What if Cain Velasquez beats Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship?
The first episode of SmackDown on FOX ended in the surprise arrival of UFC star Cain Velasquez. Although Velasquez does have some professional wrestling experience, he had never appeared on WWE programming before. His MMA credentials and size instantly make him a credible challenger to Brock Lesnar. Furthermore, his history of having actually beaten 'The Beast' in UFC adds extra intrigue to their feud.
There’s quite a bit up in the air in regards to Velasquez’s status, as WWE seems inclined to keep an air of mystery around him. Rumor has it that WWE will book him to challenge Lesnar for the WWE Championship at Crown Jewel, but nothing has been confirmed. Such an arrangement makes sense given the need to book big matches for the show in Saudi Arabia. Also, Saudi Arabian shows tend to be inconsequential in their booking. Velasquez vs Lesnar doesn't have to change the course of wrestling history. It just needs to draw viewers. Lesnar beating back a visiting challenger would likely be a huge draw, but could also be easily forgotten, especially if Velasquez is contracted to work only one match as an off the beaten path challenger.
But what if Velasquez were to actually defeat Brock Lesnar and become WWE Champion? This article examines that possibility.
5. A short match
A part of Brock Lesnar’s character, particularly over the last three years, is the element of explosive unpredictability in his big matches. Sometimes Lesnar works more conventional classics like his work as the monster heel opposite Seth Rollins at SummerSlam, Finn Balor at the Royal Rumble, or Daniel Bryan at Survivor Series. Sometimes Lesnar works lightning quick bouts, including when he dropped the title to Rollins at WrestleMania 35.
Given that it’s already not out of the ordinary for Lesnar to work short matches, we can especially expect a quick outing with Cain Velasquez. While Velasquez has worked a handful of professional wrestling matches, he’s far from a seasoned pro in this environment, and WWE will likely seek to protect him with a short outing.
Moreover, if he were booked to win, it also protects Lesnar to lose quickly. As counter intuitive as it might seem to save face by losing a fight in short order, quick losses also sell the idea that 'The Beast' was caught off guard - not truly dominated or decisively beaten, so much as simply surprised with stunning offense. This dynamic also invites a rematch.