Brock Lesnar a sellout: yes or no

[blake639raw]

I know there was alot of topics about this, but I just want to know everyone's opinion. I'll give my two cents.

I can see how people would say yes. Wrestlers such as Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, etc. have been wrestling for years and years, and no matter where they went, they usually put on the best matches on the whole card. From Japan, to Mexico, ECW, WCW, WWE, and every where else, these people showed a true love for the business, and never half assed it in the ring.

Despite their hard work though, until recently, none of these guys would be rewarded with the big one, even though they are more than worthy of representing the belt. After all these years of working so hard with no recognition, it must have made them all a little secretly mad that Brock just walked in and got a huge superstar push, while they languished in mid card hell. Then after only two years, he decides that he's had enough and just up and leaves. Brock got to main event WrestleMania and win the WWE Title, tear through everybody on the roster, and just have a great run. The other guys in the back would have killed for that opportunity, and here Brock just walks away from it. So from the perspective of a wrestler, a fan , or most in WWE period, I could see why they think he "sold out" the business, being in it just for the money.

But, I try to look at it logically. He was freshly graduated out of college, and didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. He got many offers from the NFL, but I'm sure that none of them were as lucrative as what he was getting paid in the WWE. He was young, and had a buncha money shoved in his face by Vince , most people would have done the same thing. You can say what you want, but when someone offers you that kind of money, you usually don't turn it down. So he got into wrestling, and regardless of what alot of people say, I think he was a great worker. (Lesnar-Goldberg sucked, but that's to be expected). Not necessarily a technical genius like Angle or Benoit, but then again, with his size, he doesn't need to be. He proved that he could wrestle when he needed to, and I think he was only get ting better. He probably had no idea what he was getting himself into, with the schedule and all. It's a lot of pressure, to be given the push he got, and I think he did the best he could with it. Like alot of people say, yeah, he probably did get in it for the money, but he worked hard, and I think it's better if he gets out now, than if he stays around and becomes another lazy, unmotivated champion (HHH). If anybody should be blamed, it should be Vince. Brock's passion to the business hadn't been questioned or tested in the slightest, yet he was still given the push. Vince should have let Lesnar live the life style for a little while before pushing him to the top maybe, maybe not, that's another topic.

So, I don't really got anything against Lesnar. He didn't do anything that lots of other people wouldn't have. The finger should have been pointed at the WWE for not noticing that he wasn't ready.

[tucsonspeed6]

Originally Posted by blake639raw I know there was alot of topics about this, but I just want to know everyone's opinion. I'll give my two cents. I can see how people would say yes. Wrestlers such as Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, etc. have been wrestling for years and years, and no matter where they went, they usually put on the best matches on the whole card. From Japan, to Mexico, ECW, WCW, WWE, and every where else, these people showed a true love for the business, and never half assed it in the ring. Despite their hard work though, until recently, none of these guys would be rewarded with the big one, even though they are more than worthy of representing the belt. After all these years of working so hard with no recognition, it must have made them all a little secretly mad that Brock just walked in and got a huge superstar push, while they languished in mid card hell. Then after only two years, he decides that he's had enough and just up and leaves. Brock got to main event WrestleMania and win the WWE Title, tear through everybody on the roster, and just have a great run. The other guys in the back would have killed for that opportunity, and here Brock just walks away from it. So from the perspective of a wrestler, a fan , or most in WWE period, I could see why they think he "sold out" the business, being in it just for the money. But, I try to look at it logically. He was freshly graduated out of college, and didn't know what he wanted to do with his life. He got many offers from the NFL, but I'm sure that none of them were as lucrative as what he was getting paid in the WWE. He was young, and had a buncha money shoved in his face by Vince , most people would have done the same thing. You can say what you want, but when someone offers you that kind of money, you usually don't turn it down. So he got into wrestling, and regardless of what alot of people say, I think he was a great worker. (Lesnar-Goldberg sucked, but that's to be expected). Not necessarily a technical genius like Angle or Benoit, but then again, with his size, he doesn't need to be. He proved that he could wrestle when he needed to, and I think he was only get ting better. He probably had no idea what he was getting himself into, with the schedule and all. It's a lot of pressure, to be given the push he got, and I think he did the best he could with it. Like alot of people say, yeah, he probably did get in it for the money, but he worked hard, and I think it's better if he gets out now, than if he stays around and becomes another lazy, unmotivated champion (HHH). If anybody should be blamed, it should be Vince. Brock's passion to the business hadn't been questioned or tested in the slightest, yet he was still given the push. Vince should have let Lesnar live the life style for a little while before pushing him to the top maybe, maybe not, that's another topic. So, I don't really got anything against Lesnar. He didn't do anything that lots of other people wouldn't have. The finger should have been pointed at the WWE for not noticing that he wasn't ready.

[BigDaddyCool]

You know, he wasn't fresh out of college when Vince signed him, he had been working in the indies for a while, then signed with WWE. Now I might be mistaken, but the NFL doesn't usually draft ametuer wrestlers from college, they tend to go after college football players, and Brock never played college football (the seasons tend to overlap a lot, so it is hard to do both at once).

I'm not saying Brock did the right thing by taking everything he could from WWE without give back. But I'm just not certain on your facts.

[Fryza]

He's just a human wanting to do what he wants to do. I don't think he's a sell-out, just because he decided to do something else.

[blake639raw]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyCool I'm not saying Brock did the right thing by taking everything he could from WWE without give back. But I'm just not certain on your facts.

Well, he did some indies, but not for too long, and it wasn't really enough exposure to say that he had enough experience. I know he was in OVW for a long time, like a year or two, but even then, he was in a developmental deal with WWE. So you can say that pretty much he was snatched up pretty quick. I believe he won the NCAA title in 99 or 00. Hold on, I got a link.

http://www.cooldudesandhotbabes.com/lesnar.html

Lesnar graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2000, ending a stellar amateur wrestling career. He'd gone 50-2 in two years in Minnesota, making him 106-5 overall in four years of college. He won the NCAA heavyweight title, and was a two-time All American. Brock was courted by several NFL football teams after graduation and was invited to tryout camps. But he'd watched Kurt Angle rise to fame from the amateur wrestling ranks to WWE (then the WWF) and opted to follow in Angle's footsteps. Brock signed a developmental contract with WWE and was assigned to the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) developmental territory in Louisville, Kentucky for training. He spent two years with OVW under the guidance of Jim Cornette, and upped his weight to 295 chiseled pounds (he'd wrestled at 285 as an amateur). Brock became a standout at OVW events because of his size, as well as his athletic ability (he was able to perform a Shooting Star Press). He developed the team of The Minnesota Stretching Crew with Shelton Benjamin, and the two were OVW Tag Team Champions. "However long it takes me to make TV, it really doesn’t matter to me," Lesnar told W.I.N. Magazine in a 2000 interview. "I’m enjoying my job. The money is very good and I’m content with it. But, obviously my number one goal is to become WWF champion.”

[tucsonspeed6]

If people don't like him, they can be glad that he's gone. That's fine. Just don't call him a sellout because he didn't want to wrestle anymore. Someday anyone here may want to quit their job. After I graduate I'm going to be a science teacher. I'd hate to be told that I'm not allowed to quit if I'm not ready for all of its responcibilities. It's something that every person has to deal with, and if I'm not ready for it, it's not the place for me. Same goes for Brock. If he doesn't want to go on a losing streak, he doesn't have to. If you told any wrestler in the indies that they were going straight to the top, they'd all think the way that Brock did. Lots of guys start out thinking that they'll be this character that never loses and is loved by everyone. So, hate Brock for whatever reason you've got, but don't hate him because he quit. It was his right.

[KaliKot]

Boooo!
the lesnar goldberg really sucked
Even by Goldberg standards it sucked
It could have been a pretty good match if both of them hadnt sucked because of the crowd.
Goldberg can put on a decent match Geez, he's still better than Bradshaw and Rikishi

[PureHatred]

I have more respect for walking away from a ton of money in a job he didn't love to pursue something he really wanted to try. As for his attitude about not wanting to job, that's a result of the WWE giving him too much to soon.

[SeanMC]

^agreed. I reckon its the wwe's bad man-management which is to blame here.I mean how can a guy like benoit whos been in the business for 18 years, stay stuck in the mid card section all that time, and yet with lesnar they rush him straight in just cos of his size and not whether he can work a good match or not?Something fishy seems to be going on there.And the only good matches lesnar had were the ones with angle, and god you know it was cos angle produced the best out of him.

[Rock Bottom]

I am really indecisive. I agree with alot of what Lesnar was saying. I was always worried about his character too. I think it kind of blows that he was pushed so hard, taken care of, and then left, but, that's all circumstancial, and it really didn't effect his decision. I hope he makes it whatever he's doing, however, I will continue to make fun of him with the right captions.

[Rock Bottom]

Originally Posted by PureHatred I have more respect for walking away from a ton of money in a job he didn't love to pursue something he really wanted to try. As for his attitude about not wanting to job, that's a result of the WWE giving him too much to soon.

Yeah, that's what I said, about the too soon part. They blew their wad way too early for Lesnar.

[ColdwaVer]

I never really like Lesnar and I'm not sorry to see him gone. All in all I'm glad he did what his heart seems to have told him to do. Continuing wrestling if he really didn't want to could very well have led him into the kind of self-destructive path that's been ruining a lot of wrestlers' lives. So all in all I respect his decision and hope that if he does come back to WWE someday he has his head screwed on a bit better.

[Corkscrewed]

You know, he wasn't fresh out of college when Vince signed him, he had been working in the indies for a while, then signed with WWE.

Really? I thought they approached him basically after he won the NCAA championship (or whatever it was called), and that he's been a WWE guy all his career.

Anyway, he had big money guaranteed in the WWE, but he walked out because he didn't like his career. Isn't that closer to the OPPOSITE of selling out?

[CanAmConnection]

Corkscrew, you beat me to the punch... ablsolute opposite.

[Corkscrewed]

Of course, that doesn't detract from the fact that he's still a spoiled whiney penis (given his recent actions).

[SeanMC]

^ agreed also. Lesnar's a complete asshole.I liked his gimmick n that becaus ehe was made out to be a giant monster kind of thing, and was unstoppable and thats one reason why eddie is so over now believe it or not. But his in ring work was horriable and his mic skills wont to impressive either. I found it annoying how he always said his opponents name every 2 seconds. Literally.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Corkscrewed Really? I thought they approached him basically after he won the NCAA championship (or whatever it was called), and that he's been a WWE guy all his career. Anyway, he had big money guaranteed in the WWE, but he walked out because he didn't like his career. Isn't that closer to the OPPOSITE of selling out?

Indeed, O'Neill.

He's not even guaranteed a shot in the NFL. He's putting a massive amount of cash on the line for a CHANCE to be a football player.

People toss around the line "sellout" so often it has very little meaning.

[Kane Knight]

His in-ring work was horrible?

[MoRcHeEbA]

im sure he can play in the cfl

[Shaggy]

I dont think that I would actually call him a sell out. Sure other superstars have done more for less and havnt complained but thats because they really love the sport. Lesnar even stated that he wasnt in love with the sport, it was just something that he wanted to try to see if he ended up liking it. You can make fun off a man for quitting one job to do something else. Thats the same thing as quitting McDonalds to go work for a Video Store. Its something different that you you think you can do so you go out and do it. If it works out then happiness for you but if it fails then you can try all over again somewhere else.

[Corkscrewed]

Originally Posted by MoRcHeEbA im sure he can play in the cfl

ARENA FOOTBALL BABY!!!!!!!!!

[PureHatred]

Just for the record, Lesnar did a radio show in Minnesota after WM, where he stated that he definitely would not play in the CFL, Arena League, or NFL-Europe (whihc the NFL uses as sort of a "minor league").

I suppose you could say that this is another example of Lesnar wanting to work hard, but just not hard enough to start at the bottom.

[Kane Knight]

Too true.