Is Brock Lesnar Really the Draw That WWE Portrays Him to Be?

            Ever since Brock Lesnar’s return to the WWE in 2012, his WWE run has been very different than his first run in 2002-04. He pretty much has the same persona character wise, but his in ring abilities have changed drastically. He doesn’t do those triple powerbombs anymore, he doesn’t jump off the top rope anymore, & he doesn’t even speak anymore. Instead, Paul Heyman does all the talking for him including his ring announcing.

            His matches have become very predictable at this point especially since he captured the WWE Universal Title. In majority of his matches all he performs is his Suplex City routine, and a couple F5’s and he wins the match. His matches with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 34 & The Greatest Royal Rumble have been particularly boring. It’s no secret I’m a big Roman Reigns fan but I feel these matches with Lesnar have been huge disappointments. These matches, have not been able to showcase Reigns’ true in-ring abilities. Reigns has a ton more in his arsenal but due to WWE wanting to make Lesnar look dominant it hampers all his matches.

            Lesnar’s Universal Championship reign has nothing extraordinary attached to it outside of WrestleMania 33 when he captured the belt defeating Goldberg. That was his best match in his reign involving the title but even that match was nothing but Lesnar hitting Suplex City & F5’s. His matches versus Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe, & Reigns have been forgettable. In the Fatal 4 Way match for the title at Summerslam featuring Strowman, Reigns, & Joe even saw him barely participate in the match yet, still managing to win. His match versus A.J. Styles was a pleasant surprise but that wasn’t due to Lesnar at all. It was due to Styles abilities as performer to work a match.

            The Universal Title has become irrelevant in a lot of fans eyes because Lesnar hardly even defends the title. After his WrestleMania title victory (Which was April 2^nd, 2017), Lesnar didn’t defend the title until months later July 9^th at the Great Balls of Fire PPV vs. Samoa Joe. The question of that is whatever happened to the WWE’s 30-day title defense clause or did they give Lesnar special privileges. During that time the title wasn’t even in too much of a conversation during that period. Lesnar hasn’t even had a match on any of the shows Raw or Smackdown since his 2012 return. He took another long break in title defenses from when he faced Braun Strowman at No Mercy on September 24^th, 2017 until his title defense at the 2018 Royal Rumble on January 28th of this year, which made it 4 months between title defenses.

            Overall, NO Brock Lesnar isn’t that big of a draw anymore in my eyes due to rarely competing, limited in-ring performance, & making the WWE Universal Championship almost irrelevant.

APW Sports 2018 Mock NFL Draft

1.     Cleveland Browns- Sam Darnold, QB, USC

This is the year the Browns take a QB with a first round pick & Darnold is the best available QB in this year’s draft and the one I see with the most upside. He possibly won’t be pushed to play right away with the Browns acquiring Tyrod Taylor from the Bills this offseason.

2.     New York Giants- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

This is the best selection for the Giants to make with an aging Eli Manning & with him being a QB that needs developing this can wind up being the best situation for both sides involved. He has the potential to be the next Carson Wentz.

3.     New York Jets (via Colts)- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

The Jets didn’t trade for this pick to not take a QB, so they will go with Rosen here. Whichever of the top 3 QB’s that don’t get selected the Jets will take here.

4.     Cleveland Browns (Via Texans)- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

For a team that has a ton of holes they should go for the best player available on the board and that belongs to Barkley. He will be an all-round back that will be a big upgrade to their offense.

5.     Denver Broncos- Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S, Alabama

For a team without a ton of needs outside the QB position, Fitzpatrick is the best fit here to be as a replacement to Aqib Talib who left via a trade with the Rams. Fitzpatrick is a very versatile player and can play both corner & safety slots.

6.     Indianapolis Colts (via Jets)- Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

The Colts have a ton of holes on defense and they need a pass rusher, While I feel Chubb doesn’t have the biggest upside in my opinion, but he is the best pass rusher in this draft and that’s a huge need for the Colts.

7.     Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Quenton Nelson, G, Norte Dame

The Bucs need help along the front line to not only improve their running game but to also keep Jameis Winston clean in the pocket. He’s the best O-Line prospect in this draft and has very high upside and he will best fit here.

8.     Chicago Bears- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

With one of their top needs in Nelson off the board they will go defensive here & select Ward. A corner who has great cover skills and recovery speed can transition well and possibly move Amukamara to the slot corner.

9.     San Francisco 49ers- Roquan Smith- ILB, Georgia

He’s a very strong presence on the inside and can be a sideline to sideline LB and can help improve the position with the losses of their linebackers over the past few seasons.

10. Oakland Raiders- Derwin James, S, Florida State

I feel one of the Raiders defensive woes has been the back end of their defense. Derwin James’ playmaking ability and versatility can help fill a void at that position for the Raiders.

11. Miami Dolphins- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

The trade of Jarvis Landry created a huge hole at the receiver position for the Dolphins and Ridley is the best on the board and has the most upside of any receiver in this draft. The offense lost a lot of key pieces and this can be one of the pieces to recover from the losses.

12. Buffalo Bills (via Bengals)- Justin Jackson, CB, Iowa

One of the most underrated players in this draft should in my opinion be drafted higher if it wasn’t for the talent in Ward & Fitzpatrick. The Bills have a lot of defensive holes and this pick can address a big one in their secondary.

13. Washington Redskins- Vita Vea, DT, Washington

The Redskins selection of Vea here can sure up the middle of their defense. With help along the front 7 in Vea, their Corners Breland & Norman will be not being asked to cover the receivers for so long as their front 4 will be improved.

14. Green Bay Packers- Tremaine Edwards, LB, Virginia Tech

The Packers need help with LB depth especially with Clay Matthews production declining & Nick Perry’s injury history this will be the best place for Edwards to step in and make contributions right away.

15. Arizona Cardinals- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

This will be the spot where the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has the best chance to succeed. With the retirement of Carson Palmer and not a potential franchise guy behind him this is where he’ll be groomed to have the best chance to succeed.

16. Baltimore Ravens- Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

The Ravens defense is in a need of young talent with the aging of players like Eric Weddle & Terrell Suggs they can use the help of an edge rusher and the skill set of Marcus Davenport fits their defensive scheme perfectly.

17. Los Angeles Chargers- Connor Williams, T, Texas

The Chargers can use an upgrade at either of the two tackle positions preferably the right side but either side, Williams will be a much-needed addition to an offensive line who struggled to protect Philip Rivers.

18. Seattle Seahawks- Harold Landry, DE-OLB, Boston College

The Seahawks lost a ton on defense with the trade of Michael Bennett and the release of Richard Sherman to break up the legion of boom. Starting up from the Landry can help the front 7 retool and still be the productive defense that we’ve come accustomed to.

19. Dallas Cowboys – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

This could potentially be a sport where the next WR is taken off the board with the release of Dez Bryant, but they have bigger holes on the defensive side of the ball particularly a linebacker and Vander Esch can give a boost.

20. Detroit Lions- Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

The Lions interior of their defensive line can use some pieces and Payne gives them a much-needed presence in the middle with an aging Haloti Ngata. He can sure it up and help their young linebackers be freed up.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Bills)- Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia

This is the best pick for the for the Bengals to help sure up in interior of their offensive line and improve their 3.6ypc (Yards Per Carry) rush average and help keep the middle of the pocket clean for Andy Dalton.

22. Buffalo Bills (via Bengals)- Billy Price, G/C, Ohio State

This pick gives the Bills much needed offensive line help. Their interior can improve to help RB LeSean McCoy & keep new QB A.J. McCarron clean. Price is versatile having played both Guard & Center at Ohio State.

23. New England Patriots (via Rams)- Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Hughes’ talents give the Pats much a needed body on the outside after losing Malcolm Butler to the Titans in free agency. He’s a plug and play type of player with good cover skills and good recovery speed.

24. Carolina Panthers- Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

Trading Kelvin Benjamin didn’t hurt as much as originally thought but their receiving core lacks in size & with Sutton’s 6’4 frame, he definitely give Cam Newton a second RedZone threat outside of Greg Olsen.

25. Tennessee Titans- Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

The Titans D needs a pass rusher & an end that can also set the edge in the running game. Insert Sam Hubbard. His ability to get after the passer goes underrated and plays with great smarts and he could be an immediate impact on their defense.

26. Atlanta Falcons- Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

Their interior D can use a sure up after losing Dontari Poe to the rival Panthers. His size and quickness off the line can be the boost their interior D is looking for to pair with Keanu Neal & Deion Jones.

27. New Orleans Saints- Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

Their receiving corps have Michael Thomas but not much else behind it. Kirk can give Drew Brees even more weapons to play with on offense to add to an already strong running game with Alvin Kamara & Mark Ingram.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

With LB Ryan Shazier’s career in question they can use this pick to get a guy who could go higher than this but slips to the Steelers arms. Alabama LB’s have found success in the NFL & I think Evans fares no different and will give the Steelers a body in a middle to potentially replace Shazier if he can no longer play due to the back injury.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars- Orlando Brown, T, Oklahoma

They can use a swing to play right tackle with the signing of Andrew Norwell this offseason. There are not many holes on this team, but the offensive line could use some extra touching up.

30. Minnesota Vikings- Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

The Vikes D can use some inside nickel back help with Trae Wayne & Pro Bowler Xavier Rhodes. With Mike Hughes getting taken earlier they will go for the best corner available to help phase out an aging Terrance Newman.

31. New England Patriots- Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

With Dion Lewis departing in free agency this leaves a big whole in the backfield & Michel gives the Pats someone who can carry the load when called upon. Not much of a receiving back but I feel in the Pats offense that can approve.

32. Philadelphia Eagles- Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State

With the departure of Trey Burton & the aging Brent Celek the TE position can be added & give another weapon to Carson Wentz (assuming he comes back for Week 1). At 6’5 260lbs, he gives Wentz an added weapon in the RedZone along with Jeffery, also someone who can take up space in the middle of the defense.