ANOTHER WWE MAIN EVENTER MAY BE DONE AFTER WRESTLEMANIA by Dave Scherer @ 9:45:02 AM on 3/8/2004
There's a shakeup going on involving Brock Lesnar, and Bill Goldberg may not be the only WWE superstar who could have his last match for the foreseeable future at WrestleMania. According to numerous sources, both wrestlers and a few friends of Lesnar's outside the wrestling business, Brock has not been a happy man backstage lately. Lesnar is said to be very upset that he had to fly all the way to South Africa "just to wrestle Hardcore Holly" instead of being used in a higher profile match on the tour. Lesnar, who has a long term deal with WWE (said to be seven years long), reportedly doesn't feel he is being protected properly for the long term by the promotion.
Lesnar was also said to be upset that he was programmed to wrestle Undertaker after WrestleMania. Lesnar doesn't feel, since he is supposed to be a long term money player for the company, that he should be "fed to the Deadman." Lesnar is not alone in his feeling there either, as a lot of Smackdown wrestlers hate the fact Taker is coming back in his old persona since it means that he doesn't have to sell for people anymore (due to the nature of the character). There was already a concern among many Smackdown workers that Taker gets too big of a push for an aging talent when the brand is in dire need of pushing new, young workers at the top of the cards. He is viewed by many on the Smackdown roster as "our HHH", in that he beats everyone, is always pushed at the top and has a huge amount of power backstage. Taker's calling of his pay per view match with John Cena, where Taker, as described by one Smackdown wrestler, "gobbled up Cena like Cena was a job boy" has wrestlers upset and concerned about his return.
Lesnar and McMahon apparently had a very tense discussion last week and Lesnar has told a few other wrestlers he might just take some time off after WrestleMania to cool down. According to one wrestler Lesnar considers a friend, "even with his own airplane, the travel is burning him out, and this South Africa trip was handled all wrong."
As of right now, the company is not making any post Mania plans for Lesnar. I have been told the company has removed Lesnar's name from all voiceovers on upcoming shows after Mania but he is scheduled to work on the UK tour later this month since he was previously advertised on it.
If any of this is true, then why not give Lesnar some time off? He's carried the SmackDown brand since his move there as a constant title-belt presence and he's been pushed hard since his debut. He's gotten progressively better with all the ringwork and is a proven performer with the styles he's worked against.
Maybe as a youngster, he ought to better appreciate the chance he's been given. Maybe he does, but is just getting burned out.
Give him some time off and let him watch some other guys work their tails off for a bit. Possibly that'll reboot his competitive spirit.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Posted the news before I added thoughts (DOH!), so here goes. I agree that he should just take some time off. Brock has been going non-stop for a good deal of time now, and was a champion who actually wrestled weekly, unlike HHH on RAW. A few months on the sidelines would do him alot of good, and maybe put his career in perspective for him.
Not sure how they could approach an extended Lesnar absence storyline-wise, anyone have any interesting ideas?
Originally posted by Matt TrackerIf any of this is true, then why not give Lesnar some time off? He's carried the SmackDown brand since his move there as a constant title-belt presence and he's been pushed hard since his debut. He's gotten progressively better with all the ringwork and is a proven performer with the styles he's worked against.
Maybe as a youngster, he ought to better appreciate the chance he's been given. Maybe he does, but is just getting burned out.
Give him some time off and let him watch some other guys work their tails off for a bit. Possibly that'll reboot his competitive spirit.
Well, since August of 2002, they've asked more of Brock to carry the ball than they've asked any other guy on either brand, including HHH, who has had a few breaks during that time. From that time on he has been in sequence, champ, lead face, champ, #1 heel, champ and menace A#1 (AND the only active participant in his WM match with TV time). That's a lot, and of the guys that got pushed to the moon from the word go, he's been doing it the longest without getting a minute off to recoup.
I agree, though. Give the guy a few weeks off, start the build to Big Show-Eddy and let Brock come back fresh and rested.
Good to see Brock standing up for himself. All his complaints are 100% valid (S. Africa/Holly, not being protected [his last 2 matches - Holly & Gunn dominated him], being fed to Taker).
Give him some time off. Hell, Taker's had a few extended breaks over the last year. It'll be a shame to have him off for an extended period, because he's developed into one of the top workers in the fed, but it'll be good for the company & Brock in the long run.
: Maybe as a youngster, he ought to better : appreciate the chance he's been given.
Lesnar is getting the typical WWE burial.
On one hand he gets to feud with Jobcorps Holly, a guy so heatless that all he can do is pull Lesnar down, even when Lesnar beats him like a drum.
On the other hand he gets to face Goldberg at Wrestlemania in a match where it's not likely he will be given a strong win because his opponent, while departing, is a face.
On the other hand he gets to feud with the Undertaker, an aged, brittle, slow, limited, selfish worker who is sure to drag down his matches and may even get to beat him.
This is just like last year when Rock got tossed into a TV feud with jobber Hurricane (who? rub? push? what?) while getting ready to lay down for Goldberg.
Lesnar can see the writing on the wall and with his bad neck it isn't worth risking his future to play these bullshit mind games.
The WWE is going to suck for anyone not named Trip until Trip drops dead.
This is a good opportunity not only to freshen Brock up physically and mentally, but also his look and character. Billy Graham suggested on WO Live that Brock should alter his image, which I agree with. I wouldn't say anything hugely drastic, but perhaps grow his hair/facial hair and use new tights or something.
He deserves a break nonetheless; just about every main-event wrestler in WWE currently has had some sort of extended break over the last year or so (Kurt Angle, Triple H, Goldberg, Undertaker if I remember correctly have all had a few weeks or longer off).
IRRELEVANT. What does this have to do with Triple H?
Anyone who has ever had job frustrations should understand, though this will no doubt lead to an online fervor about how he doesn't appreciate what he's been given and how he doesn't give back to the business, etc., etc.
Call me a bit annoyed right now, but Lesnar should take a break, if for no other reason than to keep his character fresh.
If he's coming back as a sitting up zombie, how long can Taker get away with no-selling everything? I mean for the upcoming run, not for the last 13 years.
It's certainly an entertaining gimmick, but it also tends to make opponents look like complete shit.
My first reaction to this is that Lesnar's getting too big for his tailbone-insignia britches, but he has busted ass this past year.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
Originally posted by Boston Idol: Maybe as a youngster, he ought to better : appreciate the chance he's been given.
Lesnar is getting the typical WWE burial.
On one hand he gets to feud with Jobcorps Holly, a guy so heatless that all he can do is pull Lesnar down, even when Lesnar beats him like a drum.
On the other hand he gets to face Goldberg at Wrestlemania in a match where it's not likely he will be given a strong win because his opponent, while departing, is a face.
On the other hand he gets to feud with the Undertaker, an aged, brittle, slow, limited, selfish worker who is sure to drag down his matches and may even get to beat him.
This is just like last year when Rock got tossed into a TV feud with jobber Hurricane (who? rub? push? what?) while getting ready to lay down for Goldberg.
Lesnar can see the writing on the wall and with his bad neck it isn't worth risking his future to play these bullshit mind games.
The WWE is going to suck for anyone not named Trip until Trip drops dead.
Frank
Nothing against you or anything, Boston Idol, but I think you focus on the negative aspects of a situation way too much and don't pay any attention to the positives. Lesnar is ridiculously young, any of these percieved "burials" are not going to affect him at all in the long run. You can't always book somebody in an awesome feud which will elevate that individual. There simply aren't enough options for that to happen. Brock is a monster, that perception of him will ALWAYS be there with fans. So what if he faces guys lower on the card? So what if he has to sell fo the Undertaker? It doesn't matter at all for the strength of his character. The views of crowds dont so easily change for the worse when looking at somebody as prolific as Brock Lesnar. Just look at the Dudleys, they havent done crap in forever, have even lost some big matches, and people still love them and buy them as credible opponents for just about anybody.
Barring any freak accidents or injuries, Lesnar is just about the biggest guarantee we have on who will be main eventing over the next 5 years. Even losing matches to Bob Holly or Billy Gunn or goddamn Funaki will do nothing to stop that. Brock is always one squash away from gaining back any heat he may lose in such a situation.
Whatever. It says he was upset because he "was" programmed to face Taker after Mania, and that he would be fed to him. First of all, if he "was" set to face Undertaker, then it seems like plans have changed. And do you really think that Brock Lesnar would be "fed" to Undertaker? Squashed and out of the way? HAHA.
And the idea that the Smackdown backstage is upset because new guys should be pushed, when Lesnar, Cena, Angle, and World Champion Eddie Guerrero are the focus of the show is also a joke.
Takers ppv match with Cena was just as much a squash as was Brocks ppv match with Cena. And Taker lost to Brock on ppv in a hell in a cell match. Yet, apparently the backstage is worried because Taker never loses.
Man this is just too bad. Can Smackdown! really afford to lose a wrestler of Brock Lesnar's caliber right now? Especially after they just lost Chris Benoit and their roster seems pretty thin at times. If Lesnar leaves, then I say Edge goes to Smackdown! and maybe give them someone else from RAW.
"Just a humble bounty hunter, ma'am." -Spike Spiegel
This is nothing. He'll be back and have the world title again in no time. I don't think he seems to care much, though.
Lesnar is just burned out and wants WWE to make a few perks in his favor. Good for him. His complaints aren't really all that bad, and he's right about a few things.
Although, Lesnar must really wonder at this point in his early career just what exactly he plans on doing for the next 5 years of his contract if he lasts that long. He's done everything that a guy can possibly do in WWE (except get beaten by HHH) and he's only 27/28 years old.
He knows how to work matches and put people over, but once he puts a few more guys over and everyone knows he can be beaten, what else can the guy do unless he develops a Stone Cold-like following? He's probably making a lot of cash, at least.
We might be looking at another Warrior or Sid here, and these could be the first signs. He's done so much, made a lot of money, and thinks he has it made, and he's starting to push Vince. In the next two years, it'll be interesting to see how this turns out.
I don't know what else Brock plans to do with his life, but by the time he reaches a certain age, he's not going to have much use.
I liked some of his matches with guys like Angle or Benoit and Iīm looking forward to his battle with Goldberg, but sincerely I really donīt care that much about Lesnar...
Every wrestler should be granted some time off when burned out - So give him just that!
"My first reaction to this is that Lesnar's getting too big for his tailbone-insignia britches, but he has busted ass this past year."
I'm kind of in agreement here. The whining about flying to S/Africa "just to fight Bob Holly" is fucking pathetic and childish, as is his buying of a private plane. BUT if the plans were for him to lay down for Taker after 'Mania, then yes that's dumbass too.
I just don't like this kind of me-me-me bitching from aynone involve din the biz. It's their job, for Chrissakes, and if Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero can live the lifestyle and ge tby without concessions like this, then a relative newcomer to the scene like Lesnar can sure as Hell do it.
"You're A Big Hunk Of Hero Sandwich, And You Wanna Save The Girl!"
Seriously Lesnar needs to show some respect. He has only jobbed in the last 2 years too.. Big Show (once), Angle (twice), Guerrero (twice) and 3 of 5 were on PPV. Two were Smackdown shows for god sake.
Taker has jobbed in the last 2 years too... Lesnar (2 or 3 times), Cena (twice), The Rock (once), plus Big Show, Angle, A-Train in Smackdown matches plus he jobbed to VINCE McMAHON. Seriously think about it...
I say: You got a problem Brock there's the door. Brock's character was built on the basis of not jobbing.
Originally posted by oldschoolheroI just don't like this kind of me-me-me bitching from aynone involve din the biz. It's their job, for Chrissakes, and if Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero can live the lifestyle and ge tby without concessions like this, then a relative newcomer to the scene like Lesnar can sure as Hell do it.
It always seems like the truly talented guys - the Rocks, Kurt Angles and Mick Foleys of the world DON'T need wins to get over. All three of those guys have probably lost more main event matches than they've won, but they always remain viable in the fans eyes as legitimate threats. Even Austin isn't the posterboy for jobbing but his reputation was cemented in a loss to Bret Hart. This is what Brock needs to learn. Guys like HHH and Taker will never figure it out.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
Thread ahead: Bret's Final Say on WMXX Next thread: HUGE possible WMXX SPOILER!! Previous thread: Wrestlemania must put all of its focus on a handful of guys.
I can't remember the last time I didn't watch a PPV and Raw the next night, but I have watched neither this week. Smackdown is unlikely as well with Christmas visits going on but it isn't bothering me at all.