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One of the primary aspects of media training for WWE Superstars is learning how to respond to skeptics—particularly those who dismiss professional wrestling as "fake." When UFC CEO Dana White made controversial remarks questioning WWE’s legitimacy, Brock Lesnar had a bold and unexpected response.
White’s comments stirred up debate within the sports and entertainment industries, leading to Lesnar addressing the topic during an interview on SportsCenter in 2015. Given that Lesnar has been a champion in both WWE and the UFC, his perspective carried significant weight.
Brock Lesnar’s Perspective on WWE’s Legitimacy
Lesnar responded to Dana White’s social media comments with an unfiltered, yet insightful, take:
“Well, of course, Dana, it’s fake,” Lesnar acknowledged. “Everybody knows that, but it’s still the same. You’re promoting the same thing we’re promoting. Dana White is promoting fights, we’re promoting fights. It just so happens that we get a little more longevity out of our fights and out of our fighters because of the circumstances.”
He further emphasized the entertainment aspect of professional wrestling, even going as far as suggesting that Vince McMahon, WWE’s longtime chairman, was a better promoter than White.
“It is a staged arena, everybody knows that. If you can’t turn WWE on Monday night and get something outta that show and be entertained, there’s something wrong with you.
“Dana, probably, in his defense, is promoting fighting – but it’s the same thing. He’s trying to sell pay-per-views. He’s trying to sell money fights. It’s the same racket.
“It’s non-rehearsed, absolutely. I mean, the business model is the same. It’s identical, and I think Vince [McMahon] is better at it than Dana, and that might rub Dana up the wrong way.”
Lesnar’s comments not only defended WWE’s entertainment value but also highlighted the similarities between the business models of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Brock Lesnar's Dual Career in WWE and the UFC
When those statements were made, Lesnar was already out of the UFC and had not fought in nearly four years. His last fight, held on December 30, 2011, was an unsuccessful one against Alistair Overeem. Despite all his obnoxious comments about White during 2015, Lesnar sprang a surprise return to UFC in 2016, prevailing in no uncertain terms against Mark Hunt, garnering himself an unrivaled payday of $2.5 million.
Still, the return was mired in controversy when Lesnar proved to have failed a drug test, resulting in the contest being declared a no-contest. Lesnar was slapped with a $250,000 fine and a one-year suspension. From that point onwards, while there has been speculation, neither Lesnar nor White have offered any real evidence of a future MMA return.
Brock Lesnar's Professional MMA Record
Total No. of Fights: 9
Wins: 5
- By KO: 3
- By Submission: 1
- By Decision: 1
Losses: 3
- By KO: 2
- By Submission: 1
No Contest: 1
WWE Future Suspended; Too Much Uncertainty
Lesnar's WWE future is also up in the air outside the Octagon. The 2023 SummerSlam saw him lose to Cody Rhodes in what was the last part of their trilogy. Originally slated to return to WWE in early 2024, plans regarding him made a sudden turn when his name cropped up in the Janel Grant lawsuit, forcing creative changes, including pulling the plug on the much-anticipated Gunther vs. Lesnar WrestleMania XL match.
As of now, Brock Lesnar remains under contract with WWE, but his next move in the industry remains
