As soon as it was confirmed by wrestling outlets that the WWE was looking to bring back Bobby Lashley after a 10-year absence from the company, the immediate assumption was that he’d be thrown into a storyline with Brock Lesnar.
It makes complete sense. This is a match many had talked about when Lesnar left the WWE and Lashley walked through those doors to cause plenty of destruction himself. The size of the athletes, the strength and the sheer carnage WWE could get out of it meant it was something that had to happen.
DOMINANCE
Now that he’s officially back, it comes as no surprise that there has been speculation that the two could finally meet after years of simply talking about a potential clash. Despite both men ageing, it perhaps makes a lot more sense now than it did previously.
The Beast has been taken to heights we once thought never existed; conquering The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak and laying waste to every superstar he’s faced while keeping his Universal Championship intact. We also can’t forget the fact that part of his dominant booking comes down to having a successful career in the UFC, as becoming the heavyweight champion in that organisation is no easy task.
On the flip side, Lashley has grown as a superstar in his own right by competing in other promotions, such as Impact Wrestling, while carving out a successful MMA career of his own as part of the Bellator roster. With two legitimate fighters that are so similar now under the WWE’s banner, the time could be considered perfect to have them finally battle, with SummerSlam a speculated event to host a match of this stature.
Sadly, it’s not happening.
It was revealed this week that WWE had no plans to book this match, as they didn’t want Lashley - who is now 41-years-old and older than Lesnar - to be the one that finally slays The Beast. Instead, that honour should be going to two younger big-name superstars if WWE’s plans work out, per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
The source has revealed that if Lesnar is truly on his way out of the company, then the most they’re able to get out of him are two big losses.
TWO LOSSES
The first is obvious, as the first of the two losses he has could be against Roman Reigns. That could happen as early as next week, as rumours have suggested that The Big Dog could finally capture the Universal Championship at the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 27 inside of their steel cage match.
If the WWE has enough dates on Lesnar’s deal to pull off a second loss, then the company wants Lesnar to put over Braun Strowman instead of Lashley.
The Monster Among Men has failed against Lesnar before, like Reigns, but a win would be more beneficial for him than it ever could be for Lashley. He’s still young and in the long-run, he and Reigns will have a lot more to offer coming off big wins over Lesnar than Lashley ever could.
Plus, let's face it, WWE fans would love Strowman being the final one to defeat Lesnar, as opposed to Reigns getting that honour.
If the WWE can pull this off, then Lesnar’s exit could come following two big losses that can change the landscape for the future.
What do you make of WWE’s plans to have Brock Lesnar lose to both Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.