[Cool King]

Brock Lesnar Returns to WWE Wrestling; Is UFC Fake Too? Brock Lesnar, the former UFC star, made headline news around the world Monday Night when he returned to WWE television for the first time in eight years. Before Brock Lesnar was an Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar, Lesnar carried Vince McMahon's WWE on the top of his broad shoulders. After leaving McMahon in 2004, citing the hectic schedule, Lesnar made a brief foray into the National Football League with the Minnesota Viking before he headed to Dana White's UFC. Brock Lesnar's pro wrestling return was undoubtedly a head spinning surprise. But it also blurs the lines between professional sports and sports entertainment. His return begs the question; is the UFC fake too? First, no, the UFC is not "fake". But neither is World Wrestling Entertainment. When used to describe sports, the word "fake" is often misconstrued. The preferred term in wrestling is "work." The men and women of the WWE do not participate in "fake" moves, because there is no faking many of the moves. When you get body slammed, you truly do feel the impact. But instead, the performers work together to produce the best outcome. So the question should be, is UFC also a "work?" Many UFC fanatics will balk at the concept. But you have to approach the suggestion with an open mind. Take for example early professional wrestling. At one time, pro wrestling was a legit competition. If fact, the early days of pro wrestling resembled what modern day UFC looks like, but without the pomp and circumstance. Although early legit pro wrestling was marketable, wrestlers and promoters soon realized that they drew more fans when they worked with each other and created more excitement and more action. This was the beginning of the "work." Wrestling eventually morphed from a legit competition into full formed sports entertainment. Dana White and UFC differentiate themselves from the WWE by promoting the fights as legit competition. But are they truly legit? Or are the guys "working" with one another to produce an exciting and dramatic match that will ensure more pay per view buys and merchandise sales. Here is something to ponder and ask yourself. Put yourself in the position of Dana White. You are the owner of UFC. You make millions of dollars a year, and you employ hundreds of people. Business is good. One day an average looking guy with no real physical appeal or personality comes along. This average man ends up being the greatest fighter you've ever seen and it's doubtless that he could kill any of your top fighters. However, you know if this guy will tank your business because your business is built on clashing personalities, brash attitudes and God-like physiques. Do you use this average man? Or do you ignore him and push your own men? If you said you would not use the average man, then you are well on your way to acknowledging that UFC could be a work. Again, not "fake." The guys really do hit one another, and I will not argue that point. But "work" to produce a mega star that will rake in the money for the company and make a lot of people rich. If it were a legit competition, the average man would be used and would go on to kill all the top fighters, and the business model would tank. I am not claiming that UFC is a fixed sport. I am merely saying that it could be a "work." The arrival of Brock Lesnar back to the WWE on Monday night, in additional to former WWE and UFC stars Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn, reminds me of the similarities between the two entities, as well as reminding me that UFC is merely an updated version of the older form of professional wrestling. For fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the topic will short circuit your brain and you will be adamant that it could not be a work. No reasoning will suffice. But for smart pro wrestling fans who understand the full progression from legit sport to sports entertainment, they'll acknowledge that it's quite possible that UFC is the ultimate work.

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