8 Ways WWE Must Capitalise On Brock Lesnar's UFC 200 Win
4. Boost Lesnar's SummerSlam Match To The Main Event
It was a very curious and stupendously risky decision to announce Brock Lesnar's opponent ahead of his UFC fight with Mark Hunt.
Let's not mince words here; Randy Orton as Brocks' opponent at the summer spectacular is about as underwhelming as they come; Orton could hardly be staler had he been left in a cupboard and forgotten about for a month. And he has been on the shelf for the best part of a year, so - go figure.
With the tie already struggling to inspire, a Lesnar defeat to Hunt could have seen interest absolutely plummet. But perhaps this was part of WWE's contingency.
Announcing a match with Orton after the Lesnar fight was always going to be underwhelming, regardless of the outcome. At least this way, the company can deflect claims that Brock deserves a bigger opponent; they couldn't have known he would emerge victorious.
The other reason - timing aside - is to give the contest that UFC feel. But if the match is going to pushed as such, it needs to be brought up to the main event. The world title picture is currently hazy at best (and by August, we'll probably have two), and would only struggle to follow the one match people are tuning in to see.
Lesnar needs to stand tall at the end of the summer's night as the most dominant presence in the company.