Make no mistake about it, Brock Lesnar — although his name has been clouded by controversy in recent years — is still, without question, one of the last great box-office attractions in professional wrestling. He is the type of performer whose very name, whispered in a rumor, sends a ripple of electricity through fanbases. If you doubt that, you only have to look at what happened this past weekend at Wrestlepalooza, WWE’s debut premium live event on ESPN. The building was jam-packed. The atmosphere was molten. And the match that carried the most weight — the bout splashed across posters, trailers and billboards — was the “final” encounter between Lesnar and John Cena.
Right now, Cena’s career is ticking down. He has only five dates left in his WWE journey, and that doesn’t mean five matches — it means five appearances. Crown Jewel will see him on Oct. 11. He’ll show up on “WWE Raw” in Boston on Nov. 10 and again in New York a week later. He’ll lace up for Survivor Series: WarGames in San Diego on Nov. 29. And then, at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 13, he’ll take his final bow.
With so little time left, a full-scale feud with Lesnar seems improbable. But does that slam the door on Cena getting his long-awaited payback? Not at all — in fact, it might come under the double cage of Survivor Series.
Picture this: WarGames. The Vision — Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and, thanks to Paul Heyman’s surprise appearance at Wrestlepalooza, Brock Lesnar — standing shoulder-to-shoulder inside the steel. Across from them: CM Punk, The Usos and John Cena. The visual alone sells itself.
Imagine the roar when Lesnar is released from his cage, when he storms into the fray as the final entrant, tossing bodies like rag-dolls until only Cena remains standing. That would not just be a WarGames match. That would be one of the most-hyped WarGames clashes in WWE history. And in the end, the result wouldn’t even matter. Whether the babyfaces managed to topple The Vision, or whether Lesnar’s side rolled through them with brute force, the anticipation and the spectacle would be the true victory.
Afterward, as the dust settles from WarGames, Lesnar doesn’t need to linger on weekly TV. The beauty of “The Beast” is that his appearances are rare, and each one matters. WarGames becomes his closing chapter with Cena, giving Cena the shot at revenge he’s chased for a decade. But that payoff also clears the lane for Lesnar’s next collision course. The story shifts from old business with Cena to new business — who can possibly stop Brock Lesnar when he’s on a tear?
When you book Lesnar, you have to understand what he is and what he is not. He is not a regular roster member. He is not someone you plug in every Monday and Friday. He is not interchangeable with the men who grind week after week. Lesnar is an *attraction*. He is a special event. He is the modern-day Andre the Giant.
In the old territory days, when Paul Boesch was promoting Houston Wrestling, putting Andre’s name on the card guaranteed a sellout. Fans didn’t need to know who else was on the bill; Andre was enough. Part of his appeal was that he only came around once or twice a year. That rarity made his presence seismic. Brock Lesnar is the 21st-century equivalent. The less you see him, the more he matters. The moment you start using him like anyone else, you lose the magic.
When Lesnar returned to the ring this past Saturday, he looked more monstrous than ever. His frame was carved, his shoulders wide as a door frame, his arms like tree trunks. Maybe it’s the Saskatchewan elk meat he’s eating, but the man looked like he’d rolled back the clock. And here’s the truth — Lesnar may be part-time. He may be selective. He may want the biggest check for the fewest dates. But when he’s inside those ropes, he still puts on the boots and works as hard as anyone alive. He bumps. He sells. He throws his body around the ring for the good of the story. That willingness to give, when he chooses to, is what has made his second run — dating back to 2012 — one of the greatest stretches of any performer in wrestling history.
We cannot forget that Lesnar ended The Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania 30, a feat no one else can ever replicate. He has carried the Universal Championship in reigns of dominance. He has spanned generations, fighting The Rock and Kurt Angle in one era, then Roman Reigns and Rhodes in another. His career since 2012 could stand on its own as a Hall of Fame résumé. Add in everything before, and you’re looking at a once-in-a-lifetime figure.
The formula for Lesnar has always been simple, and simplicity is what makes it brilliant. You don’t overexpose him. You book him sparingly, and when he appears, you let him dominate. You build mystique around him. And when the time is right, you let him give the rub to the next great babyface. He did it for Rhodes. He could do it for someone like Femi. He could do it opposite Gunther on the grandest stage.
If Lesnar enters WarGames, he will sell out the building. If he steps into the Royal Rumble, fans will pay just to see who dares eliminate him. If his name is printed on a WrestleMania 42 card, his match instantly becomes one of the most anticipated of the weekend. He is wrestling’s last true great attraction, and he must be treated as such.