Lesnar Leaving WWE?

[Cwalker]

"Brock Lesnar is set for a return to mixed martial arts when his WWE contract expires in April 2015. WWE, UFC and Bellator MMA are likely to be interested in his commercial appeal. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has stated, “At this moment he’s leaning towards the UFC.”
However, Bellator is aggressively playing the game to bring in recognised name fighters. Furthermore, Bellator could suit Brock’s skill level more than the UFC. As for WWE, they are potentially going to be priced out of extending Lesnar’s current deal. The WWE Network expense means that Brock’s value is diminished in pro wrestling.
As witnessed this last weekend, Bellator is more about promoting gimmick MMA than the elite level sport in the UFC. That isn’t a criticism of Bellator. This past weekend’s Bellator 131 show with former UFC stars Tito Ortiz vs Stephan Bonnar was the most watched MMA fight on cable tv in the whole of 2014.
Bellator’s strategy of using former headliners is a great way to seize casual fans. Lesnar would be the ultimate name for Bellator to achieve their goal of appealing to viewers. Like Ortiz, Lesnar probably wouldn’t take many wins in the UFC. But in the Bellator group the competition is less fierce. Lesnar could be matched with ‘name’ fighters rather than ‘skilled’ fighters.
Meltzer states that two potentially huge fights Bellator could line up for Lesnar would be Kimbo Slice and Bobby Lashley.
Kimbo has mainstream notoriety and is a fight that Lesnar could win. It would do massive ratings and is a win-win for both Bellator and Lesnar. Alternatively, Lesnar vs Lashley is an obvious fight to make. It could be marketed to MMA and WWE fans, although Lashley would represent more of a challenge than Slice.
You’d still have to see UFC as the leaders to capture Lesnar’s signature. They have more money and it sounds like UFC President Dana White wants Lesnar.
“Brock wouldn’t go to Bellator,” White said this week, “Brock wants to fight the best guys in the world. The best guys are here.”
The big winner in all of this is Brock Lesnar. When he enters negotiations with any of these groups, they’ll be aware that he has other options on the table. That’s going to drive his price up significantly—something which WWE likely can’t afford in their current Network related austerity"

Dirt sheet report so take it for what it's worth. But what do you think of Lesnar leaving the ring to return to the octagon?

 

[Chris]

He's not old or anything, but I just can't see him returning to form in the Octagon. I'd rather him stick with what he's doing in WWE than go to Bellator for sure, but if he thinks he can make it in the UFC again then good luck to him.

 

[Dale]

He wouldn't go to Bellator, Uncle Dana wouldn't let it happen.

I love Brock, really I do but i'm kinda over him and this WWE run sadly. I've no problem with the part time schedule really, it's just that when he comes back now it's just all Heyman on the mic which is no bad thing in itself, I just kinda want it to be about him and not Paul Heyman w/ Brock Lesnar.

I've done a shitty job of explaining it I know, but the only other way I can explain it is that when The Rock comes back I know i'm going to be entertained pretty much every week with his promos and stuff, whereas with Brock i've gotta endure listening to Heyman for weeks which again isn't a bad thing while just seeing Brock standing in the background doing nothing, maybe a little scuffle here and there.

 

[Chris]

They need to have Brock attack more jobbers on a weekly basis when he's around.

 

[Defiant]

Seems like a waste of money to keep Brock around if he'll only be used sparingly like he is now. WWE did a great job of building him like a monster this year but it's a shame he wasn't more. Brock will follow the money now and I can't blame him for that, just seems like a waste after he got to beat Taker's streak and kept the title at home for months. I don't follow MMA so to me it just feels like he's gone from existence now.

 

[The Cork]

Bellator has more money than UFC so article has at least one lie.

Could easily see him going there, as he's always seemed to go with the career path that leads to the most controversy, plus he's a self admitted money mark.

Getting paid $1m plus for fighting guys like Houston Alexander, yes please.

 

[Slim]

At first I would have sid that I couldn't see him going to Bellator over UFC. But now thinking about it... it does look like it'd be a possibility. It would seem like a much lighter schedule than UFC because the talent pool there is much tougher. Plus... as far as Kimbo Slice goes... I thought he was still doing boxing... although he hasn't had a fight in like a year so not real sure what he's doing now. But he could be a good name for Bellator to have although his knees would be his biggest issue and that was part of the reason he went to boxing.

But Brock in Bellator... he could fight Lashley and i think he'd win that fight and then get that heavyweight title there as well. Brock isn't that young. He is nearing 40. He does already have fights waiting for him in UFC if he were to go there and Uncle Dana would pay to have Brock back. But it does look like Brock's time in WWE is up.

 

[Deezy]

Its a Meltzer report, not putting much stock in that.

Why would Brock forego 4 mil a year to go through fight camps? Dropping weight and paying trainers and renting facilities to possibly lose to non names again? The fuck out of here Bellator lol

 

[Keith]

Not sure I buy this either. It would be too much of a gamble for him to return to MMA at this stage. He must already have enough money in the bank to set him up for life, and his current part-time set up suits him and fans nicely.

 

[Dale]

Its a Meltzer report, not putting much stock in that.

Why would Brock forego 4 mil a year to go through fight camps? Dropping weight and paying trainers and renting facilities to possibly lose to non names again? The fuck out of here Bellator lol

Aint no way he's getting close to that money again if/when they renegotiate a deal after Mania. If he's going to chase money then I imagine that would be in MMA again but i'm pretty sure the guy is completely set for life now anyway

 

[John McHenry]

Thought his extension after last year was a multi year deal?

 

[Deezy]

Aint no way he's getting close to that money again if/when they renegotiate a deal after Mania. If he's going to chase money then I imagine that would be in MMA again but i'm pretty sure the guy is completely set for life now anyway

MMA don't pay shit, mil a fight and he is left with what after paying coaches and renting out faculties to train in? Death clutch closed and he just bought more property in rural Manitoba. UFC were lowballing him with a reported 500k a fight and a PPV share. A draw like him should he making Maywesther money, but MMA don't pay shit.

 

[Dale]

MMA don't pay shit, mil a fight and he is left with what after paying coaches and renting out faculties to train in? Death clutch closed and he just bought more property in rural Manitoba. UFC were lowballing him with a reported 500k a fight and a PPV share. A draw like him should he making Maywesther money, but MMA don't pay shit.

Well I have no idea how much his old coaches would cost if he were to go that route but i'm pretty sure he still has the gym facility on his property where he used to train out of unless he's moved or whatever.

 

[Deezy]

Heyman said he moved to middle of fucking nowhere Manitoba because Minnesota was too close to civilization. And Patt Barry said the training facility closed after Brock retired.

 

[Twitchy]

Would not be surprised. I feel like his ego is ridiculous (for good reasons)...