8 Intriguing Implications Of Brock Lesnar At UFC 200
6. He's Not The Only WWE Superstar With Outside Aspirations
If letting Brock Lesnar fight one more time in the UFC is the thin end of the wedge for him, then it can easily be argued that the same argument can be made for other wrestlers on the WWE roster.
Part of the controversy surrounding WWE’s allegedly ‘independent contractor’ contracts with their performers is that they’re exclusive: the company insists on wholehearted commitment, and refuses to allow their talent to work in other promotions or even in other, similar areas of entertainment or athletic endeavour. Even Dolph Ziggler’s fascination with the world of stand-up comedy has run afoul of the WWE’s possessive behaviour.
They may claim otherwise, but allowing Brock Lesnar to fight at UFC200 sets a precedent: far more so than allowing wrestlers to work a charity show or a benefit showcase, or to finish out dates or old obligations to indie promoters.
Many WWE superstars have looked with envy at Brock Lesnar’s arrangement with the company. After all, they’re on national television every week, on programmes that are broadcast and viewed by millions worldwide, and pored over by dozens of professional and semi-professional analysts.
These are huge TV stars with global recognition and social media followers in the six and seven figures, yet they can’t take advantage of endorsement opportunities, TV or film work or any other kind of outside work without WWE’s explicit consent.
Brock Lesnar, on the other hand, gets to have his sponsors decorate his ring gear, and and now he’s received the nod for a massive one-off payday from the biggest fight promoter in the world. Reports are that Lesnar could earn a cool ten million dollars from UFC200. That’s more than a lifetime’s earnings for the majority of the WWE roster.
Even if they don’t want an MMA career, you can be sure that there are plenty of WWE superstars who chafe under an exclusive contract, especially when...