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We'd all do it different.
Everyone has their own unique, creative way they would have booked Brock's return, return match, and follow-up program/match. If you're like me, you think your ideas would have been HUGE! Others would guarantee their plans were foolproof.
One thing we can ALL agree on is that we would NOT have done it the way WWE did.
Brock lost. It's all water under the bridge now. What's done is done. We must move on.
It's no excuse for the way he booked the Extreme Rules finish, but Vince is probably juggling a lot of options right now as it relates to Brock Lesnar. They negotiated a limited amount of dates in the reported one-year contract and there's probably more to it than that.
Lance Storm recently stated, "I’m curious how many dates they have on Brock. Maybe there is something to fewer and far-between being good, but I would think if say you only had him for 15 dates, that you’d want 12 of those to be pay-per-view matches that could draw you money. It seems odd to have him on four or five TVs in a row and then skip several PPVs, but that’s just me I guess."
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, and I would have figured Storm as one to know this, but I doubt it's that simple. There were probably a select number of TV dates and a separate number for pay per view events/matches worked out in the agreement. Or maybe a separate number for matches, period, regardless of whether they are shown on pay per view or free television.
It's been reported Brock received a $5 million deal and roughly 2 appearances a month leading to 'Mania. Those can probably be sliced and diced in any way Vince wants. But how many matches were agreed on?
If Brock isn't on the next two ppv's, then it's very feasible Vince only worked him into the four-five biggest pay per views. You could easily be looking at time off until SummerSlam. Then, time off until Survivor Series (and I'm not sure that even qualifies as one of the "big four" anymore). Then, time off until the Rumble. Then, WrestleMania.
We don't know all the variables.
If Paul Heyman's return and announcement (Brock quitting) is a cheaper way to utilize Brock without actually using him, then it's possible the contractual number of dates we're discussing are more limited than any of us were thinking.
If that's the case, kudos to WWE for bringing back Paul. And thank you, Paul, for agreeing to it. Heyman will do just as good, if not better, talking for Brock in his absence than allowing Brock to talk for himself.
The latest report seems to indicate Brock Lesnar vs Triple H will not take place at SummerSlam, yet it will still happen sometime in August. If that's true, then I'll agree with Lance Storm 100%. If that match takes place on free television instead of your one major pay per view event that month, it would make LESS sense then Brock losing his first match against Cena.
I'm going to say that report must be wrong or something. And if it is, it would be the first time I've EVER seen us internet pundits get it wrong. It was bound to happen sooner or later, I guess.
We don't know all the details of that contract. If we don't see Brock again until closer to SummerSlam, it must be considerably less demanding on Brock than I would have expected. As a fan, try to not to judge Vince too harshly without knowing all the facts.
We have Brock until WrestleMania, at least. Judge then.
