Examining Brock Lesnar's Inability to Generate Heat During Extended WWE Absences

Brock Lesnar has once again made his exit from active competition in WWE. His departure was explained by a storyline suspension served up by Stephanie McMahon, and The Beast Incarnate is expected to return to the company at a later date.

The Next Big Thing is now a thing of the past—at least for now. So how can Lesnar hope to generate heat among the WWE faithful if he's not there to do it?

Fans likely knew it was only a matter of time until Lesnar was taken off TV again. The former WWE World champion has done this from the time he returned back in 2012, and it's a move fans have become accustomed to.

And they seem to be split right down the middle on it.

Fans of the move believe that limiting Lesnar's appearances keeps him fresh and makes him more of an attraction. This way, he's not overexposed. The "less is more" idea dominates this side of the conversation.

But then there's the other side, dominated by fans who are sick of seeing Lesnar leave. What began as heat on him due to his constant disappearing act has now transferred to WWE itself. The company is catching the blame for the move, and this time with good reason.

Fans were ready for Lesnar to make the turn, and right as he was about to, he was yanked off the air once again.

The Beast Incarnate was two steps away from turning babyface when he was taken away from fans. He had exploded in popularity over the past couple of months, and every time he was on WWE programming, he got a huge wave of support from fans.

But that's all over now. It's a dead issue.

Lesnar got over in spite of the fact that he's supposed to be heel. He destroyed a solid protagonist in Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 31 and was cheered for it. Then he set his sights on current World Heavyweight champion Seth Rollins and was cheered even more.

Lesnar had defied the usual heel/babyface dynamic of WWE and found a way to get over by being the maverick mauler he's always been.

And now that tremendous wave of support, that outpouring of affection from fans who were supposed to hate him, is all for naught. Lesnar is no longer there to receive it, and right now, his advocate isn't either.

Therein lies the biggest problem with removing Lesnar from TV. Paul Heyman went with him. The man considered by many to be the best talker in the business was the best at talking for Lesnar, and now he's out of commission right alongside his client.

Heyman was a heat magnet for Lesnar, The Beast's most effective way of getting over with the crowd. Week after week, Heyman sang his praises, and week after week, fans completely bought in.

Lesnar's legacy was written every time Heyman opened his mouth. He went from being a dominant monster to being the most dominant champion in WWE history, and it was well-documented every time they stood in the ring together.

The pair had never been hotter than the nights of and after WrestleMania 31. Heyman had sold his client as an unforgiving and merciless war machine who was meant to be feared. Instead, the fans loved him and wanted nothing more than to see him destroy everything in his path.

Lesnar was huge, his advocate was in demand and then they were gone.

The only way to keep Lesnar on the fans' radar and maintain his relevance until he returns is to get Heyman back on TV as soon as possible. Otherwise, how can WWE generate heat for him? Rollins can cut one promo after another claiming he had a hand in getting Lesnar put on the shelf, but there must be an answer from The Beast eventually.

The company can run video packages highlighting Lesnar's run and even feature him on the WWE Network, chronicling his career thus far. But too much of that could actually backfire among fans who are sick of hearing his name mentioned because, at the end of the day, he's just not there.

While Lesnar's star was surely the brightest one in WWE, a few questions about this situation come to mind.

Will his star be bright enough to keep fans interested in him? What he will do when he eventually returns? Will the crowds begin chanting his name during live events and on TV? Will they heckle Rollins and The Authority, or even Michael Cole, one of the men attacked on Lesnar's way out the door? Or will the fans eventually forget about Lesnar and move on to the next hot-button topic of conversation?

Will Lesnar be out of sight, out of mind?

Lesnar leaves behind a legion of fans who want to see him, and hopefully they will make their voices heard. Each time he comes back, he only disappears again, and while that's okay in the short term, it's not okay in the long term.

The only way to keep him at the forefront is to get Heyman back and push Lesnar as much as possible until he steps back into the ring.

If that does not happen, then Lesnar's reputation of being nothing more than a money-hungry hired gun who's out for himself will surely rear its ugly head once again.

And that may not necessarily be the heat Lesnar needs generated this time around.