Brock Lesnar's near return to WWE in 2005

[Jindrak Mark]

WWE themselves posted the following article on July 8 2005 and it seemed like it was almost a done deal that he was returning.

From WWE.com:

Just hours before his meeting with Vince McMahon, an optimistic Brock Lesnar sat down with WWE.com to talk about his departure last year, possible upcoming return and more.

I ve had some contractual disagreements with WWE, as well as a lawsuit. But I m ready now to see if we can do some business together.

It wasn t easy for me to leave, claimed Lesnar in regards to his 2004 departure from WWE. I struggled with the decision for a while. I realize people have their opinions about me leaving, and they re entitled to those opinions. That s why they live in America.

After making the decision to leave WWE, Lesnar set his sights on becoming an NFL star. His unsuccessful pursuit to the gridiron was highly publicized, but it was one he still looks upon fondly. I m glad I did it. I didn t want to look back years from now and regret not taking that chance, said Brock on his decision to try football. I m done with football now, though. Like I said yesterday, professional wrestling is in my blood. This is what I want to do. You only get one life to live, and I ll be damned if I m not going to live my life to the fullest.

If all goes well between Lesnar and McMahon today, the former WWE Champion still has to consider how he will be received by the WWE Superstars. I have to take into consideration that this is a business, replied Lesnar regarding any ill feelings toward him. Hopefully, a return is what everybody wants to see. I can tell you that I will commit myself to be the guy I was in the ring before I left. If there s problems from the boys, that s not my problem. I never had a problem with them. They ve been nothing but great to me in the past.

If I do come back, though, people should be aware that they need to be on their toes, Lesnar continued. There ain t nobody that can hold a candle to me.

Stay tuned to WWE.com as more on Brock Lesnar and his meeting with Vince McMahon becomes available.

Obviously money/schedule differences stopped it from happening.

WWE probably didn't really need him in 2005 as much as they did in 2012. They were stacked with star-power at or near the top of the card with Cena, Batista, HHH, HBK, Undertaker, Angle, Orton, Jericho, Eddie, Rey, Edge, Christian, Benoit, RVD, Booker, Kane, Big Show, Flair, JBL and even Hogan was still wrestling occasionally. Compared to 2012 when it was like Cena, Punk, Orton as the only real top guys with a couple of part-timers. They were probably more inclined to agree to his demands than they were in 2005.

How do you think his career/legacy is affected if he returns in summer 2005? Does he get burned out and leave again eventually and his UFC run still happens? Does he stay all the way through to 2021? Which stars do you think are hurt the most with Lesnar being around?

I recall the big rumor was that he was going to return at Summerslam and feud with Batista. For Wrestlemania 22 I see him facing either Cena, HHH or Undertaker.

Edge and Randy Orton I don't think end up with 12-15 world titles if Lesnar is around. A lot of those heel reigns would go to Lesnar instead.

[Cvslfc123]

I still remember the rumours that this was the reason for the mass releases in the Summer of 2005

[The Rick Jericho]

Dec 26, 2021 18:02:03 GMT -5 Cvslfc123 said:

I still remember the rumours that this was the reason for the mass releases in the Summer of 2005

Came to say this. I heard it was going to be like 10 million per year or something absolutely stupid for him to come back.

[Deleted]

It was also around time they released and resigned Matt Hardy and had the first signs of patching things up with Bret Hart..

I fantasy booked the hell out of a work/shoot angle of Hardy and Lesnar being managed by Hart. I don’t remember much of it, But Considering what we got with Hart and Hardy it was better than that.

[Chiral]

I remember as a kid going to Judgment Day 2005 and a lot the chatter in the audience being Brock showing up to challenge Cena at the end of the show.

[EZ: Brainy Bae]

I remember it well but didn't buy into it, even though I would have loved to see him against Batista

[Limity (BLM)]

Dec 26, 2021 21:15:01 GMT -5 EZ: Brainy Bae said:

I remember it well but didn't buy into it, even though I would have loved to see him against Batista

I remember that was always a dream match. I was blown away when I found out they actually had a match at OVW.

[4real]

Dec 26, 2021 21:15:01 GMT -5 EZ: Brainy Bae said:

I remember it well but didn't buy into it, even though I would have loved to see him against Batista

Can’t believe that match never happened. I guess the timings just didn’t line up.

Considering how bad the 1 Lesnar v Orton match was though…maybe it was a good thing?

[Bad Moon]

If Brock cames back to WWE full time in 2005, he never goes to NJPW. Which means Inoki never puts the flea in his ear about doing MMA. Which means there is no UFC boom in 2008. With less eyes on MMA, Strikeforce never becomes as big as it does, which means the Diaz brothers never become big stars. Which means Nate never fights McGregor. Without taking the brain damage from Nate, Conor never gets it in his head to box Floyd Mayweather. Which means that in 2021 I'd be living blissfully unaware of the existence of Jake Paul.

[4TheGlory]

I was at Royal Rumble 2005 and everyone in the building was convinced Brock was coming back that night

[karl100589]

Dec 27, 2021 5:53:03 GMT -5 Bad Moon said:

If Brock cames back to WWE full time in 2005, he never goes to NJPW. Which means Inoki never puts the flea in his ear about doing MMA. Which means there is no UFC boom in 2008. With less eyes on MMA, Strikeforce never becomes as big as it does, which means the Diaz brothers never become big stars. Which means Nate never fights McGregor. Without taking the brain damage from Nate, Conor never gets it in his head to box Floyd Mayweather. Which means that in 2021 I'd be living blissfully unaware of the existence of Jake Paul.

The MMA boom was already in flux before Brock arrived. UFC 66 (Tito vs Chuck II) did over a million PPV buys in 2006.

[Celexa Bliss 54]

These rumors are pretty much the whole basis behind me bringing Brock to ECW in The Wrestling Wars. Remembering he was looking to return to wrestling, in that universe, he meets up with Paul Heyman, who convinces him to sign with ECW and feud with John Cena. And I plan to incorporate his MMA tenure in going forward.

I remember hearing rumors that if he did resign, he was going to feud with Big Show, then eventually face Undertaker at Mania 22 (which is what they ended up doing in 2014, leading to him breaking The Streak). 2005 was such a weird time lol with Lesnar, Bret and Matt Hardy making news, then them hyping up a rookie Vladimir Kozlov on the site and wasn't Simon Inoki connected to one of them??

[hassanchop]

I remember the rumors back then that Kurt Angle in the Rumble was meant for Lesnar, the rumors said that we’d find Nunzio unconscious backstage then when his theme hits later, it stops then Lesnar’s theme plays. That’s what I remember, I also remember people speculating back then we might’ve had a Lesnar-HBK match. Also remember later that year Lashley debut and the jokes began that Lesnar and Lashley were the same person hence why their initials were both BL.

[polarbearpete]

Likely would have changed a lot and may have altered Cena’s trajectory and run as “the guy.”

[J. Hova]

I just look at it as another example of how the WWE's non-compete clauses are garbage and always get thrown out in court when someone is willing to fight it and has the means to do so. I would really love to see some top tier name get released on a Friday and show up the next week on AEW to watch the chaos in the courts play out and hopefully set a precedent.