Lesnar Drops His WWE Belt At Summerslam As UFC Run Looms

Brock Lesnar is no longer a WWE champion, making it all the more likely his next appearance will be in the UFC cage.

Brock Lesnar is no longer the WWE Universal champion.

Lesnar lost the belt to Roman Reigns in the main event of WWE’s big Summerslam event from the Barclays Center in New York City, in what many believe is a precursor to his move from pro wrestling back into the UFC.

Those hoping for a more MMA-centric plotline – an appearance from expected opponent and two division UFC champ Daniel Cormier, perhaps – were disappointed to instead see only Braun Strowman appearing ringside in an attempt to cash in his ‘Money in the Bank’ insta-title shot briefcase. Instead, the only thing he got was an ass whupping from Lesnar, who beat Strowman mercilessly with a chair before tossing the briefcase across the arena.

That was enough of a distraction to allow Reigns to catch Lesnar with a spear, pinning him in what was a surprisingly quick main event for a big Summerslam. But as far as MMA fans are concerned, Lesnar has now lost his belt which seemed like an important requirement before he could return to the UFC.

As mentioned, Lesnar is expected to fight Daniel Cormier sometime in early 2019 once he is no longer under suspension from USADA, the drug testing agency that nailed him for clomiphene back in 2016. But according to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, Lesnar hasn’t signed a bout agreement and is only bound to the UFC insofar as he can’t fight MMA for any other promotion.

That leaves the door open for Lesnar once again using the UFC to pry another big contract out of Vince McMahon and the WWE. But Lesnar’s jaunts back and forth from the UFC are big money and big visibility, a win win win for the UFC, Lesnar, and WWE. So unless another strange pro wrestling plot twist occurs, we can all look forward to seeing Lesnar challenge Cormier for the UFC heavyweight belt in early 2019.