Brock Lesnar Becomes WWE’s Mister ‘Money in the Bank’: Shock and Awe, or Same Old Story?

Shock and awe are running rampant among WWE fans right now thanks to the end of May 19’s Money in the Bank. That’s because Brock Lesnar, who wasn’t even booked in the match, climbed the ladder and pulled down the briefcase. The Beast Incarnate is the new Mister Money in the Bank.

The WWE faithful has indeed been sent into a frenzy with this move. Social media immediately exploded when Brock’s music hit as the reality of the situation set in. He was not involved in the bout and everyone knew it. But they also knew that when it comes to Brock Lesnar and WWE, anything is possible.

That “anything” appears to be Lesnar headed back to the top of the company. It’s a spot he never really lost; he just handed it back for a while as the company moved on in his absence. Fans knew it was only a matter of time until he came back and they were right. But they probably didn’t know it would happen like this.

Watch out, @WWERollins…@BrockLesnar has a GUARANTEED #UniversalTitle opportunity! #MITB pic.twitter.com/X2WoGEXEyk

— WWE (@WWE) May 20, 2019

It’s the same old song and dance, which is exactly what many fans have been dreading. But from the moment he lost the Universal Championship to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 35, Brock was merely waiting for his number to be called. So now that he’s back, fans know what’s coming next. 

Brock Lesnar will become the new Universal or WWE champion. Both titles are up for grabs right now. Rollins’ title is in danger because Lesnar is a member of Monday Night Raw. But Kofi Kingston’s title is also in danger because of SmackDown Live’s move to FOX in the fall of 2019. 

FOX would surely love to have the blue brand stacked with the company’s top stars and in Vince McMahon’s eyes, no star is brighter than Brock Lesnar. So Seth’s fans may actually be able to rest easy because The Beastslayer could come away from all of this with his championship reign still intact. 

But Kofi may be a different story. Kingston’s title run thus far has perhaps not been what his supporters were waiting for. They wanted to see Kofi break out of his shell and fully embrace what it means to be the world champion. But Kingston’s booking has been less than stellar, leading many to believe the end may be near for him as WWE champion.

Has there EVER been any doubt about this statement?@BrockLesnar @WWE #MITB https://t.co/Vpix5rviyg

— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) May 20, 2019

Lesnar’s return has not helped matters any, as now everyone is waiting for the moment when Brock cashes in his briefcase to win the gold. The fact that Brock didn’t need to win the match was evidently irrelevant. Fans know that Lesnar could’ve been reinserted into the world title picture any time WWE wanted him there. 

The briefcase could’ve gone to anyone. But it went to Brock, which means everything can change at any moment. So while fans are indeed in a state of shock, they really shouldn’t be. But will reality set in when Brock cashes in? Or will fans continue to fight the norm of WWE? 

This is what Vince McMahon wants and the sooner fans come to grips with that, the happier they will be. Of course that may not be possible at this point, as emotions always run high when it comes to WWE. The fanbase is intensely passionate about the business and more importantly, about the company. It’s not that they necessarily don’t want Lesnar in WWE. But to see Lesnar on top again? That’s another matter altogether. 

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!@BrockLesnar is MR. #MITB! pic.twitter.com/3ZEa3AC8s0

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 20, 2019

Many WCW talents used to say that it was hard to know what month it was in their company because the nWo was always on top. While the group was a moneymaking machine, other deserving workers were missing out getting opportunities. Is that what fans are witnessing with Brock Lesnar in WWE? Is that what they’ve been witnessing for the past seven years?

The truth is that this is WWE. Brock is who the company wants and this is how things are. Yes, it’s frustrating and yes, many fans are tuning into other pro wrestling companies because they’re hungry for something different. Ring of Honor, New Japan. MLW, Impact, PWG, RevPro, and All Japan provide alternatives to WWE. The same will certainly be true of AEW. There are options for fans who have grown tired of WWE’s same old situation. 

So what happens with Vince McMahon’s company in the meantime? WWE has shown no signs of changing and Money in the Bank is proof of that. If the fans are truly that upset about Brock Lesnar’s imminent return to the top, then they must make a decision. Are they ready to continue with the frustration, or are they ready to move on? Either way, WWE is moving on with business as usual. 

 

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes,YouTube, iHeart Radio, boinkstudios.com and live every Friday at 12pm EST on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live