Nick’s Quick Wits-How Special Is the “Special Attraction” Brock Lesnar

Reigning and defended WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar returned to Raw after a three month absence two weeks ago to begin building up the match against John Cena at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Lesnar is what is being called a “special attraction”, meaning it’s supposed to be a big deal anytime he makes an appearance. However, with his third straight match against Cena on the horizon, how special is it really?

I don’t believe so. If you recall, right before the number one contenders match at Hell in a Cell, I wrote about how Orton should have win that match to set up a fresh feud against Lesnar. Instead, we got Cenawinslol. So, instead of getting a fresh match we’ve never seen on pay-per-view, we get Lesnar facing Cena for the fourth time since his return. I, and probably countless other fans, have minimal or no interest is seeing this match.

Lesnar works a very limited schedule and only wrestles a few matches per year. If those matches are against the same opponent, people will quickly lose interest. The match with Cena at the Royal Rumble with be Lesnar’s tenth match since his return in 2012. During this run, he has only had five opponents, John Cena, Triple H, CM Punk, Big Show, and The Undertaker. While all big time performers and legends of the industry, there’s not much variety. People lost interest in the Triple H feud by the second match, there was three in that series, and this upcoming match will be the fourth against Cena since 2012, and third in the last six months. There’s not much more they can do, and the most likely outcome is the Lesnar wins again, not much of a surprise.  Fans are tired of Cena, but at the same time, they don’t see the point of Lesnar being champion when he doesn’t appear too often.  It’s really a double-edged sword.  Rollins could cash-in an win the title, but that devalues Brock ending the streak, the victory over him for the title should be a huge deal, not a cheap attack, as well as cheaping Cena’s record-tying win.  I don’t see that happening, I see Rollins cash-in being saved for another time.

Brock did lose a couple matches, but since he had multiple matches with Cena and Triple H, he has defeated every opponent his faced this run.  While that is an impressive feat, he is also somewhat beatable.  Lesnar is promoted as unstoppable, but losing to Cena in his first match back proved otherwise, and losing to a semi-retired Triple H at WrestleMania 29 didn’t help that promotion.  Let’s face it, Lesnar isn’t the big deal WWE makes him out to be.  He hasn’t helped much with the ratings, a large portion of the fanbase doesn’t like him showing up only on a part-time basis, especially while holding the title, and others question his passion for the business, even more no with rumors of a departure from WWE and return to UFC after WrestleMania 31.  Lesnar will always be known for breaking the streak and being the youngest WWE Champion is history.  There’s no really anything he has left to prove.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAnM_gTPAZM[/youtube]

My thoughts, Lesnar is great, but he’s done everything he needed to do in WWE.  He should put someone over at WrestleMania, Reigns or Bryan, (I’ll talk about that situation another time) and walk away.  He was great during his initial two-year run, and left an unforgettable imagine in everyone minds by ending The Undertaker’s undefeated streak.  He’s already a Hall of Famer, and if he’s gone in a few months, it won’t be a huge loss.  Brock will do well in whatever he wants to do, but WWE can easily move on without him.

Until next time, remember the true value of special attractions,

-Nick