Brock Lesnar Signing With UFC Impacted By CM Punk?

For the first time in months, wrestling-MMA cross-over star Brock Lesnar has been overshadowed by a fellow WWE champion (okay, former champion). CM Punk's singing with the UFC essentially broke the Internet over the weekend. Talk about the deal was everywhere. Speculation as to his camp, first opponent, and contract details was running rampant. Well, lest we forget, Lesnar, who is a former UFC heavyweight champion, and tied for the most heavyweight title defences in history, is still looking at a possible 2015 return to the sport - and several sources, including Jim Ross, believe the Punk signing adds leverage to Lesnar's bargaining position. Said Ross in a recent blog post,

"Punk signing with UFC adds another wrinkle to the potential negotiations with Lesnar and UFC and/or Bellator. Interesting days lie ahead as it relates to contract negotiations. Punk signing with UFC helps Lesnar's leverage without question."

Think about it. With the spotlight all over Punk, the WWE has to be worried about star power. Daniel Bryan's future is questionable, and aside from the former Shield members, and maybe Dolph Ziggler (is he getting a push this week?), they don't have a lot of guys able to main event not named "Cena." That makes Lesnar, once again, a viable option, even if he's a part-timer making a huge salary. On the flip-side, all the focus on Punk and the wrestling-MMA connection could make his return to the UFC even bigger, and might drive up his value to Bellator, who could book a wrestler vs. wrestler bout against Bobby Lashley that would easily draw a million plus viewers on Spike TV. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. EA Sports UFC added Lesnar as a playable character over the weekend, adding to further speculation about his UFC return, but UFC games often feature legends from the past.