WWE's Brock Lesnar might bolt for NFL - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

KJH278 · 03-10-2004, 11:36 PM

WWE superstar Brock Lesnar could be leaving the world of professional wrestling to pursue a career in the NFL.

If a report on PWInsider.com is accurate, Lesnar, 26, announced Tuesday night that he was leaving the WWE after this Sunday's Wrestlemania XX in Madison Square Garden.
Lesnar, who at 6 foot 4, 295 pounds certainly has a body for the NFL, was an NCAA champion wrestler at the University of Minnesota.

An Associated Press report in September 2002 said Lesnar turned down tryout offers from the Tampa Bay Bucs and Washington Redskins, opting instead to sign a developmental contract with the WWE. He joined the company shortly after graduating in 2000 and made his debut just after WrestleMania XVIII in 2002.

Coincidentally, Lesnar's match at this year's Wrestlemania is against Goldberg, who played for the Atlanta Falcons briefly and is also expected to leave the company after the match.

The trend of football players entering the professional wrestling world is nothing new. Steve McMichael was a Bears' lineman. The late Brian Pillman once played for the Bengals. Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, was a star at the University of Miami before a back injury cost him a shot at the NFL.

Johnson and Goldberg even became bona fide stars in their new professions (Johnson having since made another transition into legitimate Hollywod action hero).

That's not even including gridiron greats like Lawrence Taylor and Kevin Greene, who made special appearances in the ring.

And these guys did it with no actual wrestling experience, although Johnson's father and grandfather were early WWF legends.

But the reverse -- a wrestler becoming a pro football player despite no experience -- is unheard of.

The football players that have made the transition have two of the basic qualities necessary for a wrestling career: impressive physiques and a high threshold for pain. Those same qualities aren't nearly enough to make the cut in the NFL.

So what makes Lesnar think he can be the first?

Maybe it's the time he spent working out with veteran NFL guard Corbin Lacina in the 2003 off-season. If the report is accurate, then someone is obviously telling Lesnar he has a shot (and remember, this could be the WWE putting one over on all of us before their marquee event.)

Maybe he figures someone will give him the chance to learn on the job. After all, that's what he's done with the WWE and he went straight to the top there.

Which brings up one more question: Why would he want to leave the company that seems intent on making him a star?

According to the original reports, Lesnar has grown tired of the demanding schedule. There's no off-season in the WWE, the only way to get an extended break is to get badly injured or to become a celebrity in another field a la The Rock.

Credit: FoxSports.com

EricIdlefan · 03-11-2004, 03:23 AM

That is surprising that their schedule doesn't include a so-called break and/or off-season.

Miss Golden · 03-13-2004, 03:11 PM

Brock Lesnar is leaving the WWE as of tommorrow night at Wrestlemania 20. His last match is with Bill Goldberg at the PPV. Lesnar has recently been upset with the direction of his character and the travel schedule. He also was quite upset with having to drop the Smackdown Title at the February PPV and wrestling a midcard match against Bob Holly on the African tour a few weeks ago.

Lesnar has done quite a lot since debuting exactly 2 years ago in March 2002. His achievements include the 2002 King of the Ring, 2003 Royal Rumble winner, 2 time Smackdown champion, Undisputed Champion, key wins over The Rock at Summerslam 2002 and Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 19 in 2003.

Brian Damage · 03-13-2004, 03:17 PM

it could be a work

ConservativeBalla · 03-16-2004, 09:58 AM

This thing with wrestlers doing planned wrestling and going into a real life unplanned thing reminds me of the and1 guys in basketball and the NBA. Just a thought. Not that I think all of and1 is planned, but I think sometimes people on D against the and1 guys let up a little so they can do their tricks. Doing professional sports isn't ONLY about skill, it's about a lot of other things as well as skill.

03-10-2004, 11:36 PM	#1
KJH278 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2002 Location: IN A APARTMENT Posts: 1,158	WWE's Brock Lesnar might bolt for NFL WWE superstar Brock Lesnar could be leaving the world of professional wrestling to pursue a career in the NFL. If a report on PWInsider.com is accurate, Lesnar, 26, announced Tuesday night that he was leaving the WWE after this Sunday's Wrestlemania XX in Madison Square Garden. Lesnar, who at 6 foot 4, 295 pounds certainly has a body for the NFL, was an NCAA champion wrestler at the University of Minnesota. An Associated Press report in September 2002 said Lesnar turned down tryout offers from the Tampa Bay Bucs and Washington Redskins, opting instead to sign a developmental contract with the WWE. He joined the company shortly after graduating in 2000 and made his debut just after WrestleMania XVIII in 2002. Coincidentally, Lesnar's match at this year's Wrestlemania is against Goldberg, who played for the Atlanta Falcons briefly and is also expected to leave the company after the match. The trend of football players entering the professional wrestling world is nothing new. Steve McMichael was a Bears' lineman. The late Brian Pillman once played for the Bengals. Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, was a star at the University of Miami before a back injury cost him a shot at the NFL. Johnson and Goldberg even became bona fide stars in their new professions (Johnson having since made another transition into legitimate Hollywod action hero). That's not even including gridiron greats like Lawrence Taylor and Kevin Greene, who made special appearances in the ring. And these guys did it with no actual wrestling experience, although Johnson's father and grandfather were early WWF legends. But the reverse -- a wrestler becoming a pro football player despite no experience -- is unheard of. The football players that have made the transition have two of the basic qualities necessary for a wrestling career: impressive physiques and a high threshold for pain. Those same qualities aren't nearly enough to make the cut in the NFL. So what makes Lesnar think he can be the first? Maybe it's the time he spent working out with veteran NFL guard Corbin Lacina in the 2003 off-season. If the report is accurate, then someone is obviously telling Lesnar he has a shot (and remember, this could be the WWE putting one over on all of us before their marquee event.) Maybe he figures someone will give him the chance to learn on the job. After all, that's what he's done with the WWE and he went straight to the top there. Which brings up one more question: Why would he want to leave the company that seems intent on making him a star? According to the original reports, Lesnar has grown tired of the demanding schedule. There's no off-season in the WWE, the only way to get an extended break is to get badly injured or to become a celebrity in another field a la The Rock. Credit: FoxSports.com

03-11-2004, 03:23 AM	#2
EricIdlefan August Back To School Forum Addict Join Date: Oct 12, 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 68,236	That is surprising that their schedule doesn't include a so-called break and/or off-season.
	__________________ August Back to School!

03-16-2004, 09:58 AM	#5
ConservativeBalla R.I.P., Mr. Reagan. Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2003 Location: 704 Hauser Street, Queens, New York; having an eating contest with Meathead eating Edith's beef stew. Posts: 1,822	This thing with wrestlers doing planned wrestling and going into a real life unplanned thing reminds me of the and1 guys in basketball and the NBA. Just a thought. Not that I think all of and1 is planned, but I think sometimes people on D against the and1 guys let up a little so they can do their tricks. Doing professional sports isn't ONLY about skill, it's about a lot of other things as well as skill.
	__________________ Big Daddy: ...now you promise me you won't fret none. Dorothy: Well, I would, but I'm not exactly sure what "fret none" is.

03-13-2004, 03:11 PM	#3
Miss Golden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 1,231	Brock Lesnar is leaving the WWE as of tommorrow night at Wrestlemania 20. His last match is with Bill Goldberg at the PPV. Lesnar has recently been upset with the direction of his character and the travel schedule. He also was quite upset with having to drop the Smackdown Title at the February PPV and wrestling a midcard match against Bob Holly on the African tour a few weeks ago. Lesnar has done quite a lot since debuting exactly 2 years ago in March 2002. His achievements include the 2002 King of the Ring, 2003 Royal Rumble winner, 2 time Smackdown champion, Undisputed Champion, key wins over The Rock at Summerslam 2002 and Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 19 in 2003.

03-13-2004, 03:17 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	it could be a work