Would a UFC Loss Hurt Brock Lesnar’s WWE Career?
By Josh.0
Brock Lesnar is a huge draw for both the UFC and WWE. So why would Vince McMahon risk his image in a real fight?
When Brock Lesnar steps into the octagon for UFC 200 on July 9th, it will be his first “real” fight since December 2011. The fight’s announcement raised more than a few concerns about his future with WWE but perhaps we should be more concerned about the present.
Lesnar’s whole image in WWE is about being a beast. A conqueror. A man who cannot be bested by mortal men. Anyone who attempts to fell him must do so with unconventional weapons of unimaginable power and magnitude.
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So what happens if Mark Hunt does it with his fists? His human fists.
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In the WWE, Lesnar can swagger down to the ring with confidence because he already knows the outcome of the match. UFC president Dana White has warned what could happen if Lesnar takes that same attitude with Hunt:
"“If Brock doesn’t get this thing to the ground; he’s in for a bad night. He thought Alistair Overeem was a problem? Mark Hunt knocks guys out that have never been knocked out. He goes in there and knocks out Roy Nelson with one of those one-shot walk-away punches. Nobody does that to Roy Nelson.”"
It could be argued that a loss doesn’t hurt Lesnar because the demographics are different and anything that happens outside a WWE ring is unlikely to hurt his image amongst wrestling fans. Sure, it may be harder to explain to younger fans why the large man from RAW is now being punched in the face by another large man but that’s what parenting is all about.
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There is also the issue about a possible injury. The octagon is no stranger to horrific and YouTube worthy moments where ankles have become little more than rubber chew toys. A typical broken ankle takes 4-8 weeks to heal, with another several months of rehab before returning to full mobility depending on the extent of damage to surrounding tendons and ligaments. Such an injury would be devastating to the WWE who depends on Lesnar to pop in at opportune times when ratings need a boost.
Lesnar is an incredible athlete, so his return to the UFC doesn’t surprise me. While there is no doubt he enjoys the big paychecks and easy workload afforded him by his WWE contract, he still has the blood of a competitor coursing through his veins and that means he wants a challenge. While I have been a vocal critic of Lesnar in the past, I respect the fact that he wants to see if he can still assert his dominance over MMA.
If Lesnar loses, he will return to the WWE and the majority of fans likely won’t care. The loss will be disregarded (if even mentioned at all) and Paul Heyman will continue promoting the Beast Incarnate as an indestructible force of nature.
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If Lesnar is successful, he can rest easy knowing that he won’t have to wait long for another challenger.