TMZ broke the news that Brock Lesnar would be a character in the new WWE video game, WWE ‘12. Dana White told TMZ that he was “fine” with Lesnar being in the game.
Lesnar indicated that he would not have agreed to the WWE video game unless gave him the ok. In addition to the news, Lesnar told ESPN in an interview to promote the game that he could see himself back in the WWE for one match.
Brock Lesnar Via ESPN:
I think I will. I think under the right circumstances I will. I think if Vince McMahon and I were able to sit down at the same dinner table and break some bread that we could come up with some kind of game plan. At the end of the day, I’m an ultimate fighter. That’s who I am and that’s who I’ll always be. I was an entertainer but at the end of the day, I’m still as real as it gets. I think a lot of things have to fall in the right places for something like that to happen.
Here is the Brock Lesnar trailer for WWE ‘12. Notably, the video comes courtesy of Paul Heyman.
And here is Dana White being asked about Brock Lesnar in WWE ‘12:
WWE ‘12 will be available November 22nd – just in time for the holidays.
Payout Perspective:
White dismissed any notion of confusion between UFC-WWE by having Lesnar in the WWE video game. He did state that it would be an issue if Lesnar wanted to wrestle while still under UFC contract. This is interesting considering Lesnar’s comments to ESPN. Of course, the Lesnar interview could be part hype for the video game. It could also mean that one day, after his UFC contract expires, Lesnar would go back to the WWE.
For White, granting Lesnar the opportunity to appear in the video game takes nothing away from the UFC business-wise right now. However, Lesnar’s appearance in the WWE video game may mean his departure from the UFC in the not too distant future. Lesnar has been the UFC PPV draw the past three years garnering over 1 million buys each time he fights. Without Lesnar, only Rashad Evans has had PPV success of over 1 million buys since 2008. (source: MMA Payout Blue Book). With Evans on the shelf again and Lesnar scheduled for a showdown with Alistair Overeem for UFC 141, the UFC might be concerned about its PPV business after 141. Certainly a Lesnar-Overeem matchup will do over 1 million buys. But, if Lesnar decides to leave in 2012, who will step up as the draw that could garner over 1 million PPV buys.
Notwithstanding the 1 million PPV buy threshold, the UFC may be concerned with its PPV business. With the UFC falling back with its scheduled time for PPVs, it hopes that the 2012 PPV business will be much more successful than this year.
If Lesnar is discussing appearing in the WWE again, likely he will soon be fulfilling the terms of his contract with the UFC. I’m not sure of the timing or details of the terms at the end of the contract with respect to negotiating, but it does appear he took this fight with Overreem as his final fight for the UFC.
Quote from another site:
According to Dave Meltzer of Yahoo Sports, former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is looking for an “exit strategy” to get out of his UFC contract, which most believe currently has one fight left on it. Lesnar “badly” wants to work WWE’s WrestleMania 27 pay-per-view in Atlanta next year and has been talking with WWE officials about how a deal can be reached
Smoke and mirrors.
Lesnar will continue to ply his trade with the UFC as long as he feels he is able to compete with the top level fighters. Overeem will be a good test for his ability to compete at the highest level. I don’t think he’s necessarily looking for an “exit strategy”; if he wants out, when his contract ends he’ll merely have to wait for the exclusive negotiating period to expire, not much strategy there. If the Overeem fight is the last on his deal and he is beaten badly, he may look to return to the WWE where he is a proven star and can continue to make money for longer than he could have been a viable MMA competitor. However, to me what is more telling than Meltzer’s or anyone else’s speculations are the words of Brock himself: he sounds unsure that he and Vince McMahon would be able to reach a financial agreement for his services, and he’s discussed returning “for one last match” only. Although more rigorous on his body and ego, I believe Lesnar prefers being an MMA fighter to being a WWE wrestler because he can stay near his home nearly the entire year, is much, much more in control of his own schedule, doesn’t have to deal with the grueling travel schedule, has less media commitments, etc. Lesnar HATES being the center of attention, so the less time he spends traveling, dealing with media, and being swarmed by fans, the better for him. He remembers what it’s like to be a star in the WWE… don’t think he’d be so quick to go back.
http://espn.go.com/blog/MMA/post/_/id/4904/lesnar-open-to-one-last-match-in-wwe
Also, I haven’t seen it mentioned in all these “Lesnar in WWE ’12 video game” articles, but don’t you think that the fact that the game is published by THQ, who also publishes UFC: Undipsputed, was a major reason that Lesnar received White’s permission to be in the game? I think it’s pretty obvious, but it seems like it’s a point flying under the radar.
I think it’s a smart move on the part of the UFC to allow Lesnar in the video game. This kind of cross promotion might help draw some wreslting fans who would typically be less inclinded to purchase a UFC PPV. Even if it’s a small bump, the UFC really has nothing to loose.
Also, I haven’t seen it mentioned in all these “Lesnar in WWE ’12 video game” articles, but don’t you think that the fact that the WWE games are published by THQ, who also publishes UFC: Undisputed, was a major reason that Lesnar received White’s permission to be in the game? I think it’s pretty obvious, but it seems like it’s a point flying under the radar.
I agree with the THQ tie-in. It keeps everyone happy: Lesnar, THQ, UFC-THQ relations and UFC-WWE relations.
Brock will fight for a few more years imo. But his future is still in WWE. He knows this. Brock will not fight until he is 40. He cant. But he can roid himself into a wrestler career until he is 60 like all the other has beens. There is no reason to leave MMA until he is done when he really has no shelf life in Wrestling. He will still have 20 years in wrestling no matter how long he fights. No need to rush it. Brock is going to ride these 2-3 day work years out as long as he can. Also ask you can tell with Brock he is a real athlete who is driven by competition. He always hated being a fake athlete. Thats why he left wrestling to try other sports. Fake wrestling doesnt satisfy him like his college wrestling days, stepping on the football field, or fighting. So i dont see him going to WWE with out a fight, no pun intended.
Hmmm, Brock only has one fight left and yet the UFC is not going to freeze out the biggest draw in MMA until he signs an extension? Not even an option for Zuffa on it? And I know there are currently no options for him outside the UFC but it’s too risky that some money mark books him against Fedor or something. My guess is that he and the UFC agreed to some deal where they’ll let him finish out his contract as long as he is allowed to re-enter wrestling as long as he stays away from non UFC MMA..
I read Brainsmasher’s comment and had to laugh my ass off. Brock fighting in the UFC for a few more years? Brock wrestling in the WWE until he’s 60? What the hell?!
Brock is done with the UFC after his next fight and would retire to the farm like a good country boy. Of course, he’d show up for a Wrestlemania for the paycheck but that’s about it.