Brock Lesnar, WWE Agree to New Contract; Will Face Roman Reigns in Saudi Arabia

WWE brought the speculation about Brock Lesnar's future to an end Monday, as it announced the universal champion has signed a new contract with the company.

Lesnar will also defend the WWE Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at the Greatest Royal Rumble, a WWE Network-exclusive event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 27.

According to Sporting News' Steven Muehlhausen, Lesnar's new WWE deal doesn't preclude him from pursuing a UFC comeback. Bleacher Report's Jeremy Botter provided more information about the development:

Not only was Lesnar's contract with WWE set to expire after WrestleMania 34 on Sunday, but UFC President Dana White also confirmed last week he was working toward his return to the Octagon. As a result, many expected WrestleMania to be The Beast Incarnate's final WWE match for the foreseeable future.

Instead, Lesnar defeated Reigns in the main event, indicating his WWE career will continue for the time being.

The question now becomes whether Lesnar's new deal carries him through WrestleMania 35 in 2019 or if it's more about keeping him around long enough to drop the universal title.

Pro Wrestling Sheet's Ryan Satin reported Monday that Lesnar and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon got into an argument after the WrestleMania main event, during which Lesnar allegedly threw the universal title.

Lesnar has provided diminishing returns in recent years, starting after WrestleMania 31 in March 2015. His singles matches have essentially followed the exact same template, and fellow WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose acknowledged previously how difficult it can be to get anything out of Lesnar.

As a result, many WWE fans have become apathetic toward Lesnar. That was never clearer than Sunday, when the New Orleans crowd cheered more for bouncing beach balls than whatever was happening in the ring during the Lesnar-Reigns title bout.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to see how Lesnar justifies his massive salary from WWE. Forbes' Chris Smith reported on Monday that The Beast earned an estimated $6.5 million over the last year.

However, that isn't stopping WWE from keeping Lesnar on the active roster, at least through April.