The WWE hasn’t been successful at keeping surprises from the WWE Universe in recent years. Brock Lesnar’s monumental return to sports entertainment was spoiled by a twitter picture of the Beast Incarnate backstage. The Rock’s return to the squared circle prior to WrestleMania 27 was also let go on the internet somewhere before it actually took place. Aside from CM Punk’s victory at Money in the Bank in 2011, nothing is a surprise anymore.
A trend of the sort continued yesterday when a video, promoting SummerSlam, leaked online that included the main event. It hyped John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight championship. The WWE promotional video bills Cena as the greatest champion ever, as Lesnar took the “most dominant athlete ever” moniker throughout the video.
WWE’s headline for the match is as followed, “The Ultimate Battle.”
While this match has been rumored for months, the fact that it can’t be kept a secret until Lesnar’s actual return is disheartening. A few weeks ago, a poster leaked online, saying the exact same thing. The WWE cannot seem to be able to let things stay internal; insiders and journalists will always try to get in the inside scoop on things like huge matches and when CM Punk will return to the company.
Whatever the case may be, WWE has some work to do. With Punk officially gone from the company, Daniel Bryan away from injury, and only one title to hand around, much thinking is necessary for the push to WrestleMania season.
Lesnar returning will definitely aide the talent pool and ratings boost. No matter what the WWE Universe thinks of part-time wrestlers and their cause, they bring ratings and money to the company. Years down the road, when Punk comes back for a “final run,” the fans will complain, but WWE won’t. Their pocketbooks will be laughing all the way to the bank.
Cena also needs to continue to shine. That statement alone will give the Internet Wrestling Community a look of anger, but he remains the WWE’s biggest moneymaker.
Why would the WWE put the title on a young star, only to have him lose to Lesnar at SummerSlam? That would ruin the credibility gained in a heartbeat. Now, Cena losing to Lesnar makes sense, will make the fans happy and gives the chance for a young gun to take the belt at a later date.
For instance, if Roman Reigns ends up winning the Royal Rumble and face Lesnar at WrestleMania 31, then the victory will look immaculate. Losing it at SummerSlam after conquering the Money in the Bank match makes no sense in the world.
Besides, who doesn’t want to see Lesnar and Cena beat the stuffing out of each other?
It’s a big match at a big pay-per-view, featuring two of the best to ever hit the squared circle. Part-time or not, Lesnar is on a hot streak without even wrestling. Everyone hates him because of Paul Heyman’s brilliance, and that memorable victory over the Undertaker at WrestleMania 30.
WWE is doing the intelligent move for SummerSlam by having the two legends face off. Hopefully, surprises are imminent to take away the predictability, but knowing WWE, that isn’t a reality.
[Images via WrestlingRumors.net, Rant Sports and Bleacher Report]