Breaking Down Brock Lesnar's Impact on WWE Before Battleground 2015

Brock Lesnar is the biggest star in the wrestling industry, and his willingness to work a secondary pay-per-view like WWE’s 2015 edition of Battleground showcases how big of an impact the former champion has on the brand.

Besides John Cena, Lesnar is the top draw in WWE.

As Lesnar showcased time after time with the UFC as the company’s heavyweight champion, he has the ability to draw over 1 million PPV customers. While the new WWE Network model has changed the way the company gauges success, Lesnar is a mainstream star who has shown he can transcend the sport.

What makes Lesnar so unique is that he has the drawing power to make a secondary PPV like Battleground feel important. July's "special" event was nothing special before Lesnar was announced, but since he was added to the card, the show’s importance has grown exponentially.

The key is that Lesnar is a true tough guy. Winning a heavyweight championship at WWE is one thing, but winning a UFC heavyweight title and earning a NCAA wrestling championship makes him one of the most dangerous men in the world.

Having a top star who is a legit badass in and out of the ring helps make wrestling feel real. Suspending disbelief can be difficult for many fans, but there is no need to pretend when Lesnar is throwing human beings around like they’re pieces of meat.

Whether Lesnar wins at Battleground or not, having him fight for the title adds legitimacy to the championship. Seth Rollins has been booked so poorly that the belt has lost some of its luster, but the second Lesnar’s music hit and he declared that he was once again chasing the title, it became the most important championship in all of wrestling once again.

Add the fact that Lesnar has proved he doesn’t mind taking losses if they fit the storyline and put over a star, and he is truly the best for business. People say Lesnar does it for the money, but his willingness to help put over younger wrestlers and improve the wrestling industry as a whole does not indicate that he is selfish.

For the fans who wonder why Lesnar is such a big star now, the answer is simple: He is an antihero. CM Punk filled that role before, but with Lesnar doing whatever he wants and not worrying about the ramifications, he has become a fan favorite who isn't clean-cut like Cena.

Lesnar is a huge asset for WWE, and his presence on a secondary PPV like Battleground instantly makes it one of the most anticipated shows of the year.

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