the way WWE's handling Brock Lesnar's imminent return

[BloodRiotZero]

According to lordsofpain.net:

"Word has it that the Brock Lesnar has not been able to reach Vince McMahon to talk about a return, being forced to leave messages with Vince's assistant Beth each time he calls. Lesnar is said to be deeply interested in returning, feelings not reciprocated by WWE.

WWE had no problem with Lesnar's decision to leave, however, was not happy with his anti-wrestling comments in the quest for an NFL career. With the NFL dream shattered, he has no leverage in negotiations since he's no longer known as a top amateur wrestler, but rather a man who failed to make the NFL.

The feeling is that if Lesnar truly wants to come back, he'll have to undergo a major attitude change and, even then, "pay his dues" before being elevated to the main-event level. He was not a big financial draw, so there is no need to be too generous in accomodating his wishes for a return, even if it is inevitable."

WWE is absolutely terrible. Instead of using this situation to their advantage they instead want to put personal differences in front of business. If business would be done correctly, they would have Brock return on an episode of RAW and F5 the @#%$ out of Randy Orton! If business were being done correctly, they'd use this situation to make him a heel who the boys in the back don't want to return cuz he ditched them for the NFL. If business were being done correctly, they could have any mention of the NFL tick Brock's character off. If business were being done correctly, they would not make him "pay his dues". Only thing I can justify is not accomodating his wishes if he wasn't that big of a financial draw, but then again who in WWE is a big financial draw???

[Savio]

Shit I watched Smack Down mostly because he was on it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I would have loved to see him return on the RAW after Mania, and F-5 everyone in some kind of Sub-Royal Rumble (like last year with SD!, which Eddie Guerrero won). The best part would be that Lesnar would be wearing a SmackDown! shirt at the time. Then Lesnar takes the World Heavyweight Championship form whoever owns it, and on the SmackDown! tapings (which are right after it), Lesnar cuts a promo about he's back doing what he loves on SmackDown!.

The RAW guys come back for revenge, but Lesnar holds his own, before Batista and Rhyno come in, then out pours the SmackDown! lockerroom and they start to brawl with the RAW guys. SD! wins, but then two SD! guys having a feud start brawling, which leads to a implosion amongst the SD! ranks. Lesnar later claims that SD! owns the World Heavyweight Championship, because Brock Lesnar became the Undisputed Championship back in August of 2002, and he took the title to SD!, and it should stay that way. RAW should be the "B" show.

We then see Lesnar rage war against RAW.

[Corkscrewed]

I'd only consider supporting his comeback if he really wanted. Since he never really had that passion, I'd rather him stay away rather than take a spot away from someone who deserved it.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I would have loved to see him return on the RAW after Mania, and F-5 everyone in some kind of Sub-Royal Rumble (like last year with SD!, which Eddie Guerrero won). The best part would be that Lesnar would be wearing a SmackDown! shirt at the time. Then Lesnar takes the World Heavyweight Championship form whoever owns it, and on the SmackDown! tapings (which are right after it), Lesnar cuts a promo about he's back doing what he loves on SmackDown!.

The RAW guys come back for revenge, but Lesnar holds his own, before Batista and Rhyno come in, then out pours the SmackDown! lockerroom and they start to brawl with the RAW guys. SD! wins, but then two SD! guys having a feud start brawling, which leads to a implosion amongst the SD! ranks. Lesnar later claims that SD! owns the World Heavyweight Championship, because Brock Lesnar became the Undisputed Championship back in August of 2002, and he took the title to SD!, and it should stay that way. RAW should be the "B" show.

We then see Lesnar rage war against RAW.


Nah

[The Naitch]

I like the F5 on Orton idea. Or on Cena

[Head]

I don't blame Vince at all. People are looking at this as a Vince ego thing, when really it's just playing it safe.

If I were him, I wouldn't want a guy who may decide to just pack up and leave at any time to be the top star of my company. I think "paying dues" is stupid, but there's a fine line between that, and making guys prove (especially guys who have walked out already) that they are there to stay.

If they do bring him it, it shouldn't be anywhere but back on top, but they should make damn sure that Brock's really committed before they do that.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

I think "paying dues" is stupid, but there's a fine line between that, and making guys prove (especially guys who have walked out already) that they are there to stay.
Austin left, twice for that matter, and came back and went straight back to the top.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

And I think it's well known I'm a huge mark from Brock but what I'm about to say is completely impartial.

If Vince doesn't bring Brock back, he's a moron. Brock is not a huge draw, no denying it, but he was over as hell and credible as could be. Brock Lesnar really was the Next Big Thing, it wasn't just a tagline. WWE is desperate for names and guys who can go, Brock is both.

[Head]

As I stated, I do think that when Brock comes back, he should come back on top, they just have to be sure that's what he wants before brining him back.

As for Austin, I honestly don't know too much about what the situation was with him, but I have a few seperate responses to that.

a) Just because the WWE has made mistakes in the past does not mean that they can't learn from them, and change their policy.

b) The situations could have been a lot different. Brock has more or less demonstrated that he does not much care for pro wrestling as an entity, and did not want it to be his occupation, while Austin (if I'm not mistaken) left mostly due to creative problems, or issues relating to stress, and once those were resolved, had a true interest (at least from Vince's point of view I'd bet) in returning to the company.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

As I stated, I do think that when Brock comes back, he should come back on top, they just have to be sure that's what he wants before brining him back.

As for Austin, I honestly don't know too much about what the situation was with him, but I have a few seperate responses to that.

a) Just because the WWE has made mistakes in the past does not mean that they can't learn from them, and change their policy.

b) The situations could have been a lot different. Brock has more or less demonstrated that he does not much care for pro wrestling as an entity, and did not want it to be his occupation, while Austin (if I'm not mistaken) left mostly due to creative problems, or issues relating to stress, and once those were resolved, had a true interest (at least from Vince's point of view I'd bet) in returning to the company.
Once Austin left because he didn't want to job to Owen, the second time because he didn't want to job to Brock. The thing is Austin just walked out and didn't tell anyone. Brock gave like 2 or 3 months notice and finished out Mania (rather than screwing WWE over and not working their big show).

[Transplant]

The difference between Austin and Brock was that Austin drew a shitload more than Brock did.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

The difference between Austin and Brock was that Austin drew a shitload more than Brock did.
Austin had a lot of people who could draw to help him draw that shitload more. Brock didn't. Austin had the Rock (full time), HBK, Hart, DX, Mankind, Taker, Kane (a credible Kane). Yeah Brock worked a couple shots with Rock and Hogan, but he never had the solid program behind him that would allow him to draw.

[Head]

Austin had a lot of people who could draw to help him draw that shitload more. Brock didn't. Austin had the Rock (full time), HBK, Hart, DX, Mankind, Taker, Kane (a credible Kane). Yeah Brock worked a couple shots with Rock and Hogan, but he never had the solid program behind him that would allow him to draw.
This is true, but right or wrong, Austin became a draw on his own because of this, while Brock still is not.

[BloodRiotZero]

I don't believe this nonsense about Brock not being a draw. Since he has left, it is pretty much agreed that SmackDown has become "less credible" (for lack of a better phrase) in the eyes of the fans. Has house show attendence lessened? Have PPV buyrates gotten lower? Has SmackDown's ratings gotten lower? (I'm seriously asking, not just being rhetorical). Just because they didn't get any higher or he didn't skyrocket the WWE into the mainstream like Hogan/Austin did does not mean he's not a draw... for that matter neither were Bret or Shawn.

[Nark Order]

The fact of the matter is that the WWE (ie: Vince McMahon) took a chance on Brock Lesnar in the first place, pushing him to the very top in an extremely short amount of time and Brock pissed all over it. He got a big head towards the end and thought he was on top of the fucking world. WWE gave Lesnar a chance that they give almost nobody and he took it for granite and threw it away, not thinking of the long term consequences. And as if it weren't bad enough that he just decided to leave on such short notice, after he was gone he badmouthed the company to no end.

The WWE is under no obligation to give a fuck what this guy wants anymore. Sure, he's a great talent but he screwed up big time by trashing an opportunity that some people work the better part of their lives for. If he comes back, great; If he doesn't.... whether you like to admit it or not... He deserves it.

[ColdwaVer]

If we're talking "good for business" here, bringing Lesnar back would be a huge risk. Lesnar couldn't serve well as a midcarder, yet putting him back in the main event would send a really bad message to guys who have been loyal to the company for years, ie "we don't give a sh</>it about your loyalty," and to the new guys, "you can piss all over the business if you want, you'll still have a job here." Plus, who knows how much you can count on a guy who left the company as soon as he found something better to do. Finally, what are you telling the fans when a guy leaves your company and makes a number of comments that don't say much for how he feels about them, not to mention that the last we saw him he was giving us all the finger?

[Mr. Nerfect]

If we're talking "good for business" here, bringing Lesnar back would be a huge risk. Lesnar couldn't serve well as a midcarder, yet putting him back in the main event would send a really bad message to guys who have been loyal to the company for years, ie "we don't give a sh</>it about your loyalty," and to the new guys, "you can piss all over the business if you want, you'll still have a job here." Plus, who knows how much you can count on a guy who left the company as soon as he found something better to do. Finally, what are you telling the fans when a guy leaves your company and makes a number of comments that don't say much for how he feels about them, not to mention that the last we saw him he was giving us all the finger?

Why not have him come back as that sort of character? Brock Lesnar doesn't love this business, but is a wrestling prodigy, so this pisses off guys like Benoit, Jericho, Guerrero, Michaels, or wherever Lesnar goes. Sure it could raise complications backstage, but I would simply solve this by paying Lesnar less than those guys. Lesnar seems desperate enough to come back, but if he won't do it for less, then there must be a way to make everyone happy. Maybe let wrestlers shoot on him? I dunno really, but I would love to hear Guerrero, Benoit or Jericho talk about how this is their dream, and how this is in their blood and Lesnar disgraces it and has the balls to come back.

You bring up a damn good point.