberg at WrestleMania 20, and he’s out the door.  

Bye-bye, see ya.

Here’s the part where my being torn comes into play.

I am a pro wrestling fan, first and foremost.  Did I respect what Brock accomplished in his amateur career?  Eight championships, with a college career record of 106-5.  Yeah, you could say that he deserves some major props for that.  The guy could flat out go, no doubt about it.

And, again, I did appreciate what Brock brought to WWE in terms of overall presentation and impact, though he did receive a huge amount of spotlight in order to be in that position.

But, I have this thing about guys coming in, taking what they want, getting rich, and then walking out.

It’s not that I fault them for wanting to do other things, not at all.  The fact is, on one wants to end up with artificial hips, hobbling around like an old man, unable to barely put one foot in front of the other.

I’ve been around some of the old timers, trust me, it’s not pretty.

But, Brock was 27 when he left, and he didn’t leave to become an actor, or a front a metal band.  

No one is dissing Rocky or Chris Jericho, by the way, don’t get too excited on me here.

Brock left for New Japan Pro Wrestling, tried his hand at the NFL, and eventually ended up as an MMA fighter in UFC.  The question is, would he have been given an opportunity in any of these companies without the notoriety and publicity that he had from his time in WWE?

When Brock returned to face John Cena this year, the wrestling world was abuzz with the news.

Brock’s ferocity had never been more apparent, his physicality at an all-time high.  He decimated John at WWE’s Extreme Rules, and it looked as though not only was he back, he was here to stay.

Then he left.  Again.

Okay, so, his contract specifically limits the number of dates that he can appear this year.  Makes sense.

After all, when you have one of the hottest properties the business has ever seen, the right move is to re-sign him, promote him, push him, feature him in a pay-per-view main event, then take him off TV.

Makes perfect sense.

In the meantime, while we are all supposedly waiting for Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H at SummerSlam, the fact is that the War Machine seems to be flirting with his old employer, right in front of his current one.

Or, should I say, behind his back?

The bottom line here is that Vince McMahon and Dana White are both very sharp businessmen.  They know what operating a huge sports/entertainment company entails, and they are both very familiar with how to handle the various personalities who walk through their doors on a daily basis.

Brock Lesnar, while his actions make him somewhat of a curious character, is nothing new for either WWE or UFC.  He’s just an amped-up model of the typical modern-day athlete, a man who is a shameless self-promoter, and all about making a quick impact.  

Is Brock using the UFC as a way to further his storyline in WWE, or is he laying the groundwork for a possible future return to MMA?  Right now, when it comes to Brock Lesnar, nothing would surprise me.

Brock, love him or hate him, is a lighting rod for attention, and controversy.  He remains a guy that fans want to see, if only to see what he will do next.  

Though the word is that Brock has historically not been the easiest talent to work along with, the fact is that as long as he commands the fans’ attention, and has something to offer, he will be used, whether it’s in a WWE ring, or the Octagon.

Let the head shaking continue.