Brock Lesnar Has Massive Potential as an Anti-Hero Babyface

In the case of Brock Lesnar, crowds are beginning to root for the monster. It doesn't matter what savagery he inflicts on the WWE world, fans are becoming increasingly drawn to him, treating him like a babyface rather than the unfeeling beast that he is.

WWE would be smart to direct that increasing electricity around him and shape him into an anti-hero, an unsettling combination of The Punisher and The Incredible Hulk.

The Beast Incarnate is a natural heel. He's nasty, scary and looks like something born from fever-induced nightmares. That's the role he has played throughout his career, WWE playing to his strengths.

After his storyline suspension on Monday's Raw, it's time to start considering a change.

On the night after WrestleMania 31, in response to Seth Rollins denying him a title shot, Lesnar left the ringside area looking like a disaster area. Wires hung from the overturned announce table. Unconscious men surrounded the ring. The medical staff strapped Michael Cole to a stretcher. 

Even as vile as his actions were, fans cheered him on. Of course, part of that is due to the post-WrestleMania crowd always being subversive, but fans at home loved what they were seeing as well.

Ellis Mbeh, the fan famous for making a stunned face when Lesnar defeated Undertaker at WrestleMania, wanted to see more destruction:

Fans like Justine Cager tossed around the word "hero" when talking about the former WWE champ:

There's a chance to channel that popularity into making Lesnar a badass of a babyface. Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross certainly thinks so.

Ross told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, "We are only one or two creative wrinkles away from Brock Lesnar becoming the biggest babyface in WWE. Lesnar will be so much more effective as the returning, conquering hero. People want to cheer him."

He's right on here.

Lesnar is more respected by the diehard fans than John Cena. Cena is often a cartoon character—goofy, colorful, exaggerated. Meanwhile, Lesnar is an unreal physical specimen with UFC credentials. He appeals to the portion of the audience that prefers heroes with some grit.

He's also more established than Roman Reigns, the rising star encircled by a storm of doubters. At WrestleMania, fans pushed back against the expected roles they were supposed to play and pulled for Lesnar over his challenger.

Author Kevin Sullivan was one of many to notice the upside-down reaction the face and the heel received at WrestleMania: 

"

For a heel, Brock Lesnar may be the most over babyface at #WrestleMania.

— Kevin Sullivan (@SullivanBooks) March 25, 2015"

How then does WWE make use of this? How does the company turn a fang-bearing creature into one folks side with?

The central issue is in where Lesnar directs his rage.

Without proper context, The Hulk's actions seem villainous. He whips tanks into buildings and destroys public property. The key is that the big, green brute's rampages are aimed at the bad guys, though.

An anti-authority angle would be at the heart of doing something along those lines with Lesnar.

His violent actions on Monday's Raw led to Stephanie McMahon suspending and later fining him. In a backstage interview with Renee Young, McMahon growled, "I own that son of a bitch."

Lesnar can't be happy about the suspension, the fine or that inflammatory line. Why not have him stew in his cabin in Minnesota until he returns to be the wrecking ball that breaks The Authority apart?

Triple H and McMahon can run roughshod over the WWE in Lesnar's absence. They have the champion they want in Rollins; they have Kane and Big Show ready to take orders. Build up the empire and have injustice reign.

Then have Lesnar charge back on a mission to take out Rollins and the tyrannical group in charge while he's at it.

Credit: WWE.com

As we saw when Lesnar had his tantrum on Raw, there are few things more compelling than him in destroy-everything mode. He's a captivating presence. He's a larger-than-life athlete seemingly born to be in this business.

That has often been used as a means to make him a top villain. Reversing course now and having him be the angry, vengeful, dark hero who rips The Authority's infrastructure apart is a good move. As Ross says, fans want to cheer for him.

Let them do so. Let them watch with eyes glued to their screens as he decides to start conquering the bad guys.