Details on Brock Lesnar’s Assumed Face Turn

The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided further details on Brock Lesnar’s assumed face turn that began during the Jan. 19 edition of “Monday Night Raw.” As previously reported, a face run with Lesnar was originally planned before his time with WWE was up, and they’re apparently beginning to pull the trigger just days before he is set to face John Cena and Seth Rollins in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the 28th annual “Royal Rumble” PPV on Jan. 25.

Lesnar was looked like a badass babyface character of old during the Jan. 19 edition of “Monday Night Raw,” so much so that he appeared at the end of the program to destroy the company’s top three heels in Rollins, Kane, and Big Show. The “RAW” crowd in Dallas popped for Lesnar big time and gave the WWE Universe the impression that Lesnar, who was to originally be booked as the biggest heel of all time following his conquering of Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak on April 6, 2014, is now a guy that should be cheered.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter writes the following about Lesnar, his face turn, the possibility of Lesnar going back to UFC following his last scheduled WWE appearance on March 30, and more.

“Brock Lesnar’s babyface turn and a second WWE appearance of Sting were the highlights of the late build for the Royal Rumble on 1/25 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

It was always expected that Lesnar would have a babyface run on his way out, but it probably would have been better for it to have some length. One has to remember that a year ago, the economics of the company were a lot different. The feeling was that they would be more profitable than ever by this time, between the network and the new television deal. So the idea that money would be a concern, or that Lesnar’s contract in the long run wouldn’t pay for itself wasn’t even a consideration then, because they’d be swimming in money from the changes.

Now, all bets are off on both sides. His contract may not make economic sense going forward. With MMA in a bidding war for marketable talent and UFC having its worst PPV year in recent memory, Lesnar’s value outside WWE increased while his value to the company didn’t. The totally botched handling of his title run did him no favors. Still, whether, at 38, he wants to really fight, and given his prior health issues, is the question.

An obvious storyline, except that it has been done before with Lesnar in 2002 and C.M. Punk, would be for Paul Heyman to screw Lesnar and wind up with Seth Rollins as champion, which leads to Rollins against either Daniel Bryan or Roman Reigns, who seem to be the odds-on-favorites to take the Rumble. Given that this is the second biggest event of the year, a Sting cameo should be part of the presentation, because by this time next week, the Sting vs. HHH match at Mania should be strongly built and either have the angles in place or the announcement itself imminent.

A Lesnar turn, combined with Randy Orton’s original plan of coming back with a run with Rollins, and the return of Bryan, leaves the company very much babyface heavy right now. Somebody needs to turn, particularly with Bray Wyatt being almost a cult babyface booked as a heel, and after Rollins, the top heels seem to be Big Show and Kane, although Rusev should be in a top position by WrestleMania.”

Meltzer touches on the current teasery that has taken place on WWE programming between Heyman and Rollins, where the most likely of scenarios for Lesnar to turn full-on babyface would be for Heyman to turn on him and side with Rollins as the next “Paul Heyman guy.” The world will know more on the future booking of Lesnar come Jan. 25 when he faces Rollins and Cena in a Triple Threat Match for his, “undisputed WWE Heavyweight Championship of the World.”

Editor’s Note:
I’m stoked to see where we go from here. Lesnar DEFINITELY came across as a face on Jan. 19, so I’m interested to see what happens moving forward with him past the “Rumble.” Again, he got over on Jan. 19 as a face because of his badassery, but I don’t see how he can be a face going into WrestleMania 31. Who would he face? Kane? Big Show? Both of them? (think about THAT one for a minute)